Gilbarco Inc.

Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.

Other

Gilbarco, S.r.l.

Howard M Myers

Giovanni Carapelli

Benjamin Tasso Siler

Joseph D Long

Russel Dean Leatherman

Wayne McNinch

Randall O Watkins

John J Ronchetti, Sr

Edward A Payne

Michael C Liebal

Christopher Adam Oldham

Dolan F Blalock

Walter L Baker

Thomas J Park

Jack Francis Bartlett

Lester G Ward

Charles W VonCannon

Walter Tuttle Shuler

Roger W Stout

Joshua D Wyatt

Wayne Mcninch

Systems and methods for detecting fraud. One method includes providing an input device, the input device having processing circuitry, a memory, and at least one information receiving module for receiving information associated with a user of the input device. The method also includes providing a sensor in electronic communication with the processing circuitry. The sensor has a sensor coil, and the sensor coil is disposed proximate the at least one information receiving module. Further, the method includes flowing alternating electrical current through the sensor coil to generate a magnetic field, measuring at least one electrical characteristic of the sensor, and providing first information representative of the at least one electrical characteristic to the processing circuitry. Finally, the method includes storing in the memory second information representative of at least one predetermined value of the at least one electrical characteristic and comparing the first information with the second information.

Fuel dispenser anti-skimming input device

A fuel dispenser includes a fuel nozzle configured to be connected to a vehicle fuel system, fuel piping configured to transfer fuel from at least one fuel storage tank associated with the fuel dispenser through the fuel nozzle into the vehicle fuel system, and a fraud detection valve apparatus. The fraud detection valve apparatus includes a cutoff valve configured to selectively prevent flow of fuel, a flow sensor configured to sense a flow of fuel, and processing circuity. The processing circuitry is configured to receive an indication of flow of fuel through the fuel flow control valve apparatus, determine an authorization status, and in response to a determination of no authorization during flow, cause the cutoff valve apparatus to close.

Fuel dispenser with fraud detecting breakaway valve assembly

A fuel dispenser comprising fuel flow piping defining a flow path from a source of fuel toward a fueling nozzle. The fuel flow piping further has a filter manifold for mounting a fuel filter thereon. A plurality of fuel handling components are disposed along the fuel flow piping. A sensor device is mounted to the filter manifold, the sensor device having at least one sensor operative to detect a sensed condition related to the fuel dispenser. The sensor device further comprises electronics to transmit a signal related to the sensed condition.

Fuel dispenser sensor assembly

A fueling environment communication system for providing high bandwidth information via existing field wiring to a plurality of forecourt devices. The communication system according to this aspect comprises a back room communication module having a first plurality of Ethernet ports for connection to external devices using Ethernet communication and a second plurality of Ethernet ports. The back room communication module further comprises a plurality of modulation interface devices each connected on a first side to a respective one of the second plurality of Ethernet ports. A summing and isolation module having a high pass filter is connected to each of the modulation interface devices on a second side thereof to pass a modulated high frequency signal. The summing and isolation module further has a low pass filter through which low frequency legacy data can be passed and combined with said modulated high frequency signal. In addition, summing and isolation module is connectable via existing field wiring to communicate with forecourt devices in point-to-point fashion.

Fuel dispensing environment utilizing retrofit broadband communication system

A fueling environment's safety is improved by adding static charge sensors to the fuel dispenser and its peripherals. The static charge sensors detect static charge proximate the fuel dispenser and provide an indication of the static charge to a threshold detector. If the static charge is above a predetermined threshold, one or more safety devices may be activated to disperse or reduce the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser. Reduction in the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser helps reduce the risk of harm from the static charge.

Static electricity detection for fuel dispenser

A fuel dispenser contains a vapor sensor in the non-hazardous electronics chamber. The vapor sensor is operatively connected to a power interlock. When hydrocarbon vapors exceed a predetermined threshold in the electronics chamber, power is decoupled from the electronics in the electronics chamber to prevent explosions. The power interlock may further decouple power from the entire fuel dispenser. The detection of hydrocarbon vapors may also be communicated to another system including a remote location.

Hazardous area power interlock

A method and apparatus for detecting tampering with a fuel dispenser digital pulse stream during dispensing of a fuel. The method includes generating a digital pulse stream indicative of the volume and flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly; storing a digital pulse stream signature in a memory device wherein the stored signature includes the identifying pulse anomaly; comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with the stored digital pulse stream; and allowing fuel delivery to continue if the incoming digital pulse stream generated by the pulse generator is substantially similar to the stored digital pulse stream signature.

Signature pulse generator and method of detecting tampering with a fueling operation

A handheld energy detection diagnostic device for detecting and measuring high frequency energy comprising a pick-up or antenna mechanism coupled to electronics circuitry to receive and evaluate RF energy characteristics being emitted from an RF transmission source. Based upon the level of received energy and the level of expected energy, the device presents a ratio to a technician indicating a degree of performance currently being experienced at a particular device. Diagnostic data is also obtained to indicate to a technician the field geometry of the system being tested. The device is small enough to be handheld and included with a technician's standard set of tools.

Energy detection device

A fuel dispenser includes an overbody within which a wide, flat conductor acts as a loop antenna. The conductor is concentrically coiled to create a plurality of turns comparable in appearance to a coiled tape measure. The antenna is then molded into a panel or overbody and affixed to the fuel dispenser to present a visually pleasing appearance.

Loop conductor antenna for fuel dispenser

Signature pulse generator and method of detecting tampering with a

The present invention provides a fuel dispenser antenna configuration having an antenna with a directive radiation pattern for receiving or transmitting electromagnetic energy, and a reflective surface on the fuel dispenser housing for redirecting the directive radiation pattern of the antenna so that the directive radiation pattern reflects off of the reflective surface and extends in a second direction over a fueling position.

Fuel dispenser transponder antenna arrangement

A fuel station communication system used to transmit audio and video information to customers at fuel pumps. The fuel station communication system includes a transmitter located in a station store and a receiver having a communication unit located at a fuel pump. A wire pair connects the transmitter and receiver together for transmitting audio and video signals from the transmitter to the receiver. To provide for simultaneous transmission of the audio and video signals over the wire pair, the transmitter includes a modulator and signal summer. The modulator modulates the audio signal above the video signal, and the signal summer adds the modulated audio signal and the video signal together to form a combined, audio-video signal. A differential line driver and differential line receiver are connected to provide transmission of the audio-video signal from the transmitter to the receiver. The receiver includes a demodulator for converting the audio-video signal to separate audio and video signals for input into a communication unit located at the fuel pump. To electrically isolate the transmitter and receiver, optical couplers are disposed in the transmitter and receiver and separate power supplies are provided for portions of the transmitter and receiver.

Audio and video transmission from a fuel station store to a fuel pump

An apparatus for stabilizing an unmodulated video signal that has a sync tip voltage includes an amplifier for amplifying the video signal according to a control voltage, a transistor receiving the amplified video signal from the amplifier on the base of the transistor and outputting the amplified video signal on the collector, a sync tip voltage detector connected to the emitter of the transistor for detecting the sync tip voltage in the video signal and outputting a voltage derived from the sync tip voltage, an integrator having three inputs, one of which is the voltage derived from the sync tip voltage and another of which is a reference voltage and an output to the amplifier as the control voltage, a stabilization loop including a low current detector that detects low current levels in the amplified video signal through an optical coupler to a resistive element and a pulse stretcher that outputs a signal to the third input of the integrator, whereby the sync tip voltage detector, integrator and amplifier cooperate to stabilize the video signal in most circumstances, and the stabilization loop prevents video signal voltage from increasing to too high a level for the sync tip voltage detector.

Video signal stabilization

An apparatus the dispensing a liquid fuel and measuring the amount dispensed according to a temperature-corrected volumetric measure includes a housing having a fuel-handling compartment and an electronics compartment and a barrier between the fuel handling compartment and the electronics compartment, a plurality of fuel passageways through the fuel-handling compartment, each passageway having a flow meter to measure the volume of fuel flowing through the passageway and a thermometric probe adapted to read the temperature of fuel flowing through the passageway, each of the meters being connected by a first electrical circuit to pass an electrical signal representative of the volumetric flow through its respective passageway onto the first circuit, each of the probes being connected by a second electric circuit to pass an electrical signal representative of the temperature of the probe onto the second circuit, the second circuit having one intrinsically safe passage through the barrier, and electronics in the electronics compartment including a computation device connected to the circuits to receive the electric signals and to modify the electrical signal representative of the volumetric flow to account for temperature.

Temperature compensating fuel dispenser

A gas plasma display panel heater device for use with a gas plasma panel display, and methods for using and mounting the same. The gas plasma display panel has a display viewing area, external connection and heather. The gas plasma display heater device includes a thermally conductive layer, preferably a foil or coating, arranged and configured to substantially envelop the gas plasma display panel while not covering the display viewing area. The gas plasma display heater device is operative to conduct heat generated by the heater to other portions of the gas plasma display panel. The plasma display heater further includes a supplemental heater device. The supplemental heater device includes a heating element which is formed from an electrically resistive material such that, when a current is passed through the heating element, the same will generate heat. The supplemental heater also has electrical leads electrically connected with the heating element. The electrical leads are operable to conduct a current through the heating element. The heating element is mounted on a selected portion of the gas plasma display panel, preferably on or near the coldest portion thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Greensboro, NC, United States of America

Howard M Myers