Fluid delivery control apparatus

• US 5,204,819 A
• Filed: 08/27/1990
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael C Ryan
• Original Assignee: Michael C Ryan
• Inventors: Ryan, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US07/573,631
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/382, 340/310 A, 340/310 R, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 364/465, 455/41, 902/5
• US Class Current: 705/413
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/425 including components powered by electricity or light
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered

Abstract

Apparatus for communication of information from a passive identification module that may be associated with a fluid container and an active communication module associated with a fluid delivery device. The passive identification module has no independent battery or power source but receives its operational energy from an RF signal generated by the active communication module. Upon initiation of a fluid delivery transaction a communication link is established between the passive identification and active communication modules and will proceed only if appropriate authorization is received by the active communication module and an associated information storage and retrieval device. Information regarding the fuel delivery transaction may be stored on the storage and retrieval device and may be communicated to another local or remote device for further processing.

Claims

1. Apparatus for authorizing the delivery of fluid to a fluid container from a fluid delivery device, comprising:

a. a first information storage and retrieval device without an independent power source and associated with the fluid container;

b. a second information storage and retrieval device associated with the fluid delivery device and capable of being operatively linked with said first information storage and retrieval device;

c. an RF link between said first and said second information storage retrieval devices for the transmission of operational energy for said first information device from said second information device;

d. means associated with said first information storage and retrieval device for transmitting information from said first information device to said second information device;

e. security means associated with said second information storage and retrieval device for authorizing delivery of fluid to the fluid container only upon provision by said first information device of an identification signal approved by said second information device.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting information comprises:

i. a first antenna associated with the fluid container and in communication with said first information storage and retrieval device;

ii. a second antenna associated with the fluid delivery device and in communication with said second information storage and retrieval device; and

iii. wherein said fluid container identification information is exchanged via signals transmitted from said first antenna and received by said second antenna.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said RF link comprises:

i. a power receiving antenna associated with the fluid container; and

ii. a power transmitting antenna associated with said second information storage and retrieval device and in communication with said power receiving antenna;

iii. wherein said first information storage and retrieval means is powered by energy transmitted by said power transmitting antenna and received by said power receiving antenna.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said security means permits delivery of fluid to the fluid container only when said first and said second information devices are in communication via said information transmitting means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitting means comprises:

i. a first inductive coil communication link associated with the fluid container; and

ii. a second inductive coil communication link associated with the fluid delivery device.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

f. a fluid delivery orifice of the fluid container;

g. a fluid delivery nozzle of the fluid delivery device;

h. wherein said first inductive coil communication link is located adjacent said fluid delivery orifice;

i. wherein said second inductive coil communication link is located adjacent said fluid delivery nozzle; and

i. wherein said coils are in transmitting and receiving alignment and proximity when said fluid delivery nozzle is inserted into said fluid delivery orifice during said fluid delivery transaction.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said RF link comprises:

i. a power receiving coil link associated with the fluid container; and

ii. a power transmitting coil link associated with the fluid delivery device.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

f. a fluid delivery orifice of the fluid container;

g. a fluid delivery nozzle of the fluid delivery device;

h. wherein said power receiving coil is located adjacent said fluid delivery orifice;

i. wherein said power transmitting coil is located adjacent said fluid delivery nozzle; and

j. wherein said coils are in transmitting and receiving alignment and proximity when said fluid delivery nozzle is inserted in said fluid delivery orifice.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for communicating information regarding the fluid delivery transaction between the fluid delivery device and a remote location.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said remote location is a credit/debit account for payment of fluid delivered in the transaction.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said RF link comprises:

i. a power receiving antenna associated with said identification signal means; and

ii. a power transmitting antenna associated with said information storage and retrieval means and in communication with said power receiving antenna;

iii. wherein said identification signal means is powered by energy transmitted by said power transmitting antenna and received by said power receiving antenna.

