ES2394811B1 - AUTOMATIC FUEL PAYMENT DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC FUEL PAYMENT PROCEDURE - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic fuel payment device, with at least one electronic module (2) for coupling in a vehicle, associated with the vehicle's fuel level sensor (1), with microcontroller (21), memory card (25), fuel system wireless communication (26), GPS (24), GPRS (23), and communication system (27), and an electronic module (3) for a dispenser (7), with microcontroller (33), connection element (35) , memory card (31), wireless communication system (32). # Automatic fuel payment procedure where the module (2) is activated through the fuel sensor (1), the driver will be notified and the password is requested. , the driver indicates the characteristics and amount of fuel, the dispenser (7) is activated to refuel and once finished, an SMS is sent to the driver's bank, at the same time that the correct end of said operation is reported to the driver.

Description

FUEL AUTOMATIC PAYMENT DEVICE AND FUEL AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PROCEDURE

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is about an automatic fuel payment device and automatic fuel payment method, which makes it possible to pay without having to check out the box or wait for the uncomfortable queues. In this way, a process that is sometimes very cumbersome as well as causing a great waste of time is automated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, when refueling at any service station, two procedures are followed, either prepaid, having to pay the amount in cash before filling the tank, or on the contrary, the tank is filled and subsequently Make the cash payment.

That is, when the deposit is in reserve, or the driver considers that it must refuel, it stops at the chosen service station, getting off the vehicle in the direction of the box to make the payment before refueling, or it is refueling and then passes per box This operation that seems simple, wastes a lot of travel time, especially if there are large queues in the suppliers or in the box itself, in addition to having to use physical material such as credit cards with the inconvenience that result from it.

That is to say, this process of filling the tank restores a cumbersome task, since the suppliers can be full, we must make large queues and wait a considerable interval of time until they are taken care of and perform the desired operation. But the problem does not end there, but the same payment process becomes tedious for all

Consumers

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention solves in a fully satisfactory manner the problems set forth above. It is an automatic fuel payment device, as well as the procedure for making said automatic fuel payment. It is worthwhile that the proposed system serves to fill the tank with any type of fuel, be it fuel, electricity or others.

The proposed system comprises a device that is installed in the dispenser, and at least one device that will be installed inside a vehicle. Any electronic automatic payment device to which we have referred and incorporated into the vehicle can be connected to said device inside the dispenser. This electronic device of the vehicle may be included as standard or may be installed after it. That is, the dispenser device is connected to all existing vehicle devices, in order to receive orders from the latter.

Thus, the procedure followed by the system through the devices would be the following: the vehicle's fuel level sensor activates a signal, as it has been up to date with the low fuel signal

or in reserve situation, where the light is turned on to indicate the need to refuel within a short period of time. However, in this case, in addition to the above, the system activates a signal, for example, a system of

hands-free communication with voice recognition, associated with a microcontroller incorporated in the vehicle, either on the dashboard or in

Any other place deemed appropriate. The microcontroller may be powered by the vehicle's own battery, or the device may have its own battery incorporated.

In this way, once the device is activated, it will ask if the user wishes to carry out the fuel supply, indicating the distance to the nearest service station. In this way, the driver will be informed of the vehicle's travel autonomy, indicated by the fuel level sensor, and if it is within the allowable distance. You can even inform if you have enough fuel to reach the next service station after the next one in case you do not want to refuel at the latter. In the positive case, a series of data will be required, such as an access code, tax to refuel, type of fuel, or any other that is considered appropriate. The system will confirm the data entered and if the user agrees, the information will be stored on a memory card of the electronic automatic payment device of the vehicle that sends them to the supplier's memory card through the microcontroller. The electronic device of the dispenser will only read said device information for specific cases or as programmed, for example, it will only read it in case it is positioned at a certain distance and according to a specific angle. This is about discriminating other electronic devices located nearby, which could interfere with the supply process. At this time you can refuel. Once refilled, the supplier's microcontroller sends an SMS to the bank that will be responsible for carrying out the charge. At the same time, the microcontroller sends a seMI via wireless to the memory card of the electronic automatic payment device of the vehicle, indicating the satisfactory end of the process.

In case the user's response to the question of making the

fuel supply is negative, the fuel sensor will return to

indicate the need to refuel after a certain time, for example, after half of the reservoir reserve, provided the vehicle can take time to a service station.

In order to carry out all these operations, as mentioned, the system needs a device installed in the dispenser and at

less a device installed in the vehicle.

