714 results about "Fuel dispenser" patented technology

A system and method for effecting payment transactions comprising a card reader configured to encrypt a first portion of payment card data received by the card reader from a payment card according to a first encryption scheme associated with the financial institution responsible for an account associated with the payment card and to encrypt a second portion of the payment card data according to a second encryption scheme, where the first portion is sufficient to identify the payment card or account number and to effect a payment transaction involving the payment card or account and where the second portion is sufficient to identify the financial institution but insufficient to identify the payment card or account number.

A retail transaction system provides enhanced customer convenience and increased transaction security by sending transaction information to a cellular network provider via a customer's digital cellular phone. For example, a fuel dispenser is equipped with a communications link allowing direct communications to a customer's cellular phone. When a customer desires to conduct a transaction using the fuel dispenser, the fuel dispenser transmits select information to the customer's cellular telephone using this communications link. A telephone number is included in the select information. When the customer presses send, or otherwise causes their telephone to dial the number transferred from the fuel dispenser, the select information along with any additional customer information is sent to the cellular network. This information is used by the network to authorize a purchase transaction for the customer, such authorization information returned to the fueling station at which the fuel dispenser is located via a cellular link. For enhanced security, the customer may be required to input their PIN in order to complete the transaction. Notably, the PIN and the remainder of the transaction information sent from the customer phone to the cellular network is intrinsically secure due to the digital encryption employed by the digital cellular protocol. Optionally, the system may be configured to cause the customer's cellular phone to automatically dial the number transferred by the fuel dispenser. This capability may be enabled at the customer's option. The system may be extended to other retail systems including in-store point-of-sale systems (POS).

A refueling dock for refueling multiple vehicles at one time is disclosed. The dock has a manifold that has an inlet that can be connected to a fuel tanker truck and a plurality of outlet openings. Each outlet opening has a valve that controls the flow of fuel through the hose. A nozzle is fitted to the hose and is located at the end of the hose distant from the outlet opening. Two or more hoses can be simultaneously connected to different equipment in need of refueling. A valved fuel tank inlet line enables fuel to flow from the manifold to a fuel tank on the dock. When needed, fuel from the tank can then be pumped to the manifold through a fuel tank outlet line,.which can be connected to the same inlet on the manifold that is used to receive fuel from the tanker trick.

A system and method to adapt a fuel dispenser and related facilities to accept bar coded cards in addition to or instead of magnetic strip cards. A standard bar code reader is used in conjunction with a magnetic strip card reader. The bar code reader includes a light detector and a light source. The light detector and light source are secured so that they may visually access a card in the magnetic strip card reader. This allows the light detector to access bar coded data that is printed on a bar coded card. Furthermore, the addition of the bar code reader does not prevent the magnetic strip card reader from also reading a magnetic strip if it is present on the card. When a bar coded card is slid into the magnetic strip card reader, the bar code reader interprets the signals generated thereby and "decodes" the signals into corresponding numbers. These numbers are then sent over a data bus to a controller, where they are interpreted. Once interpreted, the numbers can be used similarly to numbers conventionally produced by a magnetic strip card, or can be used separately to provide additional services and / or advantages, such as updating a frequent purchase account.

A system and method for providing a fuel dispenser with radio frequency customer identification capabilities. The system and method determines whether a transponder containing customer identification data is within range of a dispenser, the dispenser requiring activation by the customer to initiate a transaction and including a reader associated therewith for emitting radio frequency signals within the dispenser range, and for receiving customer identification data from the transponder responsive to the emitted radio frequency signals received by the transponder. When the transponder is within range of the dispenser, an in-range indication is provided to the customer. A determination is made whether the dispenser has been activated by the customer following a determination that the transponder is within the dispenser range. Upon activation of the dispenser following the determination that the transponder is within the dispenser range, the customer identification data received by the reader is associated with a transaction at the activated dispenser, whereupon the transaction at the activated dispenser is permitted and charged to the customer according to the customer identification data. The system easily retrofits onto an existing, conventional fuel dispenser.

A flow switch used on conjunction with a fuel flow meter in a fuel dispenser to determine when fuel flow rate signals form a fuel flow meter should be ignored in the calculation of flow rate and / or volume of fuel dispensed. An inferential fuel flow meter may be used as the fuel flow meter. The inferential fuel flow meter may be a turbine flow meter that comprises one or more turbine rotors that rotate in response to fuel flow flowing through the turbine flow meter. The turbine rotors may continue to generate pulses even when fuel is no longer flowing. A flow switch determines when fuel is actually flowing and fuel is not actually flowing. The flow switch is described as either a single poppet or dual poppet flow switch in examples described herein.

A fuel dispenser advertising system. One or more fuel dispensers are provided each having a display subassembly. Each display subassembly presents audio and video information received wirelessly from a master interface system to a customer during a fueling operation. The master interface system receives periodic updated downloads from a central location.

A retail payment, advertising, and content switching system and method are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a secure content source or a non-secure content source is allowed to drive a customer user interface, respectively, without compromising security requirements. The content may be video, audio, prompts, or any other type of content. A secure controller is provided to control one or more user input devices and a user interface access module to control whether a secure source or a non-secure source drives the user interface, depending on the security mode of the system. The secure controller, the user interface access module, and the customer input devices are provided in an anti-tampering module. The secure controller prevents the non-secure source from providing unauthorized prompts on the customer user interface to “fake out” the customer so that sensitive customer information is not passed “in the clear.”

Multi compressor systems and apparatuses for the manufacture, storage and dispensing of manufactured hydrogen fuel to hydrogen vehicle tanks or remote mobile refuelers are disclosed.

A system for detecting unauthorized removal or tampering. The system comprises a printed circuit board having tamper-response electronics and a flexible circuit assembly defining a connector portion, a switch portion, and a cable extending between the connector portion and the switch portion. The flexible circuit assembly is coupled with the printed circuit board at the connector portion. The flexible circuit assembly comprises a plurality of layers each comprising a flexible dielectric substrate and a switch disposed in the switch portion. The switch is in electrical communication with the tamper-response electronics of the printed circuit board via a conductive path. The flexible circuit assembly also comprises a tamper-responsive conductor circuit enclosing the conductive path. The tamper-responsive conductor circuit is in electrical communication with the tamper-response electronics of the printed circuit board.

A fuel quality monitoring system and method to automatically and / or continuously monitor quality of fuel dispensed and control the operation of the fuel dispenser. The control system monitors fuel quality to prevent unsafe refuelings when the fuel quality is unacceptable. In one embodiment, a combination of a differential pressure sensor, a water detector, and / or a particle monitor is employed inline the fuel flow path of a fuel dispenser, and in particular an aviation refueling truck, to monitor the quality of the fuel. If fuel quality is at an acceptable level although not ideal, the control system can allow fueling with the generation of reports and alarms. If the fuel quality is unacceptable, fuel flow can be stopped. If the differential pressure across the filter indicates a high degree of debris and / or water retention, the control system can automatically lower the flow rate to reduce the risk of filter breakdown without completely preventing fueling until the filter can be replaced.

The present invention discloses systems and methods for enabling cashless fueling transactions through the use of vehicle-based decal sticker RFID tags. The tags store a unique customer identification number as well as other frequent purchase information. When read by a reader installed at the fuel dispenser, the tag information is sent to the network host via the Point of Sale (“POS”) system, where it is linked to a customer's account for transaction processing and subsequent activation of the fuel dispenser. Several tags may be read by a single interface unit, avoiding the need to connect a tag reader to each fuel dispenser.

A security architecture for a retail environment providing both on-line and off-line personal identification number (PIN) validation for a smart card transaction using a reduced number of secure access modules (SAMs). In one embodiment, the retail environment includes and security module and numerous fuel dispensers each including a controller and one or more PINpads and card readers. The security module includes one or more SAMs for off-line PIN validation. Each of the PINpads communicates with the security module, and the security module performs either on-line or off-line PIN validation for every PINpad in the retail environment. Accordingly, the security module uses one set of SAMs for off-line validation for every PINpad in the retail environment.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for using a reference meter to provide automated calibration for a fuel dispenser are disclosed. According to one method, first historical metering data associated with a fuel flow meter and second historical metering data associated with a reference meter are maintained within a memory. The first historical metering data is compared with the second historical metering data. It is determined whether a difference exists between the first historical metering data and the second historical metering data that can be corrected by calibration of the fuel flow meter. In response to determining that a difference exists between the first historical metering data and the second historical metering data that can be corrected by calibration of the fuel flow meter, an automated calibration of the fuel flow meter is performed.

A fuel dispenser includes a non-mechanical switch that detects whether a fueling nozzle is positioned inside or outside of a nozzle boot. When the non-mechanical switch detects that the fueling nozzle is removed from the nozzle boot, the non-mechanical switch generates a signal to activate a fuel dispensing transaction. When the non-mechanical switch detects that the fueling nozzle if replaced in the nozzle boot, the non-mechanical switch generates a signal to terminate the fuel dispensing transaction.

A system for providing cash to users in a self-service environment such as in dispensing motor fuel includes a self-service dispensing machine (12). A user is enabled to dispense merchandise from the self-service dispensing machine and is also enabled to selectively receive cash value by charging the amount of such value to a monetary source associated with a machine readable article (80, 82). A user may receive cash value by presenting a printed voucher or other item to a service provider located at a facility (14) at which the service provider exchanges the voucher or other item for cash. Alternatively, cash may be dispensed to the user directly from the self-service dispensing machine.

A dispensing system for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck also collects the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution. A fuel delivery hose includes a hand-held fuel valve and nozzle for insertion in the opening of the tank. A means delivers fuel under pressure to the fuel delivery hose, and another means provides electrical pulses corresponding to the volumetric flow of liquid through the fuel delivery hose when the fuel valve is open. A vapor recovery hose includes a vapor intake connected to the hand-held nozzle for insertion in the opening of the tank without sealing with the tank, and a motor driven vapor pump produces a volumetric flow through the vapor recovery hose corresponding to a signal applied to the motor. A processing means produces the signal applied to the motor in response to the electrical pulses to produce a volumetric flow of vapor slightly greater than the volumetric flow of fuel to the tank.

The present invention is a fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions, which includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer when a cash transaction is indicated. A cash transaction indicator is adapted to signal the control system that a cash transaction is taking place, and may be selectable by the customer or an operator of the system at the beginning of the transaction. The system may also include a transmitter adapted to transmit the customer-related information to the remote communication unit associated with the customer, or may include memory for storing the customer-related information in association with the identification indicia. The system may store credit for change based on a cash transaction, or may provide and store loyalty points on or in association with a transponder.

An embodiment of the invention provides an automatic paying method, equipment and system for a filling station. The automatic paying equipment for the filling station comprises a reader and a control device connected with a delivery valve of a fuel nozzle of a fuel dispenser; the reader acquires verification information arranged on an electronic tag of a vehicle body, an automatic fuel filling instruction is fed back after verification success, the control device connected with the fuel dispenser executes the fuel filling instruction, fuel filling data is fed back to a server after fuel filling operation, on-line fuel filling deduction is finished by the server, a tedious process for cash transaction between a user and a filling station worker is omitted, a verification link is realized through the electronic tag on the vehicle body, danger caused by verification or payment through a mobile terminal is eliminated, and the experience of the user and the safety of the filling station are further improved.

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.

Methods and systems for preventing fraudulent acquisition of private transaction information associated with customer input at a fuel dispenser are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a fuel dispenser includes a hose and nozzle combination that receives fuel to dispense to the customer's vehicle. The fuel dispenser includes a user interface having a display and a virtual keypad that is adapted to receive customer input associated with a transaction at the fuel dispenser. The fuel dispenser also includes a control system coupled to the user interface and adapted to determine when customer input is required for the transaction, activate the virtual keypad to facilitate entry of the customer input, receive the customer input from the virtual keypad, deactivate the virtual keypad after the customer input is received, and process the transaction based upon the received customer input.

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.

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.

A flow switch used on conjunction with a fuel flow meter in a fuel dispenser to determine when fuel flow rate signals form a fuel flow meter should be ignored in the calculation of flow rate and / or volume of fuel dispensed. An inferential fuel flow meter may be used as the fuel flow meter. The inferential fuel flow meter may be a turbine flow meter that comprises one or more turbine rotors that rotate in response to fuel flow flowing through the turbine flow meter. The turbine rotors may continue to generate pulses even when fuel is no longer flowing. A flow switch determines when fuel is actually flowing and fuel is not actually flowing. The flow switch is described as either a single poppet or dual poppet flow switch in examples described herein.

A compressed natural gas storage and dispensing system having bulk storage tanks in fluid communication with a natural gas supply source; a primary compressor delivering the natural gas to the bulk storage tanks; dispensing storage tanks in fluid communication with the bulk storage tanks and in fluid communication with fuel dispensers; a secondary compressor delivering the natural gas to the dispensing storage tanks from the bulk storage tanks; wherein when the pressure within the dispensing storage tanks falls below a predetermined minimum pressure, natural gas is delivered from the bulk storage tanks to the dispensing storage tanks, and wherein when the pressure in the bulk storage tanks falls below a predetermined minimum pressure, natural gas is delivered from the supply source to the bulk storage tanks.

A fuel management system and method that permits accurate accounting of fuel consumption within the context of a fuel consuming system is disclosed. The system / method may be broadly described as comprising a fuel level sensor, fuel level sensor transponder, fuel accounting system, and optional regulated fuel dispenser. The fuel level sensor accurately determines the contents of a fuel tank. This information is reported via fuel sensor transponder to a fuel accounting system that tracks the fuel consumption of the fuel consuming system and provides billing information based on the detected fuel consumption. This accounting information may be utilized within an optional regulated fuel dispenser to refill the fuel tank to an accurately predetermined fuel level for the next fuel management accounting cycle. While the present invention has many applications, one preferred embodiment targets fuel management within the context of rental / lease vehicles and the like.

A user interface for a fuel dispenser comprising a display, a display controller, and control circuitry. The control circuitry comprises a processing device, memory, and at least one microswitch. The display controller and the control circuitry are positioned such that the microswitch connects the control circuitry to the display controller. The microswitch is activated if the control circuitry is separated from the display controller. Activation of the microswitch causes any sensitive information stored by the control circuitry to be erased. In one aspect, separation of the display controller from the control circuitry is the only manner by which the processing device and / or the memory may be accessed.