Parking meter and a device therefor

Abstract

A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A single space parking meter comprising:
 a housing base;   a removable single space parking meter device at least partially and removably received within a housing base of a single space parking meter, the device comprising:
 a plurality of parking meter device components comprising:
 a display for displaying parking information; 
 a wireless payment reader comprising:
 a radio frequency electronic purse reader; 
 
 a wireless payment reader signal receiver coupled to the wireless payment reader; and 
 
   a housing exposed to an external environment coupled to the housing base and the removable single space parking meter device.