Antenna placement in a fueling and retail system

• US 20020113082A1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Leatherman, Russel Dean, Johnson, William S. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/017,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/067 using communication means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel dispenser antenna system for communicating with remote communications units associated with a customer. The system will include a dispenser having a first site for customer interface wherein an area extending away from and along the first side substantially defines a fueling position. A first antenna is used to communicate with remote communications units through an associated communications system. The first antenna and communications system are adapted to provide a focused transmission field substantially throughout the fueling position, but substantially minimizing extension of the transmission field outside of the fueling position. Means associated with the communications system is provided to receive signals from the remote communications units. This means is typically one or more receive antennas in communication with the communications system. Preferably, the communications system is adapted to transmit and receive signals using a common center or carrier frequency. The defined transmission fields substantially avoid a dispenser communications system from mistakenly communicating with remote communications units outside of the defined fueling position.

Preferably, there is a second antenna spaced apart from the first antenna wherein the second antenna is adapted to provide an additional transmission field over the fueling position wherein both transmission fields overlap for a substantial portion of the fueling position in order to provide an alternative transmission path if one of the transmission fields is obstructed.

Claims

1. A fuel dispenser and antenna system for communicating with remote communication units associated with a customer comprising:

a) a dispenser having a first side with a customer interface wherein an area extending away from and along said first side substantially defines a fueling position;

b) a first antenna to transmit signals to a remote communications unit;

c) a communication system associated with said first antenna and adapted to provide the signals to said first antenna for transmission;

d) said first antenna and communication system adapted to provide a focused transmission field substantially throughout the fueling position and substantially minimize extension of the transmission field outside of said fueling position;

e) means associated with said communication system for receiving signals from remote communications units;

f) said communication system adapted to transmit and receive signals using a common center frequency;

wherein communication is provided to remote communication units within the defined fueling position, and communication is substantially avoided with remote communication units outside of the defined fueling position; and

g) a second antenna spaced apart from said first antenna, said second antenna associated with said communication system to transmit signals and adapted to provide a focused transmission field over a limited portion of the fueling position and substantially minimize extension of the additional transmission field outside of said limited portion over said fueling position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said second antenna is located to provide for the additional field to include an area adjacent said customer interface and likely to contain a personal remote communication unit of a customer carrying out a transaction at the fueling position.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said second antenna is located near a customer interaction level on the front side of the dispenser to provide the additional field.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said customer interaction level is near said customer interface.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third antenna spaced apart from said second antenna, said third antenna associated with said communication system to transmit the signals and adapted to provide a third transmission field focused over the limited portion of the fueling position wherein the additional and third transmission fields overlap for a substantial portion of the fueling position in order to provide an alternative transmission path if one of the transmission fields is obstructed.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said second and third antennas are located to provide for the additional and third fields to include an area adjacent said customer interface and likely to contain a personal remote communication unit of a customer carrying out a transaction at the fueling position.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals from remote communications units includes said first antenna, said first antenna and said communications electronics adapted to receive and transmit signals using from a single antenna.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals from remote communications units includes an additional antenna adapted to receive signals from remote communications units.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said first antenna and said communication system is adapted to communicate with remote communication units in a highly directional frequency range.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna and said communication system is adapted to communicate with remote communication units in a microwave frequency range.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna and said communication system is adapted to communicate with remote communication units in a frequency range of around about 0.8 Gigahertz to 6 Gigahertz.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna and said communication system is adapted to communicate with remote communication units at around about 2.45 Gigahertz.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication system is adapted transmit and receive using a common carrier frequency from remote communication units.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said communication system is further adapted to transmit and receive using a common modulation technique.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said modulation technique is spread spectrum modulation.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication system is adapted to transmit and receive signals at a common carrier frequency and modulation technique, the carrier frequency being sufficiently high to provide the directional transmission field.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said first antenna and communication electronics are adapted to provide conical transmission fields.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said second antenna is located near a customer interaction level on a front side of the dispenser to provide the additional transmission field.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said customer interaction level is near said customer interface.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said communication system is adapted to provide alternate transmissions from said first and second antenna, receive signals from a remote communication unit responsive to the alternate transmission, and determine which transmission field the signals received from the remote communication unit are responsive to determine the transmission field in which the remote communication unit is located.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said receive signals from the remote communication unit include unit type indicia, said communications electronics adapted to monitor the unit type indicia.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said communications electronics determines the transmission field in which the unit type indicia is located.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said communications electronics is adapted to ignore the presence of a personal communication unit type in the first transmission field.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said communications electronics is adapted to recognize the presence of a personal communication unit type in the second transmission field.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said communications electronics is adapted and ignore the presence of a personal communication unit type in the first transmission field.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein said communications electronics is adapted to recognize the presence of a vehicle mounted communication unit type in the first transmission field.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein said communications electronics is adapted to recognize the presence of a vehicle mounted communication unit type in the first transmission field.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein said means for receiving signals from remote communications units includes at least one of said first and second antennas, said communications electronics adapted to receive and transmit signals using said at least one of said first and second antennas.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein said means for receiving signals from remote communications units includes an additional antenna adapted to receive signals from remote communications units.

