Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090048706 | FUEL DISPENSER - A fuel dispenser comprising a housing, a fuel dispensing apparatus mounted within the housing, control electronics operatively connected to the fuel dispensing apparatus, at least one display mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the control electronics, and a nozzle operatively coupled to the fuel dispensing apparatus and the fuel dispensing apparatus control electronics, the nozzle configured to produce electromagnetic signals. The dispenser is configured to trigger an alarm when the nozzle is brought into close proximity to the at least one display to prevent the user from using the nozzle to make data entries. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048707 | FUEL DISPENSER - A method of operating a fuel dispenser comprising providing a fuel dispenser having a housing, a fuel dispensing apparatus mounted within the housing, the fuel dispensing apparatus having control electronics, at least one display mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the control electronics, a nozzle operatively coupled to the fuel dispensing apparatus, and a position sensor mounted in the nozzle and configured to detect and transmit nozzle movement to the fuel dispensing apparatus control electronics. The method further comprising presenting a menu of choices on the at least one display, detecting nozzle movement by the position sensor, transmitting signals representative of the nozzle movement to the fuel dispensing apparatus control electronics and making selections of the menu choices in response to the detected nozzle movements. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048708 | FUEL DISPENSER - A fuel dispenser comprising a housing having at least one display, a fuel dispensing apparatus mounted within the housing, the fuel dispensing apparatus having control electronics, and at least one directional speaker operatively coupled to the fuel dispensing apparatus control electronics and configured to project a directed cone of sound over a limited area proximate the fuel dispenser housing to prevent users of adjacent fuel dispensers from hearing communications projected over the at least one directional speaker. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048709 | FUEL DISPENSER - A fuel dispenser comprises a housing, a fuel dispensing apparatus mounted within the housing, the fuel dispensing apparatus having control electronics, at least one touch display mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the control electronics, the touch display being configured to allow a user to make selections for conducting a transaction, a nozzle operatively coupled to the fuel dispensing apparatus and a camera operatively coupled to the fuel dispensing apparatus control electronics. The at least one of the camera and the touch display being configured to detect the presence of a user without the user physically touching the fuel dispenser, and in response to detecting the presence of the user, the fuel dispenser control electronics activates the at least one display so that instructions are presented to the user. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048710 | FUEL DISPENSER - A method of conducting a transaction at fuel dispenser comprises the steps of providing a fuel dispenser having a fuel dispensing apparatus, control electronics operatively connected to the fuel dispensing apparatus, at least one display mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the control electronics, a nozzle operatively coupled to the fuel dispensing apparatus, and an input device having a laser configured to display a virtual keypad, monitor the virtual keypad for user entry and a scanner for detecting user selections made on the virtual keypad, wherein the user selections are transmitted to the control electronics. The method further comprising receiving at least one piece of information from the user, displaying the virtual keypad onto a surface apart from the fuel dispenser, detecting user inputs on the keypad, and starting a transaction based on the user inputs and the at least one piece of information. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048711 | FUEL DISPENSER - A method of operating a fuel dispenser comprising receiving an input signal to activate the fuel dispenser, detecting vehicle specific information regarding at least one of a required fuel grade, a capacity of the vehicle fuel tank, volume of fuel necessary to fill the vehicle fuel tank and data necessary to identify a user and authorize a transaction and pumping a volume of fuel equal to or less than the volume of fuel necessary to fill the vehicle tank. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048945 | FUEL DISPENSER - A method of conducting a transaction at a fuel dispenser comprising the steps of providing a fuel dispenser having a housing, a fuel dispensing apparatus mounted within the housing, the fuel dispensing apparatus having control electronics, and at least one touch display mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the control electronics, the touch display being configured to allow a user to make selections for conducting a transaction. The fuel dispensing apparatus control electronics is operatively connected to electronics in a store associated with the fuel dispenser. The method further comprises the steps of presenting a real-time image of an inside of the store, moving through the store by touching the at least one touch display, and selecting a product being shown in the real-time image for purchase by touching the at least one touch display. | 02-19-2009 |
20100139782 | DISPENSING EQUIPMENT UTILIZING CORIOLIS FLOW METERS - An apparatus for dispensing liquid fuel comprises a plurality of inlet valves, each connected in-line with a respective inlet pipe in fluid communication with a respective source of a specific liquid fuel. A plurality of outlet valves are also provided, each connected in-line with a respective outlet pipe. A respective fuel hose is in fluid communication with each of the outlet pipes. The apparatus further comprises a coriolis flow meter located between the inlet valves and outlet valves, the coriolis flow meter providing a flow signal indicative of flow therethrough. A controller is operative to receive the flow signal and control the valves such that selected inputs of specific liquid fuels are dispensed to at least one of the fuel hoses. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the selected inputs of specific liquid fuels may include individual liquid fuels and blended combinations thereof. For example, the specific liquid fuels may include at least two of the following: a first octane gasoline, a second octane gasoline, diesel fuel, biodiesel and ethanol. | 06-10-2010 |
20110132708 | Flexible luggage organizer - A device for organizing around the collapsible handle of wheeled luggage, baggage or containers the most personal, important, or frequently used items during travel is disclosed, which includes a bag that attaches to the collapsible handle of luggage and uses the handle as a skeleton frame to create a securing structure for those items without inhibiting the operation of the collapsible handle. The bag is fully accessible and convenient by its close proximity to the users hand when the handle is in its extended position. In either position, the device offers an increased opportunity for branding, personalization and identification for the end user. When the device is removed from the handle it can be stowed in a convenient configuration, such as a tri-fold, for storage or hung within convenient reach to the user to allow continued access to the items being stored. | 06-09-2011 |
20120024892 | FUEL OR DEF DISPENSER HAVING FLUID TEMPERATURE CONDITIONING AND CONTROL SYSTEM - A fluid dispenser comprising a housing in which fluid flow control components are located and a fluid conduit completing a fluid flow path between a fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The fluid dispenser further comprises a control system, at least one controllable valve in and a fluid flow meter located along the fluid flow path. The fluid dispenser further comprises a fluid temperature conditioning subsystem located along the fluid flow path upstream of the flow meter. The control system is selectively operates the fluid temperature conditioning subsystem upon detection of a predetermined temperature. At least one controllable recirculation valve may also be provided, and the control system may selectively actuate the controllable recirculation valve such that the fluid flows back to the fluid storage tank. A method of measuring the flow rate of a fluid in the fluid dispenser is also disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
20120078741 | FUEL DISPENSER - A fuel dispenser comprises fuel dispensing apparatus mounted within a housing and a nozzle for dispensing fuel. The fuel dispensing apparatus includes control electronics and at least one touch display mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the control electronics. The touch display is configured to allow a user to make selections for conducting a transaction. A camera or other suitable proximity detector is configured to detect the presence of a user and whether the user exceeds a height threshold without the user physically touching the fuel dispenser. In response to detecting the presence of the user, the fuel dispenser control electronics activates the display so that instructions are presented to the user in a first orientation or a second orientation depending on whether the user's height exceeds the threshold. | 03-29-2012 |
20120166269 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION - A system and method for handling communications between an alternate fuel vehicle and a recharging station where an adapter of the recharging station is configured to connect to a socket of the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to transmit a pilot tone via the socket to the adapter, where receipt of the pilot tone by the recharging station indicates an electrical connection between the vehicle and the recharging has been established. The vehicle is configured to modulate the pilot tone to include information useable by the recharging station, such as to effect payment for any energy provided by the recharging station. | 06-28-2012 |
20140238534 | Fuel or DEF Dispenser Having Fluid Temperature Conditioning and Control System - A fluid dispenser has a housing in which fluid flow control components are located and at least one fluid conduit completing first and second fluid flow paths between the at least one fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The fluid dispenser also has a fluid flow meter located along said fluid flow path, a control system, and a recirculation subsystem. The recirculation subsystem has a bypass valve located along one of the first and second flow paths. The bypass valve is operative to prevent fluid communication between the first and second fluid flow paths when the fluid dispenser is in use and to allow fluid communication between the first and second fluid flow paths when the fluid dispenser is not in use. Methods of measuring the flow rate of a fluid in the fluid dispenser are also disclosed. | 08-28-2014 |