Patent ID: 7447480

Claim:
A wireless infrared toll checking system for communicating with IR communication units in vehicles, for wireless checking as to whether or not a toll transaction has occurred, said toll checking system comprising: a) an active vehicle communication unit disposed in a motor vehicle; b) a portable toll checking device comprising: i) a portable housing ii) an IR-transmitter disposed in said housing and comprising an IR diode, for sending an IR signal to said active vehicle communication unit, iii) an IR-receiver disposed in said housing and for receiving information containing electromagnetic waves from said active vehicle communication unit; iv) at least one focusing optic, disposed in said housing and for focusing said transmitted IR signal; v) at least one receiving optic disposed adjacent to said at least one focusing optic in said housing, and for receiving a signal transmitted from said active vehicle communication unit within a limited receiving angle range; vi) a control unit disposed in said housing for controlling said IR-transmitter, wherein said IR-receiver and said IR-transmitter have optics with a directional characteristic, said directional characteristic being adaptable in accordance with a given maximum distance to IR communication units in vehicles, for a selective communication with said active vehicle communication units at distances (D) of from 20 m to 200 m,; vii) an optic sighting unit coupled to said housing; viii) a processing unit disposed in said housing; ix) an indication unit disposed in said housing the indication unit being connected to said IR-receiver via said processing unit; wherein said control unit for said IR transmitter has an associated memory for, pre-determined transmission signal information, and wherein said IR transmitter sends a wake up signal to wake up said active vehicle communication unit wherein said wake up signal includes command signals for said vehicle communication unit, and is arranged so to cause said active vehicle communication unit to identify itself and send stored status information, and information regarding toll transactions, in an automatic manner.