Abstract: A method for detecting vehicles includes two ultrasonic overhead detectors arranged along a lane or path of travel of a car through an access gate or entrance. The detectors measure the heights of the hood, roof and trunk of the car as it moves past the detectors. Software is used to compare the measured quantities with pre-established vehicle profiles. The method, and the associated hardware and software, can be used to count vehicles, classify vehicles as well as operate peripheral devices such as traffic lights, gates and the like.

Abstract: A computer-assisted ticketing device, such as for garages, provides the necessary functions to allow check in and check out, computing the price, printing tickets, displaying appropriate information on a monitor and producing selected reports. The input to the system is produced by the reading of ticket information from specially designed tickets imprinted with bar code data. Additional information is entered into the system by reading bar code data representing, for example, the make of the vehicle, its color, the pricing schedule, etc. All the information is checked for validity and stored in the system's memory, including the time of day and date. System passwords may be used to prevent unauthorized access to the stored information or the unauthorized printing of reports.