Loop conductor antenna for fuel dispenser

• US 6,184,846 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2000
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems, Inc. (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Stout, Roger W., Wyatt, Joshua D., Blalock, Dolan F., Myers, Howard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANNUCCI, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/497,306
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 343/866, 343/741, 343/867, 343/742, 343/895, 141/94, 141/351, 222/192
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A fuel dispenser includes an overbody within which a wide, flat conductor acts as a loop antenna. The conductor is concentrically coiled to create a plurality of turns comparable in appearance to a coiled tape measure. The antenna is then molded into a panel or overbody and affixed to the fuel dispenser to present a visually pleasing appearance.

Claims

1. In a fuel dispenser including a bezel, said fuel dispenser for fueling a vehicle, the improvement comprising:

a) an overbody removably attached to said bezel; and

b) a loop antenna positioned within said overbody for transmission of an electromagnetic signal from said fuel dispenser to said vehicle.

2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said loop antenna is formed from a wide flat conductor.

3. The fuel dispenser of claim 2 wherein said conductor is formed from copper.

4. The fuel dispenser of claim 2 wherein said conductor is formed into a plurality of turns.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 4 wherein said plurality of turns are concentric.

6. A method of communicating from a vehicle to a fuel dispenser, comprising:

a) providing a loop antenna within the face of the fuel dispenser;

b) providing a transponder on the vehicle; and

c) generating an electromagnetic signal from said loop antenna which travels to said transponder.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of coiling the loop antenna into a plurality of turns.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of molding the loop antenna within an overbody attached to the face of the fuel dispenser.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein molding the loop antenna within an overbody attached to the face of the fuel dispenser comprises the step of fastening the overbody to a bevel in the face of the fuel dispenser.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of generating an electromagnetic signal from said transponder to said fuel generator.

11. A system for facilitating communication from a fuel dispenser to a transponder, said system comprising:

a) a fuel dispenser including a face; and

b) a loop antenna positioned within said face.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said loop antenna comprises a flat conductor.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said flat conductor is coiled into a plurality of turns.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said loop antenna is coiled into a plurality of turns.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising an overbody, said loop antenna molded within said overbody, said overbody fastened to said fuel dispenser to form a portion of said face.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein said face comprises a bevel.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising an overbody, said loop antenna molded within said overbody, said overbody fastened to said bevel to form a portion of said face.

18. An integrated antenna assembly for a fuel dispenser comprising:

a) a dispenser panel attachable to a fuel dispenser; and

b) a loop antenna integrally molded within said dispenser panel, said antenna formed having a plurality of turns of a flat conductor.

19. The antenna assembly of claim 18 wherein said plurality of turns comprises between two and fifteen turns.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 18 wherein said conductor is between about {fraction (1/16)} and 1 inch wide.

21. The antenna assembly of claim 20 wherein said conductor is between about ¼

and ½

inches wide.

22. The antenna assembly of claim 18 further comprising at least one spacer positioned between turns of said loop antenna to space consecutive turns one from the other.

23. The antenna assembly of claim 18 further comprising a dielectric material positioned between consecutive turns of said loop antenna.

24. The antenna assembly of claim 23 wherein said dielectric material is integrally molded with said dispenser panel.

25. The antenna assembly of claim 23 wherein said dielectric material is a dielectric tape.

26. The antenna assembly of claim 18 wherein said loop antenna is adapted to have an operative frequency of 134 kHz.

27. The antenna assembly of claim 26 wherein said loop antenna includes between two and ten turns.

28. A panel for a fuel dispenser comprising:

a) a body adapted for attachment to the fuel dispenser; and

b) a loop antenna integrally molded within said body for transmission of electromagnetic signals.

29. The panel of claim 28 wherein said loop antenna comprises a plurality of concentric turns.

30. The panel of claim 28 wherein said loop antenna is adapted to have an operative frequency of 130 kHz.

31. A bezel for surrounding a panel on a fuel dispenser comprising:

a) a bezel body adapted for positioning on the fuel dispenser to surround the panel; and

b) a loop antenna positioned within said bezel body for receipt and transmission of electromagnetic signals.

32. A fuel dispenser comprising:

a) a face including at least one movable panel; and

b) a loop antenna for transmission of electromagnetic signals positioned within said face, proximate said panel.

33. The fuel dispenser of claim 32 wherein said loop antenna is integrally molded within said panel.

34. The fuel dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a bezel surrounding said movable panel, said loop antenna positioned within said bezel.

35. The fuel dispenser of claim 32 wherein said loop antenna comprises a plurality of concentric turns.

36. The fuel dispenser of claim 35 wherein said loop antenna further comprises at least one spacer positioned between said concentric turns.

37. The fuel dispenser of claim 36 wherein said spacer creates a space of approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch between said concentric turns.

38. The fuel dispenser of claim 32 further comprising a second face including at least one movable panel;

and a second loop antenna for transmission of electromagnetic signals positioned within said face, proximate said panel.

39. The fuel dispenser of claim 32 wherein said loop antenna is formed from one turn of aluminum tubing.