System for enabling handicapped individuals to use gasoline dispensers

• US 6,087,954 A
• Filed: 02/17/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: McSpadden, John Steven, Dickson, Timothy Earle, Kaehler, David Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DaLencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/025,095
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.54, 340/825.19, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 340/10.1, 340/10.41, 141/94, 141/98, 705/413, 345/329
• US Class Current: 340/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/001 Teaching or communicating with blind persons G09B21/02 - G09B21/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/00 Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges

Abstract

A system for assisting handicapped individuals in operating gasoline dispensers which includes a transponder in which data is stored according to the specific gasoline requirements of the individual. A transceiver is located proximate the gasoline dispenser and interrogates the transponder to obtain such stored data, and generates a signal which is a function of the stored data that is transmitted to a computer which receives the signal and generates predetermined control signals for operating the gasoline dispenser. The system may also include a warning signal device activated by the transponder to notify an attendant that the handicapped individual is approaching and this device may include a read-out device which displays predetermined personal information relating to the handicapped individual.

Claims

1. A system for permitting a visually handicapped individuals to access and operate a gasoline dispenser that would otherwise be difficult to access by the visually handicapped individual, said system including:

(a) a transponder associated with the visually handicapped individual in which is stored data related to the specific requirements of such visually handicapped individual in connection with the operation of said gasoline dispenser;

(b) a transceiver associated with said gasoline dispenser for interrogating said transponder to obtain said stored data therefrom when said transponder comes within a predetermined distance of said transceiver and for generating signals which are a function of the stored data received from said transponder;

(c) a computer for receiving said signals from said transceiver and generating predetermined control signals for operating said gasoline dispenser in accordance with said specific requirements of said handicapped individual.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined control signals generated by said computer include a signal for causing a font on a display screen included in said gasoline dispenser to be increased to a predetermined size that is more readable by said visually handicapped individual.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein a display screen having changeable color combinations is provided at said gasoline dispenser, and wherein said predetermined control signals generated by said computer include a signal for causing said color combination to be changed to provide a combination that can be readily distinguished by said visually handicapped individual.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein said system includes a warning signal device located proximate said gasoline dispenser, said warning signal being operable to generate a warning signal when transponder comes within a predetermined distance of said gasoline dispenser whereby an attendant can be notified that said visually handicapped individual is approaching said gasoline dispenser and may require assistance.

5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein said warning signal device includes a read-out device, and wherein said computer generates a second control signal that is transmitted to said read-out device to cause it to display predetermined personal information concerning the needs of said visually handicapped individual.

6. A method of enabling physically handicapped individuals to access and operate a gasoline dispenser that would otherwise be physically inaccessible or difficult to operate by such handicapped individual, said method including the steps of:

(a) storing data in a transponder corresponding to the specific requirements of such handicapped individual in connection with the operation of said gasoline dispenser;

(b) locating a transceiver proximate said gasoline dispenser and causing said transceiver to obtain said stored data from said transponder when said transponder comes within a predetermined distance of said transceiver and to generate a signal which is a function of the stored data received from said transponder; and

(c) operating a computer to receive said signal from said transceiver and to generate predetermined control signals for operating said gasoline dispenser in accordance with said specific requirements of said handicapped individuals.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said predetermined control signals generated by said computer include a signal for permitting said gasoline dispenser to be operated without requiring the said handicapped individual to enter any payment card date, account number or personal identification number.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said predetermined control signals generated by said computer include a signal for causing said gasoline dispenser to generate a receipt having a predetermined increased length so that it is easier for said handicapped individual to reach the receipt.

9. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said predetermined control signals generated by computer include a signal for causing said gasoline dispenser to automatically select an octane grade of gasoline to be dispensed by said gasoline dispenser selected by said handicapped individual.

10. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said predetermined control signals generated by said computer include a signal for causing the font on the gasoline dispenser to be increased to a predetermined size that is more readable by said handicapped individual.

11. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said gasoline dispenser is provided with a display screen having changeable color combinations, and wherein said predetermined control signals generated by said computer include a signal for causing said color combination to be changed to provide a combination that can be readily distinguished by said handicapped individual.

12. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said method includes the step of generating a warning signal proximate said gasoline dispenser when said transponder comes within a predetermined distance of said gasoline dispenser, whereby an attendant can be notified that said handicapped individual is approaching said gasoline dispenser and may require assistance.

13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein said step of generating a warning signal also includes providing a read-out device and causing said computer to generate a second control signal that is transmitted to said read-out device to cause it to display predetermined personal information concerning the needs of said handicapped individual.

14. A system for permitting physically handicapped individuals to access and operate a gasoline dispenser that would otherwise be physically inaccessible or difficult to operate by such handicapped individual, said system including:

(a) a transponder located proximate a handicapped individual in which is stored data related to the specific requirements of such handicapped individual in connection with the operation of said gasoline dispenser;

(b) a transceiver located proximate said gasoline dispenser for interrogating said transponder to obtain said stored data therefrom when said transponder comes within a predetermined distance of said transceiver and for generating signals which are a function of the stored data received from said transponder;

(c) a computer for receiving said signals from said transceiver and generating predetermined control signals which are a function of said signals generated by said transceiver; and

(d) an electronic display means for receiving said signal generated by said computer and displaying textual information on a screen which identified said specific requirements of said handicapped individual.

15. A system for permitting a physically handicapped individual operating a vehicle to obtain fuel from a fuel dispenser that would otherwise be difficult to operate by the physically handicapped individual, said system comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser with a generic mode of operation providing variable features generally available to all customers and a special mode of operation providing variable features available specifically for physically handicapped customers;

b) a transceiver associated with said fuel dispenser and adapted to receive information from a transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual; and

c) a computer operatively associated with said fuel dispenser and adapted to change the fuel dispenser from said generic mode of operation to said special mode of operation based on information received from the transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual, and further wherein said variable features of said special mode of operation are specifically varied to accommodate the particular needs of the handicapped individual based on information received from the transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said fuel dispenser further includes an information display screen adapted to show information related to a fuel dispensing transaction and wherein said variable features of said special mode of operation include variable information display screen characteristics.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said variable information display screen characteristics include a changeable color scheme that is varied based on information received from the transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said variable information display screen characteristics include a changeable displayed information size that is varied based on information received from the transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said fuel dispenser further includes a receipt printer adapted to dispense a printed receipt corresponding to a fueling transaction and wherein said variable features of said special mode of operation include variable printed receipt characteristics.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said variable printed receipt characteristics include a printed receipt length characteristic that is varied based on information received from the transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein said computer is further adapted to provide a warning signal to alert an attendant that the handicapped individual is proximate said fuel dispenser based on information received from the transponder associated with the handicapped individual.

22. The system of claim 15 further comprising an attendant display operatively associated with said computer and adapted to display specific messages related to the needs of the physically handicapped individual based on information received from the transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein one of said specific messages displayed on said attendant display notifies an attendant that the physically handicapped individual proximate said fuel dispenser is unable to egress their vehicle, and wherein, in response, the attendant operates said fuel dispenser for the handicapped individual.

24. A system for permitting a physically handicapped individual to receive a printed receipt from a gasoline dispenser that would otherwise dispense an inaccessible printed receipt, said system including:

(a) a transponder associated with the physically handicapped individual in which is stored data related to the specific requirements of the physically handicapped individual in connection with the operation of said gasoline dispenser;

(b) a transceiver located proximate said gasoline dispenser for interrogating said transponder to obtain said stored data therefrom when said transponder comes within a predetermined distance of said transceiver and for generating signals which are a function of the stored data received from said transponder;

(c) a computer for receiving said signals from said transceiver and causing said gasoline dispenser to print an extended length receipt accessible by the physically handicapped individual.