US6237647B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic refueling station
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-04-05
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Granted: 2001-05-29
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Expires: 2019-04-05
Abstract
Abstract An automatic refueling station and method detects the arrival of a vehicle to be refueled at the refueling station. Upon detection of the vehicle, the vehicle is polled by the station to obtain information from the vehicle which identifies the vehicle and the customer associated with the vehicle. The information is stored on an identification transponder or tag affixed to the vehicle windshield. The system uses the identifying information to access a vehicle database and a customer database. The vehicle database can provide information about the vehicle such as the location of the vehicle's fuel filler opening, the size of the vehicle and other information related to a recommended fuel filling rate for the vehicle. The customer identifying information is used to access the customer database to obtain information such as customer billing information and the amount of fuel being purchased. Using the data retrieved from the databases, a refueling module can locate the fuel filler opening and refuel the vehicle at a optimum fuel rate. A network of sensors deployed in the refueling area facilitate the refueling procedure. A vision system aides in locating the fuel filler opening and guiding the fuel filler nozzle to the opening. Other sensors such as force, torque, infrared, sonar, magnetic and hall effect sensors aide in guiding the nozzle into a docking position with the vehicle. Other sensors in the area provide monitoring of the area to prevent hazards such as collisions between vehicles and persons and criminal activity in the area.
Inventors
- 👤 William Pong
- 👤 Edward Fredkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:46
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0401; B67D7/06; B67D7/08; B67D7/14; B67D7/145; B67D7/32; B67D7/34; B67D7/344; B67D7/348; B67D2007/0403; B67D2007/0405; B67D2007/0407; B67D2007/0409; B67D2007/0417; B67D2007/043; B67D2007/0436; B67D2007/0444; B67D2007/0453; B67D2007/0455; B67D2007/0457; B67D2007/0461; B67D2007/0467; B67D2007/0471; B67D2007/0473
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for automatically refueling a vehicle comprising: A. a detector configured to receive a vehicle information message from said vehicle and to derive a vehicle identification from the vehicle information message; B. means for accessing a database of stored data related to a plurality of vehicles to obtain vehicle data related to the vehicle as a function of said vehicle identification; C. a fuel filler door system configured to facilitate opening a fuel filler door of said vehicle; and D. a refueling module configured to automatically refuel the vehicle as a function of the vehicle data; wherein the stored data comprises information related to a fuel fill rate for the vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for automatically refueling a vehicle comprising: A. a detector configured to receive a vehicle information message from said vehicle and to derive a vehicle identification from the vehicle information message; B. means for accessing a database of stored data related to a plurality of vehicles to obtain vehicle data related to the vehicle as a function of said vehicle identification; C. a fuel filler door system configured to facilitate opening a fuel filler door of said vehicle; and D. a refueling module configured to automatically refuel the vehicle as a function of the vehicle data; wherein the stored data comprises information related to a fuel fill rate for the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the refueling module comprises means for refueling the vehicle at an optimized fuel fill rate based on the information related to the fuel fill rate for the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stored data comprise information related to a location of a fuel fill cap on the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the refueling module uses the information related to the location of the fuel fill cap to locate the fuel fill cap on the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information received from the vehicle comprises billing information for a customer associated with the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vehicle information message received from the vehicle comprises information that identifies a customer associated with the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for accessing a database of stored data related to a plurality of customers to obtain data related to billing information for the customer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vision system for locating a fuel fill cap of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vision system for monitoring a position of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vibration sensing system for determining whether an engine of the vehicle is running.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an acoustic sensing system for determining whether an engine of the vehicle is running.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sonar sensor for monitoring a position of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an infrared sensor for monitoring a position of the vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency transponder mountable in the vehicle from which the information used to identify the vehicle is detected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the refueling module comprises a robotic arm for positioning a fuel fill nozzle to refuel the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for varying a fuel flow rate through the nozzle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a vision system used by the refueling module to control the robotic arm to position the fuel fill nozzle the refuel the vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the refueling module comprises a force sensor for sensing force on the robotic arm while the nozzle is being positioned.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the force sensor is at least partially located on the robotic arm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the refueling module comprises a camera for generating an image used in positioning the nozzle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the camera is located on the robotic arm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the refueling module comprises an infrared sensor used in positioning the nozzle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the infrared sensor is at least partially located on the robotic arm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the refueling module comprises a sonar sensor used in positioning the nozzle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the sonar sensor is at lease partially located on the robotic arm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the refueling module comprises a magnetometer used in positioning the nozzle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the magnetometer is located on the robotic arm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a gas fill cap comprising a magnet, said magnet being sensed by the magnetometer as the nozzle is positioned.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the refueling module comprises a hall effect sensor used in positioning the nozzle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the hall effect sensor is located on the robotic arm.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the refueling module comprises a torque sensor for sensing torque on the robotic arm while the nozzle is being positioned.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the torque sensor is at least partially located on the robotic arm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fuel filler door system includes a fuel filler door opener.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fuel filler door system comprises a vision system for locating the fuel filler door.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fuel filler door system includes a fuel filler door closer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fuel filler door system includes a fuel filler door release notification mechanism, configured to notify an operator of said vehicle to release said fuel filler door, when said vehicle data includes information indicating that said vehicle includes an operator controllable fuel filler door release, internal to said vehicle.
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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) | 2004-05-28 | 2004-11-27 | 2005-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-28 | 2008-11-27 | 2009-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-28 | 2012-11-27 | 2013-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |