Fuel dispensing control, authorization and accounting system
First Claim
1. A fuel dispensing control, authorization and accounting system which operates without requiring control and authorization input from an individual during the fueling of a vehicle at a fuel supply source, the fuel supply source including at least one fuel dispenser, each fuel dispenser including a fuel dispensing hose and an attached fuel nozzle, and the vehicle having a fuel filler neck of a size to receive a fuel nozzle, the system comprising:
- a) a microcontroller-based fuel management unit means adapted to be operatively connected to the fuel supply source for controlling fuel dispensing from the at least one fuel dispenser;
b) a microcontroller-based automotive information module means adapted to be mounted to a vehicle for acquiring, processing, storing and transmitting vehicle specific identification data;
c) a passive RF identification tag means adapted to be mounted on the fuel nozzle of the at least one fuel dispenser for identifying the at least one fuel dispenser of the fuel supply source, the automotive information module means including means adapted to acquire, process, store and communicate dispenser specific data obtained from said RF identification tag means; and
d) means for establishing an RF data communications link between the automotive information module means and the fuel management unit means for supplying vehicle specific identification data and dispenser specific data to the fuel management unit whereby the fuel management unit means controls dispensing from the at least one fuel dispenser of the fuel supply source based upon the vehicle specific data and dispenser specific data received thereby.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed system controls, authorizes and accounts for liquid petroleum fuel dispensed from liquid petroleum fuel dispensers without the need for control and authorization input from individuals performing the fueling. The system comprises a radio frequency identification tag mounted on the fuel nozzle, an automotive information module mounted in the vehicle, a fuel island-mounted fuel management unit and on-site or remotely-located software which provides the system owner with fuel usage and invoicing reports.
185 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A fuel dispensing control, authorization and accounting system which operates without requiring control and authorization input from an individual during the fueling of a vehicle at a fuel supply source, the fuel supply source including at least one fuel dispenser, each fuel dispenser including a fuel dispensing hose and an attached fuel nozzle, and the vehicle having a fuel filler neck of a size to receive a fuel nozzle, the system comprising:
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a) a microcontroller-based fuel management unit means adapted to be operatively connected to the fuel supply source for controlling fuel dispensing from the at least one fuel dispenser; b) a microcontroller-based automotive information module means adapted to be mounted to a vehicle for acquiring, processing, storing and transmitting vehicle specific identification data; c) a passive RF identification tag means adapted to be mounted on the fuel nozzle of the at least one fuel dispenser for identifying the at least one fuel dispenser of the fuel supply source, the automotive information module means including means adapted to acquire, process, store and communicate dispenser specific data obtained from said RF identification tag means; and d) means for establishing an RF data communications link between the automotive information module means and the fuel management unit means for supplying vehicle specific identification data and dispenser specific data to the fuel management unit whereby the fuel management unit means controls dispensing from the at least one fuel dispenser of the fuel supply source based upon the vehicle specific data and dispenser specific data received thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fuel dispensing control, authorization and accounting system which operates without requiring control and authorization input from an individual during the fueling of a vehicle at a fuel supply source, the fuel supply source including at least one fuel dispenser, each fuel dispenser including a fuel dispensing hose and an attached fuel nozzle, and the vehicle having a fuel filler neck of a size to receive a fuel nozzle, the system comprising:
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a) a microcontroller-based fuel management unit means adapted to be operatively connected to the fuel supply source to control fuel dispensing from the at least one fuel dispenser, the fuel management unit means also including a RF receiver; b) a microcontroller-based automotive information module means adapted to be mounted to a vehicle for storing and transmitting vehicle specific identification data; c) a passive RF identification tag means including dispenser specific data adapted to be mounted on the fuel nozzle of the at least one at least one fuel dispenser for identifying said at least one fuel dispenser; d) the automotive information module means including interrogation circuit means adapted to acquire dispenser specific data from said RF identification tag means; and e) the automotive information module means including an RF transmitter adapted to establish an RF data communications link between the automotive information module means and the fuel management unit means for supplying vehicle specific identification data and dispenser specific data to the fuel management unit means, the fuel management unit means being adapted to control dispensing from the at least one fuel dispenser of the fuel supply source based upon the vehicle specific data and dispenser specific data transmitted thereto. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification