Dispenser with radio frequency on-board vapor recovery identification

Abstract

A dispensing system ( 10 ) that utilizes radio frequencies identification capabilities in a service station environment to reliably and accurately detect an on-board vapor recovery (ORVR) system in a vehicle ( 26 ). The dispensing system ( 10 ) includes a vapor recovery system ( 33 ) for recovering fuel vapors responsive to a fuel being dispensed. The vapor recovery system ( 33 ) has a disabling mechanism ( 42 ) for selectively preventing its operation. The dispensing system ( 10 ) also includes an antenna ( 22 A, 22 B, 24 A, 24 B) for detecting a radio frequency signal from a transmitter ( 23 or 25 ) in a vehicle ( 26 ). The radio frequency signal may be a single bit indicating that the vehicle ( 26 ) has the ORVR system, or may include additional bits indicating a type of fuel to be dispensed. When the transmitter ( 23 or 25 ) is within a predetermined distance from the antenna ( 22 A, 22 B, 24 A, 24 B), a controller ( 20 ) receives the radio frequency signal from the antenna ( 22 A, 22 B, 24 a, 24 B) and asserts a disable signal ( 41 ). The disabling mechanism, responsive to the asserted disable signal ( 41 ), prevents the vapor recovery system ( 33 ) from operating and thereby eliminates any unwanted accumulation of air.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dispensing method with radio frequency on-board vapor recovery (ORVR) identification capabilities for controlling a system for recovering vapor during the dispensing, the method comprising: 
 determining whether ORVR identification data has been received, the dispenser including a device for receiving the ORVR identification data from a transmitter associated with a receptacle;    if the ORVR identification data has been received, disabling the vapor recovery system during dispensing.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the determination of whether the ORVR identification data has been received occurs following initiation of dispensing.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 if the ORVR identification data has not been received, enabling the vapor recovery system during dispensing.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the receiver also emits a radio frequency signal within the dispenser range and transmission of the ORVR identification data is responsive to the emitted radio frequency signal being received by the transmitter.  
     
     
         5 . A system for selectively disabling an automated process associated with a dispenser, the system comprising: 
 an antenna for receiving a radio signal from a transmitter associated with a receptacle within a predefined range of the dispenser;    a receiver connected to the antenna for interpreting the radio signal and providing a control signal in response to the interpreted radio signal; and    a disable mechanism for receiving the control signal from the receiver and disabling the automated process accordingly.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the antenna also transmits a radio pulse within the dispenser range and the received radio signal is responsive to the emitted radio frequency signals received by the transmitter.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the radio pulse is continually transmitted.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the radio pulse is transmitted in response to initiation of dispensing.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the radio signal is repeatedly transmitted by the transmitter.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the radio signal only propagates a relatively short distance from the receptacle.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the radio signal is responsive to a command from the receptacle.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the radio signal is responsive to a predetermined condition of the receptacle.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the automated process is a vapor recovery system, the receptacle is a vehicle, and the radio signal indicates that the vehicle has an on-board vapor recovery system.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5  wherein if the control signal is not received, the disabling mechanism does not disable the automated process.  
     
     
         15 . A fuel dispenser comprising: 
 a vapor recovery system for recovering fuel vapors responsive to a fuel being dispensed;    a disabling mechanism for preventing the vapor recovery system from recovering fuel vapors in response to receipt of a disable signal;    an antenna for detecting a radio frequency signal from a transmitter in a vehicle, the transmitter being within a predetermined distance from the fuel dispenser;    a controller for receiving the radio frequency and producing the disable signal in response thereto.    
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the radio frequency signal indicates that the vehicle includes an on-board vapor recovery system.  
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the radio frequency signal operates at a relatively low frequency.  
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 15  farther comprising: 
 means for indicating to a user whether or not the vapor recovery system has been disabled.  
 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 means for allowing a user to over-ride the disable signal.  
 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 wherein the antenna also produces a power pulse such that the transmitter transmits the radio frequency signal in response to the power pulse.  
 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 means for synchronizing the power pulse to prevent unwanted radio signals from vehicles at other dispensers.  
 
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 20  wherein the means for synchronizing synchronizes the dispenser with the other dispensers.  
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 20  wherein the means for synchronizing uses a dither synchronization method.  
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the controller also selects from among different fuel types in response to the received radio frequency.  
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the received radio frequency contains a plurality of bits, at least one bit indicating one or more fuel types to be dispensed.  
     
     
         26 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the disabling mechanism turns off a vapor pump.  
     
     
         27 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the disabling mechanism is an open/shut valve.