IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,741,556
Granted Patent B2
US 11,741,556 · App. 17/162,800 · Granted Aug 29, 2023

Intelligent fuel dispensers

Inventors: John Joseph Morris (Austin, TX); Scott R. Negley, III (Austin, TX); Annika Birkler (Malmo, SE); Richard Carlsson (Malmo, SE); Patrick Jeitler (Austin, TX); Randal S. Kretzler (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC
G06Q50/06B67D7/04B67D7/14B67D7/145B67D7/228G06Q20/145G06V20/20G06V20/52G06V40/10G06V40/168G06V40/172G06V40/28G07F13/025G06F3/0481G06F2203/04108G06Q20/18G06Q30/0233
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,741,556
App. No.
17/162,800
Granted
Aug 29, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In general, intelligent fuel dispensers are provided. In at least some implementations, an intelligent fuel dispenser can determine customer identities and/or other characteristics and provide customized fueling sessions based on the determined customer identities and/or other characteristics. In at least some implementations, the fuel dispenser includes a touchless interface allowing customers to complete fueling sessions with minimal physical contact with the fuel dispenser.

Claims (29)

1. A system comprising:

a fuel dispenser including a display screen, an image sensor, and at least one data processor operatively connected to the display screen and the image sensor, the at least one data processor configured to

receive data characterizing an image from the image sensor, the image including a visual depiction of at least one of a person and a vehicle,

determine whether an event has occurred based on the received data, the event including at least one of an occurrence of an engine of the vehicle running, an occurrence of the person smoking, an occurrence of unauthorized access into a housing of the fuel dispenser, and an occurrence of damage to the housing to the fuel dispenser, and,

in response to determining that the event has occurred, provide a notification indicative of the occurrence of the event.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the at least one data processor is configured to determine, based on the received data, whether the person is electrically grounded prior to dispensing fuel from the fuel dispenser.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data processor is configured to determine, based on the received data, whether the person is about to commit a drive-off, and wherein the notification indicates that the person is about to commit the drive-off when the at least one data processor determines that the person is about to commit the drive-off.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the event includes a fuel leak.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification includes an alarm that includes at least one of an audible sound emanating from the fuel dispenser and a visual warning presented on the display screen.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data processor is configured to disable the fuel dispenser in response to determining that the event has occurred.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is provided to one or more fueling station components at a fueling station at which the fuel dispenser is located.

8. A fuel dispenser comprising:

a display screen;

an image sensor; and

at least one data processor operatively connected to the display screen and the image sensor, the at least one data processor configured to receive data characterizing an image from the image sensor, the image including a visual depiction of at least one of a person and a vehicle, to determine whether an event has occurred based on the received data, the event including at least one of an occurrence of an engine of the vehicle running, an occurrence of the person smoking, an occurrence of unauthorized access into a housing of the fuel dispenser, and an occurrence of damage to the housing to the fuel dispenser, and, in response to determining that the event has occurred, to provide a notification indicative of the occurrence of the event.

9. The fuel dispenser of claim 8 , wherein determining whether the event has occurred includes determining whether the person is electrically grounded prior to dispensing fuel from the fuel dispenser.

10. The fuel dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the at least one data processor is configured to determine, based on the received data, whether the person is about to commit a drive-off, and wherein the notification indicates that the person is about to commit the drive-off when the at least one data processor determines that the person is about to commit the drive-off.

11. The fuel dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the event includes a fuel leak.

12. The fuel dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the notification includes an alarm that includes at least one of an audible sound emanating from the fuel dispenser and a visual warning presented on the display screen.

13. The fuel dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the at least one data processor is configured to disable the fuel dispenser in response to determining that the event has occurred.

14. The fuel dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the notification is provided to one or more fueling station components at a fueling station at which the fuel dispenser is located.

15. A system comprising:

at least one data processor; and

a memory storing instructions configured to cause the at least one data processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving data characterizing an image from an image sensor, the image acquired by the image sensor and characterizing a visual depiction of at least one of a person and a vehicle of a person;

determining whether an event has occurred based on the received data, the event including at least one of an occurrence of an engine of the vehicle running, an occurrence of the person smoking, an occurrence of unauthorized access into a housing of the fuel dispenser, and an occurrence of damage to the housing to the fuel dispenser; and

providing a notification indicative of the occurrence of the event.

16. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the determining of whether the hazard event has occurred includes determining whether the person is electrically grounded prior to dispensing fuel from the fuel dispenser.

17. The fuel dispenser of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining based on the received data, whether the person is about to commit a drive-off, and wherein the provided notification indicates that the person is about to commit the drive-off in response to determining that the person is about to commit the drive-off.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 16296972 · Mar 8, 2019
Continuation 15476150 · Mar 31, 2017
Provisional Application 62349513 · Jun 13, 2016
Provisional Application 62342410 · May 27, 2016
Provisional Application 62325796 · Apr 21, 2016
Related Publication 20210150645A1 · May 20, 2021
Cited By (5)
US 12,223,557 US 12,229,842 US 12,248,996 US 12,299,992 US 12,393,998