Vehicle Data and Fuel Management System

摘要

A system and method for automating dispensing operations such as vehicle fueling operations. The system properly matches a dispenser to a port on a specific container, thereby insuring that the proper substance is loaded into the proper container. A passive or active RF/ID module is attached to the dispenser assembly. A fuel port antenna located on the container's port is used to communicated with this RF/ID module. The fuel port antenna's driving circuitry is able to step through multiple frequencies within a defined frequency band. A suitable transmission frequency is determined and stored in memory. A container-specific frequency is thereby determined and stored for future use. The use of this optimized frequency serves the dual purposes of maintaining only a short-range R/F link while also ensuring the reliability of that link.

主权项

1. A method for controlling the delivery of a substance into a container, comprising:
a. providing a container with an inlet port; b. providing a processor having an associated memory, said processor being mounted to said container; c. providing a variable-frequency transmitter connected to an antenna located proximate said inlet port of said container, said variable-frequency transmitter being controlled by said processor; d. providing a dispenser configured to deliver said substance to said container via said inlet port; e. providing an RF identification tag attached to said dispenser, said RF identification tag configured to receive a query signal on a query frequency and transmit a reply signal on a reply frequency; f. providing a tag receiver configured to detect said reply signal from said RF identification tag, said tag receiver being in communication with said processor; g. said processor causing said variable-frequency transmitter to transmit to said RF identification tag on a starting query frequency, and thereafter alter said query frequency through a defined range of query frequencies; h. said tag receiver monitoring for said reply signal and, upon detecting said reply signal, informing said processor that the last-transmitted query frequency has elicited a reply signal from said RF identification tag; i. saving said last-transmitted frequency in said associated memory as a new value for said starting query frequency; j. after said reply signal is received, commencing said delivery of said substance through said dispenser into said container, k. said variable-frequency transmitter thereafter continuing to transmit on said last-transmitted frequency; and l. continuing to monitor for said reply signal and, in the event that no reply signal is received, terminating said dispensing operation.