Fuel Dispenser Antenna Group Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel dispensing systems at gas stations suffer from low user-friendliness and high error and manipulation risks due to manual interaction and reliance on a single mobile device for fuel point identification, leading to inaccurate billing and potential fraud.
Innovation Solution
A fuel delivery system with a group antenna arrangement that processes information signals containing modulated and unmodulated sections, allowing for precise determination of a mobile terminal's position to accurately assign a fuel delivery point and facilitate reliable billing through a network of adjacent forecourt antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual interaction and single mobile device identification are used for fuel point identification, then user-friendliness is reduced and error risk increases, but system complexity is kept low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device that captures images of the fuel pump and nozzle. The image processing system acts as a mediator between the user's mobile device and the fuel dispensing system, automatically identifying the fuel point by analyzing visual features in the captured image. This eliminates manual input errors while keeping the user interface simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical interaction (user manually selecting or inputting fuel point information) with an automated optical recognition system. The camera captures visual data and the processing system automatically determines the fuel point identification, substituting manual operations with automated image-based recognition.
2Measurement precision
If optical detection devices are added to improve identification accuracy, then measurement precision increases, but installation effort and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the mobile device's camera serve multiple functions: it acts as both the user's interface for initiating the refueling process and as the optical detection device for identifying the fuel pump. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated optical detection hardware at each fuel pump, reducing installation complexity while maintaining high identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the user's own mobile device camera to perform the detection function. The mobile device itself provides the optical detection capability needed for accurate fuel point identification, eliminating the need for the fuel station to install and maintain separate detection devices at each pump location.
3Reliability
If multiple data sources are used for determining fuel point, then reliability and error resistance improve, but device complexity and installation effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the identification function into the existing mobile device application. The fuel dispensing application on the user's mobile device integrates camera capture, image processing, and fuel point identification into a single unified system. This combines multiple functions (camera, processor, software) into one device that the user already possesses, avoiding the need for multiple separate components at the fuel station.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The application relates to a fuel dispensing system (100, 200, 500, 600, 700) comprising at least one fuel dispensing arrangement (174, 674, 774) with at least one first fuel dispensing point (102, 602.1, 602.2, 602.3, 702.1, 702.2, 702.3), configured for dispensing fuel to a vehicle (118), wherein the fuel dispensing system (100, 200, 500, 600, 700) comprises at least one first group antenna arrangement (108, 208, 308, 308.1, 308.2) attributable to at least the first fuel dispensing point (102, 602.1, 602.2, 602.3, 702.1, 702.2, 702.3). 508, 608.1, 608.2, 708.1, 708.2) comprising, configured to process at least one information signal (234, 446, 562, 564.1, 564.2, 564.3, 662.1, 662.2, 734), comprising at least one modulated signal section (458) and at least one unmodulated signal section (456), wherein the first group antenna arrangement (108, 208, 308, 308.1, 308.2, 508, 608.1, 608.2, 708.1, 708.2) comprises a plurality of adjacent forecourt antennas (110, 210, 510).