Signature pulse generator and method of detecting tampering with a fueling operation
First Claim
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1. A fuel dispenser for dispensing fuel comprising:
- a. a fuel flow line, b. a meter operatively related to said flow line to measure a volume or flow rate of fuel passing through said flow line, c. a signal generator associated with one of said flow line or said meter that generates a signal with a portion of the signal including an identifying signature; and
d. a signal analyzer that analyzes the signal to determine if the identifying signature is an expected signature.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting tampering with a fuel dispenser digital pulse stream during dispensing of a fuel. The method includes generating a digital pulse stream indicative of the volume and flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly; storing a digital pulse stream signature in a memory device wherein the stored signature includes the identifying pulse anomaly; comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with the stored digital pulse stream; and allowing fuel delivery to continue if the incoming digital pulse stream generated by the pulse generator is substantially similar to the stored digital pulse stream signature.
63 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A fuel dispenser for dispensing fuel comprising:
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a. a fuel flow line, b. a meter operatively related to said flow line to measure a volume or flow rate of fuel passing through said flow line, c. a signal generator associated with one of said flow line or said meter that generates a signal with a portion of the signal including an identifying signature; and
d. a signal analyzer that analyzes the signal to determine if the identifying signature is an expected signature.
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2. A fuel dispenser comprising:
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a. a pulse generator adapted to generate a digital pulse stream related to the volume or flow rate of fuel dispensed a portion of said pulse stream including an identifying signal; and
b. dispenser electronics in communication with said pulse generator including a memory device for;
i. storing an expected digital pulse stream signature in said memory device;
ii. receiving the incoming digital pulse stream generated by said pulse generator;
iii. comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with the stored expected digital pulse stream signature; and
iv. allowing fuel delivery to continue if the incoming digital pulse stream is substantially similar to the stored expected digital pulse stream signature. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification