Patent US3894658A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3894658A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispensing control system for fluids
Assignee: ELECTRONIC MARKETING SYSTEMS Inc A CA CORP
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Filing: 1974-06-20
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1994-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing control and display system for fluid products is disclosed which is adapted to control the operation of a number of dispensers from a remote location and also provide a visual display at the remote location of quantity and cost data for the fluid being dispensed by each of the dispensers. The system utilizes pulse code and multiplexing in a telemetering system that requires little modification of the dispensers themselves, which may be gasoline pumps or the like. The system uses existing power conductors for transmitting information between a dispenser control unit associated with each of the dispensers and a central control unit at the remote location. Each dispenser control unit responds to an individual identification code signal sent by the central control unit and transmits the data to the central control unit which is then received and forwarded to and displayed by a corresponding console control unit. The identification code signals permit the system to operate with a single carrier frequency. The system includes features that insure accurate display of the cost and quantity by saving the data for retransmission in the event the system determines that the data was not properly transmitted. The operation of individual dispensing units may be interrupted and thereafter resumed by an operator at the remote location if desired, without affecting the display of the data.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr John A Buell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:21
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/08; B67D7/22; B67D7/224; B67D7/227; B67D7/228; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
A fluid dispensing system for controlling and dispensing cost and quantity data relating to the dispensing of liquid from one or more dispensers, such as gasoline dispensers or the like, which are of the type that have a mechanical computer therein for displaying the cost and quantity data during dispensing of the liquid, said dispenser having a reset motor for zeroing the mechanical computer and an electrically actuated flow control means for enabling liquid to flow therethrough, said system comprising: a dispenser control means for each of said dispensers and adapted to transmit and receive data by modulated serial pulse coded time division multiplexing for communicating information concerning the operation of the dispenser and including means for controlling the mechanical computer reset motor and the dispenser flow control means, opto-mechanical means for producing pulses indicative of the cost and quantity of the liquid being dispensed, identification decoding means for comparing identification code signals with internally generated precoded signals and producing an output in response to an identical comparison of said identification code and precoded signals, and means for transmitting said cost and quantity data responsive to said decoding means producing said predetermined output; central control means adapted to selectively transmit and receive said data and including means for generating said identification code signals and for sequentially changing said signals so that said central control means can sequentially communicate with each of said dispenser control means; a console control means for each of said dispenser control means, and including data registers adapted to receive said cost and quantity data from said central control means as it is received thereby and including visual display means for providing a visual readout of said data as it is registered, said console control means having identification decoding means with internally generated precoded signals identical to those of the dispenser control means with which it is associated, so that said cost and quantity data sent by the dispenser control means is displayed by the proper console control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
332 words
A fluid dispensing system for controlling and dispensing cost and quantity data relating to the dispensing of liquid from one or more dispensers, such as gasoline dispensers or the like, which are of the type that have a mechanical computer therein for displaying the cost and quantity data during dispensing of the liquid, said dispenser having a reset motor for zeroing the mechanical computer and an electrically actuated flow control means for enabling liquid to flow therethrough, said system comprising: a dispenser control means for each of said dispensers and adapted to transmit and receive data by modulated serial pulse coded time division multiplexing for communicating information concerning the operation of the dispenser and including means for controlling the mechanical computer reset motor and the dispenser flow control means, opto-mechanical means for producing pulses indicative of the cost and quantity of the liquid being dispensed, identification decoding means for comparing identification code signals with internally generated precoded signals and producing an output in response to an identical comparison of said identification code and precoded signals, and means for transmitting said cost and quantity data responsive to said decoding means producing said predetermined output; central control means adapted to selectively transmit and receive said data and including means for generating said identification code signals and for sequentially changing said signals so that said central control means can sequentially communicate with each of said dispenser control means; a console control means for each of said dispenser control means, and including data registers adapted to receive said cost and quantity data from said central control means as it is received thereby and including visual display means for providing a visual readout of said data as it is registered, said console control means having identification decoding means with internally generated precoded signals identical to those of the dispenser control means with which it is associated, so that said cost and quantity data sent by the dispenser control means is displayed by the proper console control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispenser control means and said central control means are adapted to operate in transmit and receive modes, said central control means operating in transmit mode for interrogating said dispenser control means and for transmitting said identification codes thereto, one of said dispenser control means responding to said predetermined identification code signals when it is in its receive mode and switching to its transmit mode for transmitting information to the central control unit, including pulse coded signals indicative of the cost and quantity data of the fluid being dispensed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said identification decoding means includes a precoded switching means having at least an equal number of outputs as identification code bits transmitted in the identification code signal and means for comparing the outputs of said precoded switching means with said transmitted identification code signal from said central control means, the comparing means producing an output in response to said switching means outputs comparing with the transmitted identification code signal, each of said switching means in the dispenser control means being differently precoded from other of the switching means, so that only one of said dispenser control means responds to a particular identification code signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said comparing means comprises a number of EXCLUSIVE-OR gates, each of which has an input from the identification code signal being transmitted from the central control means as well as from the precoded switChing means located within the dispenser control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said console control means includes means for generating signals for transmission to the dispenser control unit associated therewith enabling said dispenser electrically actuated flow control means to be actuated so that said dispenser may be run, and for enabling a motor for resetting the mechanical computer in said dispenser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said dispenser control means includes a plurality of one bit memory devices that are responsive to said reset enable and flow control enable signals generated by said associated console control means, said memory devices driving solid state relays which control the operation of said mechanical computer reset motor and said electrically actuated flow control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said console control means includes means for generating a signal for transmission to the associated dispenser control means for temporarily interrupting the operation of said dispenser by controlling the electrically actuated flow control means, said dispenser being interrupted without affecting the visual display related to the cost and quantity of the fluid being dispensed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said console control means includes data registers adapted to receive and register said cost and quantity data of the fluid being dispensed, including a switch for alternatively changing the visual display between the cost and quantity of the fluid being dispensed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said console control means includes means for blinking said visual display when the dispenser is manually shut off at the termination of dispensing of fluid at the dispenser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said opto-mechanical means for providing pulses indicative of the cost and quantity of the fluid being dispensed comprises a light sensitive semiconductor and light producing means positioned to provide a light circuit therebetween, and a rotating disk having a predetermined number of teeth therein adapted to open and close said light circuit to thereby switch said light sensitive semiconductor off and one, said disk being mechanically coupled to said mechanical computer and rotatable responsive to the operation of the mechanical computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said dispenser control unit is located within said dispenser near the top thereof and said mechanical linkage of said optomechanical means comprises a flexible rotatable link, one end of which is connected to the shaft of said mechanical computer, the other end of which is connected to said rotatable disk, said disk being positioned immediately adjacent said dispenser control means, said light sensitive semiconductor and light emitting means being positioned adjacent said disk.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said dispenser control means is located within said dispenser near the top thereof, said light sensitive semiconductor and light emitting means being located within said dispenser control means, said rotatable disk being attached to the shaft of said mechanical computer and including a fiber optic bundle extending from said light sensitive semiconductor and light emitting means to a location adjacent said rotatable disk so that rotation of said disk causes the teeth thereof to make and break said light circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said opto-mechanical means further includes a dividing counter connected to said light sensitive semiconductor and adapted to divide the number of pulses produced by the switching of said light sensitive semiconductor, a memory device for buffering said data pulses, and a second memory device for saving said data for retransmission in the event the previous data transmission containing said data pulse was received with error by said central control means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said memorY device stores a data pulse that is indicative of either one cent or 0.1 gallon of dispensed fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said dispenser control means includes means for inhibiting a clearing pulse for clearing a memory device in which said cost and quantity data is stored, in the event the data is not properly received by the central control means, said pulse being inhibited in the event the dispenser control means fails to switch into the receive mode within said predetermined time, thereby enabling retransmission of said data at the next interrogation of that dispenser control means by said central control means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said central control means includes means for generating said external identification code signals, including a binary upcounter having a plurality of binary outputs which are sequentially changed to generate new identification code signals for interrogating other of the dispenser control means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said central control means includes time delay means for advancing said upcounter to produce a new identification code signal in response to said central control means receiving either an incorrect or no response from one of said interrogated dispenser control means within said predetermined time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said central control means includes multiplexing means for producing a signal incrementing the upcounter upon receiving said cost and quantity data from an interrogated dispenser control means within said predetermined time, and thereby enabling a new interrogation cycle to be inititated, said time delay means producing a signal for incrementing said upcounter in the event that correct data was not received within said predetermined time after said transmit mode has been completed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said central control means includes means for strobing said cost and quantity data to all of said console control means together with an identical identification code signal sent to the dispenser control means, so that the console control means corresponding to the dispenser control means receives and registers said data.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
221 words
A system for providing a remote indication of data relating to the dispensing of fluid from one or more dispensers of a service station or the like, comprising: dispenser control means associated with each of the dispensers, console control means associated with each of the dispenser control means, and central control means, all of said control means transmitting and receiving electrical signals, including the data relating to the dispensed fluid, the signals between said dispenser control means and said central control means being adapted to be transmitted over electrical conductors between said dispensers and a remote location; said central control means including means for sequentially interrogating individual dispenser control means associated with each dispenser to gather the data related to the fluid being dispensed, said central control means selectively transmitting identification code signals to all of said dispenser control means, each of said dispenser control means individually transmitting the data to said central control means responsive to receiving an identification code signal that matches an internally generated precoded signal within the dispenser control means; said console control means receiving said data from the central control means together with an identification code signal corresponding to the identification signal associated with the dispenser control means from which the data originated, each of said console control means providing a visual display of said data.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
221 words
A system for providing a remote indication of data relating to the dispensing of fluid from one or more dispensers of a service station or the like, comprising: dispenser control means associated with each of the dispensers, console control means associated with each of the dispenser control means, and central control means, all of said control means transmitting and receiving electrical signals, including the data relating to the dispensed fluid, the signals between said dispenser control means and said central control means being adapted to be transmitted over electrical conductors between said dispensers and a remote location; said central control means including means for sequentially interrogating individual dispenser control means associated with each dispenser to gather the data related to the fluid being dispensed, said central control means selectively transmitting identification code signals to all of said dispenser control means, each of said dispenser control means individually transmitting the data to said central control means responsive to receiving an identification code signal that matches an internally generated precoded signal within the dispenser control means; said console control means receiving said data from the central control means together with an identification code signal corresponding to the identification signal associated with the dispenser control means from which the data originated, each of said console control means providing a visual display of said data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein the signals between said dispenser control means and central control means are transmitted by modulated serial pulse coded time division multiplexing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said sequential interrogation Means generates a series of binary coded pulses comprising said identification code signal and includes a binary upcounter having a plurality of binary outputs that are sequentially changed to generate new binary identification code signals for said sequential interrogation of said individual dispenser control means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said central control means includes means for strobing said data relating to the dispensed fluid to all of said console control means together with an identification code identical to the identification code transmitted to the dispenser control means, so that said console control means corresponding to the dispenser control means receives and registers said data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said central control means includes time delay means for advancing said upcounter to produce a new identification code signal in response to said central control means receiving either an incorrect or no response from one of said interrogated dispenser control means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
95 words
A system as defined in claim 24 wherein said central control means includes multiplexing means for producing a signal for incrementing the upcounter upon accurate receipt of said data from the dispenser control means, thereby enabling a subsequent dispenser control means to be interrogated, said time delay means producing a false signal incrementing the upcounter in the event that said data was not received or was faulty, the false signal being generated by said time delay means in the event correct data transmitted from a dispenser control means is not received within a predetermined time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said dispenser control means includes means for generating pulse signals indicative of the cost and quantity of the fluid being dispensed, including opto-mechanical means adapted to monitor the operation of the dispenser.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said console control means includes means for generating a signal for transmission to the dispenser control means for temporarily interrupting the operation of said dispenser, said dispenser being interrupted without affecting the visual display of the data relating to the dispensed fluid.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein said visual display of said data by said console control means comprises a visual display of the cost data relating to the fluid being dispensed, and including a switch for changing the visual display to illustrate the quantity of fluid being dispensed.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 20 wherein the signals between said dispenser control means and said central control means are transmitted over existing AC power conductors extending to the dispenser.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 10 wherein the light circuit is completed by reflection from the teeth of said rotating disc.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |