Customer-sensitive dispenser using proximity sensing devices
First Claim
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1. A fuel dispenser providing dual mode display control based on customer proximity comprising:
- A. a housing and delivery hardware for delivery fuel to a vehicle;
B. a display within said housing having a first and second mode;
C. proximity sensing electronics associated with said housing and adapted to sense proximity of a customer relative to said housing; and
D. a control system coupled with said display and said proximity sensing electronics and adapted to operate said display in the first mode when a customer is not relatively proximate to said housing and operate said display in the second mode when a customer is relatively proximate to said housing.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a fuel dispenser capable of sensing the proximity or location of a customer relative to the fuel dispenser without requiring direct customer contact and controlling the display or aspects of the display accordingly to conserve energy, reduce heat generation or draw the customer'"'"'s attention to the display once the customer is within a relative proximity to the fuel dispenser.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A fuel dispenser providing dual mode display control based on customer proximity comprising:
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A. a housing and delivery hardware for delivery fuel to a vehicle;
B. a display within said housing having a first and second mode;
C. proximity sensing electronics associated with said housing and adapted to sense proximity of a customer relative to said housing; and
D. a control system coupled with said display and said proximity sensing electronics and adapted to operate said display in the first mode when a customer is not relatively proximate to said housing and operate said display in the second mode when a customer is relatively proximate to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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25. The fuel dispenser of claim I wherein said display displays text, said text having a text point size being one size in said first mode and a larger size in said second mode.
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26. A method of operating a dispenser display in two modes comprising:
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A. operating a fuel dispenser display in a first mode;
B. sensing a customer proximate a fuel dispenser without requiring customer contact with the dispenser or display; and
C. operating the fuel dispenser display in a second mode upon sensing the customer proximate the fuel dispenser.
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33. A method of operating a dispenser display in two modes comprising:
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A. sensing a customer proximate a fuel dispenser without requiring customer contact;
B. determining a location of the customer relative to the fuel dispenser;
C. operating a fuel dispenser display in a first mode if the customer is at a first location; and
D. operating the fuel dispenser display in a second mode if the customer is at a second location. - View Dependent Claims (34, 36, 38, 39)
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35. A fuel dispenser controlled according to customer proximity comprising:
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A. a housing and fuel delivery electronics;
B. a proximity sensor; and
C. a display associated with said proximity sensor and said housing;
D. said display adapted to change from a first mode to a second mode upon said proximity sensor sensing a customer proximate said housing without direct customer contact.
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37. A customer interaction device providing dual mode control based on customer proximity comprising:
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A. a housing;
B. a display in said housing;
C. proximity sensing electronics associated with said housing and adapted to sense proximity of a customer relative to said housing; and
D. a control system coupled with said display and said proximity sensing electronics and adapted to operate said customer interaction device in a first mode when a customer is not relatively proximate to said housing and operate said customer interaction device in a second mode when a customer is relatively proximate to said housing.
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40. A method of operating a dispenser in two modes comprising:
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A. operating a fuel dispenser display in a first mode;
B. sensing a customer proximate a fuel dispenser without requiring customer contact; and
C. operating the fuel dispenser display in a second mode upon sensing the customer proximate the fuel dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification