Electrical connector with identification chip

• US 6,497,363 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Del-Air Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Del-Air Systems Limited
• Inventors: Kelrich, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/600,428
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/441, 235/444, 235/453
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A vehicle refueling system including a controller disposed in a vehicle, a fuel nozzle communicator arranged adjacent a fuel intake conduit, connected to the controller and communicating information from the vehicle to refueling systems outside thereof and a securely attached vehicle identifier assembly including a vehicle identification chip disposed in an identification portion, an output portion defining a connector coupled to the controller and a neck separating the identification portion and the connector, the vehicle identification chip including a data store containing identification data, the data store being connected to a data output in the output portion-via connectors passing through the neck, the neck securely fitting into the vehicle'"'"'s chassis, the neck having a breaking strain lower than that of the remainder of the system, whereby an attempt to remove the vehicle identification chip from the vehicle by removal of the output portion, causes breakage of the vehicle identifier assembly at the neck.

Claims

1. A vehicle refueling system comprising

a controller disposed in a vehicle;

a fuel nozzle communicator arranged adjacent a fuel intake conduit of said vehicle and connected to said controller and being operative for communicating information from said vehicle to refueling systems outside of said vehicle; and

a vehicle identifier assembly securely attached to said vehicle and including;

a vehicle identification chip disposed in an identification portion,

an output portion defining a connector which is coupled to said controller and

a neck separating said identification portion and said connector,

wherein said vehicle identification chip comprises a data store containing identification data and which data store is connected to a data output in said output portion via connectors passing through said neck, wherein said neck is adapted to be securely fitted into the chassis of said vehicle and wherein said neck has a breaking strain lower than that of the remainder of said system, whereby an attempt to remove said vehicle identification chip from said vehicle by removal of said output portion, causes breakage of said vehicle identifier assembly at said neck.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said output is arranged to output data to a fueling device.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said neck has a breaking strain which is less than one fifth of that of said remainder of said system.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said neck has a breaking strain which is one tenth or less of that of said remainder of said system.

5. A vehicle refueling method comprising

arranging a fuel nozzle communicator adjacent a fuel intake conduit of a vehicle and connected to a controller disposed in the vehicle and being operative for communicating information from said vehicle to refueling systems outside of said vehicle;

and

securely attaching a vehicle identifier assembly to said vehicle and including;

disposing a vehicle identification chip in an identification portion,

coupling an output portion defining a connector to said controller and

providing a neck separating said identification portion and said connector,

wherein said vehicle identification chip comprises a data store containing identification data and which data store is connected to a data output in said output portion via connectors passing through said neck, wherein said neck is adapted to be securely fitted into the chassis of said vehicle and wherein said neck has a breaking strain lower than that of the remainder of said system, whereby an attempt to remove said vehicle identification chip from said vehicle by removal of said output portion, causes breakage of said vehicle identifier assembly at said neck.