Transponder distinction in a fueling environment

• US 5,890,520 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Johnson, William S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan N.
• Application Number:
  US08/966,237
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 340/825.54, 705/413
• US Class Current: 141/94
• 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: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 relates to a fuel dispenser having a fuel delivery path, a pump associated with the delivery path for pumping fuel from a storage tank to a fueling nozzle and a controller and communication system adapted to receive remotely transmitted signals from transmitters of different types. The controller is adapted to determine the type of transmitter from which the remotely transmitted signals were received, and preferably, whether or not the transmitter is moved with respect to the dispenser. The controller and communication depending on the sophistication of the system or respond to information in the transmitted signals indicating the vehicle is moving.

Claims

1. A fuel dispenser comprising:

a fuel delivery path from a storage tank to a delivery nozzle;

a pump associated with said delivery path for pumping fuel from said storage tank to said nozzle;

a control system; and

communication electronics operatively associated with said control system and adapted to receive remotely transmitted signals from a first transmitter attached to a vehicle and a second transmitter associated with a person;

said control system being adapted to determine whether the received signals were transmitted from the first transmitter or the second transmitter;

wherein once said communication electronics receives the remote signals and said control system determines the remote signals are transmitted from the first transmitter, said control system and said communication electronics are adapted to determine if the first transmitter has moved will respect to said dispenser.

2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 further including a user interface having a display, card reader and input device associated with said control system.

3. The fuel dispenser of claim 2 further including a cash acceptor associated with said control system.

4. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are adapted to determine a change in proximity of the transmitter with respect to said dispenser to determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 4 further including an antenna associated with said communication electronics, said communication electronics and said antenna providing said control system with a proximity signal indicative of the relative signal strength of the remotely transmitted signals received from the first transmitter, said control system determining a change in said signal to detect if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

6. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are adapted to determine a change in location of the transmitter with respect to said dispenser to determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

7. The fuel dispenser of claim 6 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are associated with a plurality of antennas associated with said communication electronics and said control system, said control system adapted to determine a relative location of the first transmitter with respect to said fuel dispenser by determining differences in characteristics of the remotely transmitted signals from the first transmitter received at each of the plurality of antennas.

8. The fuel dispenser of claim 7 wherein certain of said plurality of antennas are located apart from said dispenser.

9. The fuel dispenser of claim 6 wherein said control system uses triangulation to determine the relative location of the vehicle with respect to said fuel dispenser.

10. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the transmitter signals include information on vehicle movement, said control system adapted to determine if vehicle is moving based on the information.

11. The fuel dispenser of claim 10 wherein the transmitter signals include information provided by the vehicle indicating the vehicle is or is about to move.

12. The fuel dispenser of claim 11 wherein the information relating to movement provided by the vehicle was received from a global positioning system.

13. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the transmitter signals include information on vehicle movement, said control system adapted to determine if vehicle movement is imminent based on the information.

14. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system provides an output when said first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

15. The fuel dispenser of claim 14 wherein said control system provides said output when said first transmitter has moved a set distance with respect to said dispenser.

16. The fuel dispenser of claim 14 wherein said control system provides said output when said first transmitter has moved a relative distance with respect to said dispenser.

17. The fuel dispenser of claim 14 further including an amplifier and speaker associated with said control system and said output provides warning signal to said amplifier and speaker.

18. The fuel dispenser of claim 14 wherein said warning signal is a beep.

19. The fuel dispenser of claim 14 wherein said warning signal is an warning announcement in a desired language.

20. The fuel dispenser of claim 14 wherein said output signal is used to control said fuel flow in said fuel delivery path.

21. The fuel dispenser of claim 20 wherein said output signal shuts off fuel flow.

22. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system is adapted to determine whether the remotely transmitted signals are transmitted from the first transmitter or the second transmitter based upon information transmitted in the remotely transmitted signals.

23. The fuel dispenser of claim 22 wherein the information is a transmitter identifier, said control system adapted to determine whether remotely transmitted signals originated from the first transmitter or second transmitter based on the identifier.

24. The fuel dispenser of claim 22 wherein the information includes transmitter type data, said control system adapted to determine whether remotely transmitted signals originated from the first transmitter or second transmitter.

25. The fuel dispenser of claim 24 wherein the transmitter type is one of the group consisting of vehicle mounted and personal.

26. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said communication electronic is an interrogator for interrogating a transponder.

27. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system determines signal strength of a signal received from one transmitter and monitors for a change in the signal strength to determine movement of the transmitter.

28. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first transmitter is a vehicle mounted transmitter.

29. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the second transmitter is a transmitter carried by a person.

30. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said transmitter is transmitting electronics of a transponder adapted to transmit a signal based on a modification and a received signal.

31. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the vehicle mounted transmitter interfaces with the control system of the vehicle, said control system adapted to communicate with the vehicle control system to receive information.

32. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the vehicle mounted transmitter interfaces with the control system of the vehicle, said control system adapted to communicate with the vehicle control system to transmit information.

33. The system of claim 32 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.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said means for receiving signals from remote communications units includes an additional antenna adapted to receive signals receive signals from remote communications units.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein said additional antenna is located proximate to said first antenna.

36. A fuel dispenser comprising:

a fuel delivery path from a storage tank to a delivery nozzle;

a pump associated with said delivery path for pumping fuel from said storage tank to said nozzle;

a control system adapted to control said pump to control fuel delivery through said delivery path;

communication electronics operatively associated with said control system and adapted to receive communications from a source providing information containing the relative location of a vehicle having a transmitter with respect to said fuel dispenser wherein the vehicle transmitter transmits a signal to the remote source, the remote source determines the relative location of the vehicle with respect to said fuel dispenser; and

said control system is adapted to provide an output when the information from the remote source indicates the transmitter has moved with respect to said fuel dispenser.

37. The fuel dispenser of claim 36 wherein the source is associated with a global positioning system.

38. The fuel dispenser of claim 36 wherein the source is a central site control system associated with said dispenser, said control system adapted to receive remotely transmitted signals from the vehicle transmitter and determine the relative location of the vehicle with respect to said dispenser.

39. The fuel dispenser of claim 38 wherein said central site control system is adapted to determine a change in location of the transmitter with respect to said dispenser to determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

40. The fuel dispenser of claim 39 wherein said central site control system is associated with a plurality of antennas, said central site control system adapted to determine a relative location of the first transmitter with respect to said fuel dispenser by determining differences in characteristics of the remotely transmitted signals from the first transmitter received at each of the plurality of antennas.

41. The fuel dispenser of claim 39 wherein said central site control system uses triangulation to determine the relative location of the vehicle with respect to said fuel dispenser.

42. The fuel dispenser of claim 40 wherein certain of said plurality of antennas are located apart from said dispenser.

43. A fuel dispenser comprising:

a fuel delivery path from a storage tank to a delivery nozzle;

a pump associated with said delivery path for pumping fuel from said storage tank to said nozzle;

a control system adapted to control said pump to control fuel delivery through said delivery path;

communication electronics operatively associated with said control system and adapted to receive remotely transmitted signals from a first transmitter attached to a vehicle and a second transmitter;

said control system and communication electronics adapted to receive transmitted signals from both said first and second transmitters before allowing fuel delivery and determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to the dispenser.

44. A fuel dispenser for distinguishing between vehicle mounted transponders and personal transponders comprising:

a fuel dispenser having a control system and an interrogator associated with said control system;

said interrogator facilitating communications with transponders and said control system adapted to control said dispenser based on remotely transmitted signals received from the transponders;

said control system adapted to determine whether said transponder is a vehicle mounted transponder or a personal transponder by reading information transmitted in the remotely transmitted signals and provide a signal indicative of transponder type;

wherein said interrogator and control system operate to determine a chance in a characteristic of the remotely transmitted signal from one of the transponders indicative of movement of the transponder with respect to the fuel dispenser, said control system providing an output if the transponder is a vehicle transponder.

45. The fuel dispenser of claim 44 wherein the characteristic of the remotely transmitted signal is a phase.

46. The fuel dispenser of claim 44 wherein the characteristic of the remotely transmitted signal is a magnitude.

47. The fuel dispenser of claim 44 wherein when the transponder is a vehicle mounted transponder, additional remotely transmitted signals are sent carrying information indicative of the vehicle moving or beginning to move, said control system providing an output upon receiving the information indicative of the vehicle moving or beginning to move.

48. The fuel dispenser of claim 44 further comprising an audio output system including a speaker wherein said interrogator and control system operate to determine from at least one remotely transmitted signal from one of the transponders indicative of movement of the transponder with respect to the fuel dispenser, said control system providing an output to said audio output system if the transponder is a vehicle transponder to warn of vehicle movement during fueling.

49. A method of distinguishing between transponder types comprising:

a. receiving a remotely transmitted signal capable of indicating whether the transmission source is associated with a person or attached to a vehicle;

b. determining whether the remote transmission source is associated with a person or attached to a vehicle;

c. determining whether the transmission source is moving during the fueling operation based upon the remotely transmitted signal; and

d. controlling a fuel dispenser according to whether the remotely transmitted signal is associated with a person or attached to a vehicle.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein step (c) includes monitoring for changes in characteristics of the remotely transmitted signal to indicate movement of the of the transmission source.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein step (c) includes receiving data in the remotely transmitted signal indicating movement of the of the transmission source.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein step (d) includes providing an audible output when movement of a transmission source attached to a vehicle is determined during a fueling operation.

53. A fuel dispenser adapted to distinguish between transponder types comprising:

a fuel delivery path from a storage tank to a delivery nozzle;

a pump associated with said delivery path for pumping fuel from said storage tank to said nozzle;

communication electronics adapted to receive remotely transmitted signals from a vehicle transmitter attached to a vehicle and a personal transmitter associated with a person; and

a control system adapted to determine whether the remotely transmitted signals were received from the vehicle transmitter or the personal transmitter and determine if the vehicle or file personal transmitter has moved with respect to said fuel dispenser, said control system providing an output if the vehicle moves with respect to said dispenser but not providing said output if said personal transmitter has moved in order to allow an individual with the personal transmitter to move away from said dispenser during fueling while preventing a vehicle from moving away from said dispenser during fueling.

54. The fuel dispenser of claim 53 wherein said control system is further adapted to determine if said vehicle has moved a relative distance with respect to said dispenser and provide said output when said vehicle moves the relative distance.

55. The fuel dispenser of claim 53 wherein the transmitter signals include information on vehicle movement, said control system adapted to determine if vehicle is moving based on the information.

56. The fuel dispenser of claim 53 wherein the transmitter signals include information on vehicle movement, said control system adapted to determine if the vehicle is preparing to move based on the information.

57. The fuel dispenser of claim 53 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are adapted to determine a change in proximity of the transmitter with respect to said dispenser to determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

58. The fuel dispenser of claim 57 further including an antenna associated with said communication electronics, said communication electronics and said antenna providing said control system with a proximity signal indicative of the relative signal strength of the remotely transmitted signals received from the first transmitter, said control system determining a change in said signal to detect if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

59. The fuel dispenser of claim 53 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are adapted to determine a change in location of the transmitter with respect to said dispenser to determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

60. The fuel dispenser of claim 59 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are associated with a plurality of antennas associated with said communication electronics and said control system, said control system adapted to determine a relative location of the first transmitter with respect to said fuel dispenser by determining differences in characteristics of the remotely transmitted signals from the first transmitter received at each of the plurality of antennas.