ADA convertible input display

• US 6,326,934 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kinzie, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/702,085
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/1.2, 345/5, 345/30, 345/156, 340/825.19, 340/825.34, 340/825.37, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel dispenser which is located in a fueling environment that includes a convenience store or a quick serve restaurant. The fueling dispenser includes a display providing menu options and input devices for a user to select various goods and services available at the location. The display includes a first display having user selectable options and input devices positioned on the fueling dispenser. The display further includes a second display having user selectable options within a handicapped accessible range to provide access for disabled users. Upon receipt of a signal indicating a handicapped user, the second display is provided to allow access for handicapped users to insure they can adequately input their selections.

Claims

1. A handicapped accessible display system for a fuel dispenser comprising:

a fuel dispenser for dispensing a consumable energy source into a vehicle of a user; and

a user interface associated with said fuel dispenser for displaying user selectable options and receiving input from the user, said user interface selectively providing a first display during standard operation, and a second display configured to be accessible to disabled persons.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a dispenser controller for receiving a signal indicating the presence of a disabled person at said fuel dispenser and changing said user interface from said first display to said second display upon determining the presence of a disabled person at said fuel dispenser.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said signal is input directly by the user through a device selected from the group consisting of a keypad, soft keys, and touch screen.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said signal is input indirectly into said dispenser controller via wireless communication electronics.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said communication electronics includes a receiver associated with said dispenser controller for receiving said signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said receiver is incorporated in an interrogator configured to interrogate a transponder associated with the user to receive said signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said signal sent from the user is in a form selected from the group consisting of radio frequency, infrared, voice activation, mechanically produced, personal device, optic and acoustic signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said fuel dispenser further includes a microphone connected with said dispenser controller for receiving said signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said user selectable options are positioned below a predetermined level to allow access for disabled persons.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said predetermined level is around about 48 inches.

11. A display system for interfacing with a user comprising:

a kiosk;

a display associated with said kiosk for providing user selectable options to the user; and

input interfaces correlating with said user selectable options for the user to make selections of goods and services, said input interfaces connected with a controller for registering said selections,

wherein said display selectively provides a first display configured with said user selectable options for a first user interaction, and a second display screen configured with said user selectable options to be accessible to disabled persons.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said controller includes a means for receiving a signal from the handicapped user, said controller changing said display from said first display to said second display to provide access for the disabled user.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said user selectable options are selected below a predetermined level to allow access for disabled persons.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said predetermined level is about 48 inches.

15. An apparatus for displaying information and receiving input from a user comprising:

a user interface for displaying user selectable options prompting information from the user, said user interface providing information in a variety of orientations and selectively displaying a first display for a first interaction or a second display to be accessible to disabled persons; and

input devices corresponding with said user selectable options of said first and second displays, said input devices assigned a first value for said first display and a second value for said second display.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a controller associated with said user device for receiving a signal indicating the presence of a disabled user and changing said user device from said first display to said second display.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said user selectable options of said second display are within a handicapped accessible range for providing access for the disabled user.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first and second displays have a high-resolution monitor for displaying one or more alpha-numeric displays.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said user selectable options of said second display are repositioned relative to said user selectable options of said first display.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second display has a reduced aspect ratio relative to said first display.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second display has a smaller vertical height relative to said first display .

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said display area not used by said user selectable options of said first and second displays include user information.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said user device includes a plurality of displays for providing information and said user selectable options to the user.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, further including a tiered display format providing for options on succeeding displays for positioning said user selectable options within said handicapped accessible range.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first display user selectable options are linked to said second display user selectable options.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first display is substantially the same as said second display.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said second display further includes a standard screen input option to change said user interface from said second display to said first display.