IP Library Granted Patent US 8,494,371
Granted Patent B2
US 8,494,371 · App. 12/967,554 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Architecture of an optical refueling communication using glass fiber

Inventor: Oliver Maier (Worms, DE)
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
G02B6/4246
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,494,371
App. No.
12/967,554
Granted
Jul 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication interface for communication between a storage tank and a refueling station is described. One embodiment of the communication interface includes a control unit; an optical transmitter comprising an IR-LED, the optical transmitter directly integrated into the control unit or mounted on the control unit; and an optical frontend optically connected to the optical transmitter.

Claims (17)

1. A communication interface for communication between a vehicular storage tank and a refueling station comprising:

a vehicle engine control unit;

an optical transmitter comprising an IR-LED, the optical transmitter directly integrated into the vehicle engine control unit or mounted on the vehicle engine control unit; and

an optical frontend optically connected to the optical transmitter to provide communication between the vehicular storage tank and the refueling station.

2. The communication interface of claim 1 wherein the optical frontend is optically connected to the optical transmitter using a glass fiber.

3. The communication interface of claim 2 wherein there is more than one glass fiber.

4. The communication interface of claim 2 wherein the glass fiber is polarized.

5. The communication interface of claim 1 wherein the optical transmitter further comprises a visible LED.

6. The communication interface of claim 1 wherein the optical frontend comprises a lens.

7. A communication interface for communication between a vehicle and a refueling station comprising:

a vehicle engine control unit;

an optical transmitter comprising an IR-LED, the optical transmitter directly integrated into the vehicle engine control unit or mounted on the vehicle engine control unit; and

an optical frontend optically connected to the optical transmitter using a glass fiber to provide communication between the vehicular storage tank and the refueling station.

8. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein there is more than one glass fiber.

9. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein the glass fiber is polarized.

10. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein the optical transmitter further comprises a visible LED.

11. The communication interface of claim 7 wherein the optical frontend comprises a lens.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 24, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026499/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2010
From: MAIER, OLIVER
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025494/0644 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120148263A1 · Jun 14, 2012