Method for controlling the supply of fuel and/or the payment for same at a service station and installation used for implementing this method

• US 6,598,792 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ordicam Recherche et Developpement ZA Du BEL Air
• Original Assignee: Ordicam Recherche et Developpement
• Inventors: Legoux, Jacques, Michot, Gérard
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, Daniel I
• Application Number:
  US09/529,229
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/382, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• 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

The device for implementing the method consists in a receiving unit at the station, associated with a computer managing the dispensing nozzles, a terminal associated with a pump controller and linked to the receiving unit and an identifying module associated with each of the nozzles and also on the vehicle, a device for reading the modules provided in the inlet of the fuel tank, a processor for typing out messages including data from the reading device as well as other data and a transmitter/receiver to transmit the messages to the receiver of the receiving unit. The invention is applicable particularly to the supply of fuel to vehicles of road transport companies.

Claims

1. Method for controlling supply of fuel in a thank of a vehicle having a driver at a service station provided with at least a distribution station comprising a set of distribution guns associated with a computer coupled to a receiving unit and connected to a pump controller having a conventional free service mode and a system mode wherein said guns are under control of said computer and cannot be used in said conventional free service mode, said pump controller being connected to a system terminal by a bidirectional link, said receiving unit being connected to a reading and/or writing device for a smart card owned by said driver and said guns each comprising an identification module which can be read without contact by an in-board electronic system provided in said vehicle which comprises transmitting means tuned to said receiving unit, said method having a sequence comprising a first step of reading identification data contained in said smart card by said reading device with identification of said driver and/or said vehicle by said distribution station from said identification data, a second step of transmitting said identification data to said terminal through said bidirectional line in order to send to said pump controller and information about said computer and to act on said computer to pass from said free service mode to said system mode, a third step of recognized said vehicle and said computer, said third step comprising an engagement of said gun in said tank which provokes reading of identification information contained in said identification module and generating of a message comprising said identification information, information about said computer and information previously stored in said in-board electronic system about said vehicle and about drivers habilitated to drive said vehicle, a fourth step of transmitting periodically said message to the receiving unit only when said in-board electronic system is reading said identification information, a fifth step of ending the periodic transmission of messages when the step of reading said identification information is stopped, a sixth step wherein following to detection of an absence of messages the receiving unit acts on the computer to stop supply of fuel and to restaure this supply when the message are again received by the receiving unit, a seventh step wherein when the fun is placed back the computer returns under the control of a station operator and the pump controller returns to the free service mode upon payment of the fuel delivered by the gun.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said in-board communication system communicates with said receiving unit by radio transmission.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the identification module is a standard no-contact reading and/or writing device and includes a storage integrated circuit connected to a coil used for both transferring the energy needed for its functioning and for the transmission of information.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said in-board electronic system comprises a coil placed at the level of an opening in the tank at a location close to the coil of the identification module when the gun is engaged in the tank, so as to read said identification module.

5. Method according claim 1, wherein so as to be taken into consideration by said computer, the message transmitting by a transmitter/receiver of the vehicle includes an identification number of one of the guns under the control of said computer.

6. Device for controlling the supply of fuel in a tank of a vehicle in a service station comprising at least a distribution station comprising a set of distribution pumps controlled by a computer comprising means for display information about quantities of fuel delivered an a corresponding amount to be paid and means for transmitting said information to a pump controller provided with means for controlling said supply of fuel and means for passing from a “

free service mode”

to a “

system mode”

said pump controller being distant from said distribution station, and being connected to a payment terminal and a system terminal, said computer being also connected to a receiving unit which is located in the service station near of the pump controller and which is connected by a bidirectional link to a device for reading without contact an identification supported owned by driver of said vehicle each of said distribution pump having a gun equipped with an identification module provided with a first coil extending coaxially to the gun to as to be read by a reading device equipping an in-board electronic system of the vehicle said reading system having a reading coil disposed coaxially to an opening of the tank so that when said gun is engaged in said opening said coils are disposed coaxially in relation to each other and a information can be obtained between said identification module and said reading device, said in-board electronic system further having means for generating and for transmitting to said receiving station message when said reading device is reading said identification module.