11. Apparatus for controlling and memorializing a fluid delivery transaction from a fluid delivery system to a fluid container, comprising:

a. means associated with the fluid container for generating an identification signal;

b. means associated with the fluid delivery system for storing and retrieving information and capable of being operatively linked with said identification signal means;

c. an RF link between said identification signal means and said storage and retrieval means for the transmission of operational energy for said identification signal means from said storage and retrieval means;

d. information communication means linking said identification signal means and said storage and retrieval means;

e. security means association with said storage and retrieval means for verifying said identification signal prior to the delivery of fluid to the container; and

f. wherein information regarding the fluid delivery transaction may be stored at said storage and retrieval means.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said security means permits delivery of fluid to the fluid container only when said identification signal means and said storage and retrieval means are linked for communication via said information communication means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising means associated with said storage and retrieval means for communicating information regarding the fluid delivery transaction between the fluid delivery system information means and a remote location.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said remote location is a credit/debit account for payment of fluid delivered in the transaction.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said fluid container is a fuel tank of a vehicle.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said information communication means comprises:

i. a first antenna in communication with said identification signal means;

ii. a second antenna in communication with said storage and retrieval means;

iii. wherein said vehicle identification signal information is exchanged via signals transmitted from said first antenna and received by said second antenna.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said information communication means comprises:

i. a first inductive coil communication link associated with the fluid container device; and

ii. a second inductive coil communication link associated with the fluid container device.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising:

a fluid delivery orifice of the fluid container;

a fluid delivery nozzle of the fluid delivery device;

h. wherein said first inductive coil communication link is located adjacent said fluid delivery orifice;

i. wherein said second inductive coil communication link is located adjacent said fluid delivery nozzle; and

j. wherein said coils are in transmitting and receiving alignment and proximity when said fluid delivery nozzle is inserted into said fluid delivery orifice during said fluid delivery transaction.

20. Apparatus for controlling and memorializing a vehicle fuel delivery transaction, comprising:

a. means associated with the vehicle for generating an identification signal;

b. means associated with the fuel delivery system for storing and retrieving information and capable of being operatively linked with said identification signal means;

c. information communication means linking said vehicle identification means to said fuel delivery system information means;

d. an RF link between said vehicle identification means and said fuel delivery system information means for the transmission of operational energy for said vehicle identification means from said fuel delivery system information means;

e. security means associated with said storage and retrieval means for verifying said identification signal prior to the delivery of fuel to the vehicle; and

f. wherein information regarding the fuel delivery transaction is stored at said fuel delivery system information means.

21. Apparatus for controlling and memorializing a fluid delivery transaction between a fluid container and a fluid delivery system, comprising:

a. means associated with the fluid container for generating an identification signal;

b. personal identification means for generating an identification signal identifying a person who is requesting the fluid delivery transaction and capable of being operatively linked with said identification signal means;

c. means associated with the fuel delivery system for storing and retrieving information and capable of being operatively linked with said identification signal means;

d. information communication means linking said fluid delivery system information means to both said fluid container identification means and said personal identification means;

e. an RF link between said fluid delivery system information means and both said fluid container identification means and said personal identification means for the transmission of operational energy for both said fluid container identification means and said personal identification means;

f. security means associated with said storage and retrieval device for verifying said identification signals prior to the delivery of fluid to the fluid container; and

22. Apparatus for controlling and memorializing a fluid delivery transaction requested by a person between a fluid container and a fluid delivery system, comprising:

a. personal identification means for generating an identification signal identifying the person;

b. means associated with the fluid delivery system for storing and retrieving information and capable of being operatively linked to said personal identification means;

c. an RF link between said fluid delivery system information means and said personal identification means for the transmission of operational energy for said personal identification means;

d. information communication means linking said fluid delivery system information means and said personal identification means;

e. security means associated with said storage and retrieval device for verifying said identification signal prior to the delivery of fluid to the fluid container; and

f. wherein information regarding the fluid delivery transaction is stored at said fluid delivery system information means.