Transponder distinction in a fueling environment

• US 6,026,868 A
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Johnson, William S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US09/159,910
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 340/825.34, 340/825.33, 340/825.35, 340/825.54, 705/413
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/067 using communication means
• 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: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The present invention solves these problems by providing a fueling system capable of distinguishing between types of transponders based on the type of signals transmitted or information transmitted therein. Based on the type of transponder, the system may control dispenser functions accordingly. For example, certain applications may allow transponders carried on a person to be moved about the fueling environment during a fueling operation, but stop fueling and provide warning or instructional information if a vehicle mounted transponder begins or starts to move during the fueling operation.

The fueling system may use many various techniques to determine transponder movement within the fueling environment, and in particular, with respect to the fuel dispenser at which the fueling operation is taking place. The system may simply determine a relative change in the proximity of the transponder with respect to the dispenser, a change in location with respect to the dispenser or simply receiving data from the vehicle transmitter or other remote source that the vehicle is moving or preparing to move. Preferably, in the latter situation, the vehicle transmitter is associated with a vehicle control system capable of sending information to the transmitter indicative of the vehicle being started, placed in gear and/or actually moving. A global positioning system may be used to interact through the vehicle or part of the fueling system to provide information on the vehicle movement and location.

Claims

1. A fuel dispenser adapted to distinguish between transponder types comprising:

communication electronics adapted to receive remotely transmitted signals from a vehicle transmitter attached to a vehicle and a personal transmitter associated with a person; and

a control system adapted to determine whether the remotely transmitted signals were received from the vehicle transmitter or the personal transmitter and determine if the vehicle or the personal transmitter has moved with respect to said fuel dispenser, said control system providing an output if the vehicle has moved with respect to said dispenser but not providing said output if said personal transmitter has moved in order to allow an individual with the personal transmitter to move away from said dispenser during fueling while preventing a vehicle from moving away from said dispenser during fueling.

2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system is further adapted to determine if said vehicle has moved a relative distance with respect to said dispenser and provide said output when said vehicle moves the relative distance.

3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the transmitter signals include information on vehicle movement, said control system adapted to determine if vehicle is moving based on the information.

4. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein the transmitter signals include information on vehicle movement, said control system adapted to determine if the vehicle is preparing to move based on the information.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are adapted to determine a change in proximity of the transmitter with respect to said dispenser to determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

6. The fuel dispenser of claim 5 further including an antenna associated with said communication electronics, said communication electronics and said antenna providing said control system with a proximity signal indicative of the relative signal strength of the remotely transmitted signals received from the first transmitter, said control system determining a change in said signal to detect if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

7. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are adapted to determine a change in location of the transmitter with respect to said dispenser to determine if the first transmitter has moved with respect to said dispenser.

8. The fuel dispenser of claim 7 wherein said control system and said communication electronics are associated with a plurality of antennas associated with said communication electronics and said control system, said control system adapted to determine a relative location of the first transmitter with respect to said fuel dispenser by determining differences in characteristics of the remotely transmitted signals from the first transmitter received at each of the plurality of antennas.