31. The system of claim 18 wherein said additional antenna is located proximate to said first antenna.

18. A fuel dispenser communication system comprising:

a) a dispenser housing having a first side with a customer interface wherein an area extending away from and along said first side substantially defines a fueling position;

b) a first antenna proximate said dispenser and configured to focus a first transmission field downward over the fueling position to transmit signals to a remote communications unit in the fueling position;

c) a second antenna spaced apart from said first antenna and adapted to provide a second transmission field over a portion of the fueling position likely to contain a personal remote communication unit carried by a customer carrying out a transaction at the fueling position;

d) a communication system associated with said first and second antennas and adapted to provide the signals to said first and second antennas for transmission;

e) said first antenna and communication system adapted to provide a focused transmission field substantially throughout the fueling position and substantially minimize extension of the transmission field outside of said fueling position;

f) said second antenna and communication system adapted to provide a focused transmission field over a limited portion of the fueling position and substantially minimize extension of the additional transmission field outside of said limited portion over said fueling position; and

g) means associated with said communication system for receiving signals from remote communications units;

h) wherein communication is provided to remote communication units within the transmission fields.

32. A dispenser communication system comprising:

a) a dispenser housing having a first side with a customer interface wherein an area extending away from and along said first side substantially defines a fueling position;

b) a first antenna proximate a top portion of said dispenser and configured to focus a first transmission field downward over the fueling position to transmit signals to a remote communications unit in the fueling position;

c) a second antenna spaced apart from said first antenna and adapted to provide a second transmission field over a portion of the fueling position likely to contain a personal remote communication unit carried by a customer carrying out a transaction at the fueling position;

d) a communication system associated with said first and second antennas and adapted to provide the signals to said first and second antennas for transmission;

e) said first antenna and communication system adapted to provide a focused transmission field substantially throughout the fueling position and substantially minimize extension of the transmission field outside of said fueling position;

f) said second antenna and communication system adapted to provide a focused transmission field over a limited portion of the fueling position and substantially minimize extension of the additional transmission field outside of said limited portion over said fueling position; and

g) a receiving antenna associated with said communication system for receiving signals from remote communications units;

h) said communication system adapted to provide alternate transmissions from said first and second antenna, receive signals from a remote communication unit responsive to the alternate transmission, and determine which transmission the signals received from the remote communication unit are responsive to determine the transmission field in which the remote communication unit is located;

i) wherein communication is provided to remote communication units within the transmission fields and said communications electronics may determine the field in which a remote communications unit is located.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said receive signals from the remote communication unit include unit type indicia, said communications electronics adapted to monitor the unit type indicia and compares the unit type indicia with the transmission field the remote communication unit is located.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said communications electronics is adapted to ignore the presence of a personal communication unit type in the first transmission field, recognize the presence of a personal communication unit type in the second transmission field and recognize the presence of a vehicle mounted communication unit type in the first transmission field.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said interrogation and control system is adapted to alternately transmit from said first location for a first period of time and from said second location during a second period of time different from said first period of time, said interrogation and control system determining reply signals were received in response to signals transmitted from said first location when said reply signals are received during said first period of time and determining reply signals were received in response to signals transmitted from said second location when said reply signals are receive during said second period of time.

35. An interrogation system associated with a fuel dispenser comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser having a graphical user interface in front of a fueling position;

b) an interrogation and control system adapted to transmit an interrogation signal alternately from at least first and second locations wherein signals from said separate locations providing at least a first interrogation field and a second interrogation field wherein said first interrogation field is focused within said second interrogation field; and

c) said interrogation and control system further adapted to receive a reply signal from a transponder in response to the interrogation signal and determine from which said location the interrogation signal initiating the reply signal was transmitted.