Fuel-fill area data port

• US 8,924,037 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Seymour, Shafer, Gee, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US13/015,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/04 in which the quantity mechanism is set forward automatically by the insertion of a coin
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

Near field communications devices provide wireless connectivity between vehicles and fueling stations by which vehicle fuel-related information can be exchanged. The exchanged information can include the type of fuel required by the vehicle and thus reduce the likelihood of an improper fuel being introduced to the vehicle. Vehicle fuel related information also includes an amount of fuel required to fill the vehicle'"'"'s fuel reservoir, an amount of fuel required for the vehicle to travel to a particular location or distance, an amount of fuel received during previous refueling sessions, the identity of the vehicle, and vehicle operator fueling preferences. It can also include the location of the vehicle relative to a fueling station or fuel pump.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a re-fueling compartment having a hinged door;

a fuel re-fill access port inside the re-fueling compartment, the fuel re-fill access port being accessible when the hinged door is open and concealed when the hinged door is closed, the fuel re-fill access port being configured to receive a nozzle of a fueling station pump when the hinged door is open;

a first near field communications device inside the compartment, the first near-field communications device being configured to transmit near field radio frequency signals to, and receive near field radio frequency signals from, a second near field communications device located inside and at a distal end of a nozzle of a fueling station pump, the transmission and reception of near field radio frequency signals occurring after the hinged door is opened and after the second near field communications device enters into the re-fueling compartment and before insertion of the nozzle into the re-fill access port, said near field signals carrying vehicle fuel information between the first near field communications device and the second near field communications device.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the near field communications device is configured to transmit radio frequency signals over distances substantially equal to or less than 50 centimeters.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the near field communications device is configured to be incapable of transmitting radio frequency signals that can provide radio frequency communications with devices located beyond a distance substantially equal to 1 meter.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle fuel information comprises at least one of:

a type of fuel required by the vehicle;

an amount of fuel required to fully fuel the vehicle;

an amount of fuel required for the vehicle to travel a particular distance;

an amount of fuel received during a previous fueling;

and

the price of the fuel.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle fuel information includes an account from which payment for the fuel provided to the vehicle will be made.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the near field communications device comprises a radio frequency transmitter, which is compliant with ISO/IEC standard 14443, published 2008, and derivatives thereof.

7. A motor vehicle fueling system comprised of:

a first near field radio frequency communications device located inside a compartment having a fuel re-fill access port, the compartment having a hinged door, which conceals the fuel re-fill access port and the first near field radio frequency communications device when the door is closed and which exposes the fuel re-fill access port and the first near field communications device when the hinged door is open, the first near field radio frequency communications device comprising a near field radio frequency transmitter and a near field radio frequency receiver;

a processor coupled to the first near field radio frequency communications device; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory being configured with processor-executable program instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the first near field radio frequency communications device to transmit vehicle fueling-related information using the near-field radio frequency transmitter, to a second near field radio frequency receiver inside a distal end of a liquid fuel dispensing nozzle, additional program instructions causing the first near field radio frequency receiver to receive fueling-related information from a second near field radio frequency transmitter inside the distal end of the liquid fuel dispensing nozzle, the transmission and reception of vehicle fueling-related information occurring between the first and second near field communication devices after the second near field radio frequency receiver enters the compartment and prior to insertion of the nozzle into a fuel re-fill access port.

8. The motor vehicle fueling system of claim 7 wherein the first near field communications device is compliant with ISO/IEC standard 14443, published 2008, and derivatives thereof and wherein the near field radio frequency transmitter is incapable of transmitting radio frequency signals that can provide radio frequency communications with devices located beyond a distance substantially equal to 1 meter.

9. The motor vehicle fueling system of claim 8, wherein the first near field radio frequency communications device is configured to transmit vehicle fueling-related information comprising at least one of:

a type of fuel required by the vehicle;

an amount of fuel required to fully fuel the vehicle;

an amount of fuel required for the vehicle to travel a particular distance;

an amount of fuel received during a previous fueling;

and

the price of the fuel.

10. The motor vehicle fueling system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle fueling-related information includes the identify of an account from which payment for the fuel provided to the vehicle will be made.