Architecture of an optical refueling communication using glass fiber

• US 8,494,371 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Maier, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US12/967,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20120148263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 398/172, 398/139, 141/231
• US Class Current: 398/139
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A communication interface for communication between a storage tank and a refueling station is described. One embodiment of the communication interface includes a control unit; an optical transmitter comprising an IR-LED, the optical transmitter directly integrated into the control unit or mounted on the control unit; and an optical frontend optically connected to the optical transmitter.

Claims

1. A communication interface for communication between a vehicular storage tank and a refueling station comprising:

a vehicle engine control unit;

an optical transmitter comprising an IR-LED, the optical transmitter directly integrated into the vehicle engine control unit or mounted on the vehicle engine control unit; and

an optical frontend optically connected to the optical transmitter to provide communication between the vehicular storage tank and the refueling station.

2. The communication interface of claim 1 wherein the optical frontend is optically connected to the optical transmitter using a glass fiber.

3. The communication interface of claim 2 wherein there is more than one glass fiber.

4. The communication interface of claim 2 wherein the glass fiber is polarized.

5. The communication interface of claim 1 wherein the optical transmitter further comprises a visible LED.

6. The communication interface of claim 1 wherein the optical frontend comprises a lens.

7. A communication interface for communication between a vehicle and a refueling station comprising:

a vehicle engine control unit;

an optical transmitter comprising an IR-LED, the optical transmitter directly integrated into the vehicle engine control unit or mounted on the vehicle engine control unit; and

an optical frontend optically connected to the optical transmitter using a glass fiber to provide communication between the vehicular storage tank and the refueling station.

8. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein there is more than one glass fiber.

9. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein the glass fiber is polarized.

10. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein the optical transmitter further comprises a visible LED.

11. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein the optical frontend comprises a lens.