The proposed system is integrated with the elements currently existing in both vehicles and service stations. The device to be installed in the vehicle comprises:

a microcontroller,

a hands-free communication system, preferably with

speech recognition,

GPRS

GPS

T memory stick

Wireless communication system

The device to be installed inside the dispenser will include:

T memory stick

Wireless communication system

Microcontroller

Connection element between the microcontroller and the system

Embedded from the supplier. Activates the automatic marking of the amount.

Both devices can have, in addition to the above, their own power system, that is, their own battery included inside each of the modules. But they can also do without it, so that the vehicle module will take the power supply from the vehicle's battery, while the dispenser module will be fed from the supplier's own power system.

Next, the operation of the system will be described separately for the at least two devices incorporated in the dispenser and in the vehicle. Thus, in the vehicle, a signal that comes from an energy level sensor or fuel level sensor, already currently incorporated into the

vehicle. activate a hands-free communication system with recognition

voice, associated with a microcontroller, which can be installed on the dashboard

or anywhere else deemed appropriate. The microcontroller establishes a series of questions to the driver and is able to discern possible answers following a pre-established computer program. This player and voice analyzer consists of two very different aspects, on the one hand with a question-answer program on the one hand, and on the other hand with a voice player that will indicate later and at the end of the process that the supply has been taken to carried out satisfactorily. The power supply to that microcontroller will be done through the vehicle's own electrical system, as long as possible, otherwise, as indicated above, the incorporation of a small battery.

The microcontroller has a hands-free system with voice recognition as well as many of the mobile phones in the market and that are currently introduced as extra in a large part of the vehicles. The difference in this case is that the driver does not establish contact, but it is the system itself that communicates with the driver so that the driver, simply by saying the amount and type of fuel starts the process. That is, the system will recognize keywords as amount or type of fuel and not a name. The device initiates a sequence and information and brief questions for the user to which it will answer without distraction to the driving. The loudspeakers used can be the audio system's own speakers, that is to say, the attavoces of the vehicle's radio, while the order given by the driver will be done through a small microphone installed in any appropriate part of the same vehicle, next to the driver and make the communication visible. It is important to note that the voice recognition system could be replaced and implemented by the radio controls integrated in the steering wheel, so that each touch press could be equivalent to the selection of an amount 6 to a type of fuel. The data can be displayed on the vehicle dashboard display.

The microcontroller also has a Global Positioning System 6 GPS, so that when the fuel level sensor is activated when a low level is detected 6 reserve, it sends a signal through an electric pulse to the GPRS that requests the vehicle distance to the service station closest to the GPS by activating the hands-free communication system by voice recognition, or any other that is implemented. With the obtaining of two data, distance to the service station and autonomy of displacement of the vehicle provided by the fuel level sensor, the device is able to report the risk of unwanted stop due to lack thereof.

In this way, the system indicates to the driver that the vehicle is in reserve 6 under fuel, and at the same time, it indicates the nearest selVicio station. If the driver wishes to refuel, the

Questions to load the desired amount and fuel, sending the microcontroller the information to a memory rate that acts as a receiver, similar to the automatic payment rates that cars carry on highways and that are capable of storing that data in memory to turn it later when the toll passes. This card is identification of the vehicle, associated with the letter 6 to the frame number of the vehicle.

In this way, the data will be dumped from said memory card of the device of the vehicle to which it now serves as emitter of the signal, that is, to a receiver outside the vehicle and specifically incorporated in the fuel pump of the service station whose location was previously signaled through the GPRS. This communication will be carried out via bluetooth, infrared, radiofrequency identification systems or through any wireless transmission device, and the information is collected on a memory card of the device itself installed in the dispenser.

This information collected on the memory card of the electronic automatic payment device incorporated into the existing dispenser is transmitted to a microcontroller, which will give the order to change the amount and type of fuel to the dispenser. Between the microcontroller and the electronic head of the dispenser, an intermediate connection element is incorporated as a system adapter, capable of transforming the existing manual dialing system into another by fully automated when interpreting the order indicated by the microcontroller. In the event that the user of the vehicle would like to modify the amount selected by the electronic device, priority will be given to marking by the operator of the gas station or by the driver. The supplier, by means of the microcontroller, will incorporate the information sent and store said data until the device of the vehicle and that of the supplier

are at a distance and orientation such that it is activated, or as it has been

commented, with any other means that prevents the connection of other unwanted devices.

The pump through the microcontroller will automatically change the amount and / or volume of fuel in the same way as the operator does from the computer located inside the premises. Both the electronic device of the vehicle and that of the dispenser must be located at a specific distance or radius of action and with a suitable orientation or scanning angle. The aim is to ensure that there are no possible interferences of electronic devices of other vehicles located nearby.

Only when the power supply has been made from the supplier, the microcontroller will send the payment amount via SMS or phone call to a bank, which recognizes where the data is sent from, that is, identifies the device and therefore the account associated with the owner performing the firm operation.

In this way, the service station executes the charge through the bank, identical to what we do today with the credit card. Simultaneously it will send an SMS through any wireless device to the microcontroller located in the vehicle, which will store it on the memory card of this element indicating that the supply of energy (whether fuel, electricity or similar) has been carried out successfully according to the indicated. This information is sent to the memory card of the vehicle that issues the message to be heard or informed by the driver, for example, at the time the vehicle starts, because if it were before, you may not hear the confirmation message. At this precise moment, the message is activated in the voice player itself or similar, informing the driver that the supply has been made correctly and following its indications.

It is based on the idea that the vehicle for reasons of need related to possible static electricity discharges should be turned off at the time of refueling. If this is not necessary because of the type of fuel used, the message will instantly arrive on the memory card and will be retained until the vehicle starts its journey again. To carry out this step, the vehicle's speedometer could be used as a sensor or movement warning element. This would transmit the order to the microcontroller of the electronic device of the vehicle that would ultimately give an order to the voice player or project it a text message on the dashboard display, as confounded, to the driver. This voice player is associated with the hands-free system with voice recognition.

The described system is considered of great comfort for the driver, because he should not even lower it to mark the amount, wait to fill the tank, access the gas station, wait for the queue, pay by card or cash, etc., saving large amount of time and resulting in a much more comfortable task than to date.

All this also prevents the presentation of several cards at the same time, identity card, credit card, points, etc., in addition to avoiding

weather conditions the driver staying inside the

vehicle. It also avoids the error of reading the card, and even possible oversights and thefts when you get out of the vehicle.

On the other hand, it prevents the driver from running out of refueling due to a lack of cards and / or cash at that time, while also indicating the nearest service station, avoiding the risk of the driver running out of fuel.

In addition, in terms of security for theft, the vehicle is controlled at all times, as long as it refuels at a service station it will be registered who is the owner and the exact location of the vehicle. And since the charge is automatic with a password, even when ID cards and cards were subscribed, the charge could not be made.

For the service stations, when the service is automated, the expenses corresponding to the supply are reduced, and night robberies are avoided, as well as cash in boxes, although the possibility of cash payment in them is left open.

For the banking entities, it facilitates the operations of payment to the companies supplying fuel, when made through a house payment, so they constitute an added value for the customer and therefore a reason for loyalty.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics that distinguish the invention, this descriptive report is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, of a set of flQuras, in which with character Illustrative and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a diagram of a possible preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, comprising the module (2) of the vehicle associated with the fuel level sensor (1), connected to a loudspeaker.

(6) and a microphone (4), and the dispenser module (3) (7).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention concerns an automatic fuel payment device, as well as the automatic fuel payment method.

The automatic fuel payment device comprises at least two modules (2, 3), one intended to be coupled to the vehicle and another intended to be coupled to the electronic head of the dispenser (7) of the gas station. The module

(2) will be associated with the vehicle fuel level sensor (1). It should be noted that the described device will be applicable to both automobile and motorcycle vehicles, as well as for vehicles with different types of fuels. When indicating the fuel level sensor (1) a certain value, the driver is informed about the need to refuel, deciding the driver himself if he wishes to carry out the operation or not. If you do not wish to refuel at that time, the device may ask again at the precise moment when the deposit is in the middle of the reservation as long as the vehicle arrives on time at the next service station. In this way it calculates the distance to the service station as well as the number of kilometers of

autonomy of the vehicle 6 the route you can take before exhausting the

reservation, warning of the possibility of unwanted stop of the vehicle. Assuming that the driver ignores the warning, he will remain unfailingly stopped in the road due to a fuel check.

The driver can always deactivate this device and activate a manual system for refueling in a conventional manner.

If the driver indicates that if he wishes to refuel, the device activates the system so that the driver indicates the amount and characteristics of the fuel to be refueling, storing the information and sending it to the dispenser (7) when the modules (2, 3) are find a certain radius and angle of action, in the so-called sector of influence. To activate the process, the electronic automatic payment device of the vehicle will request an access code or security code that only the driver or those who want it will know. In this sense and in the event of a possible theft of the vehicle, the thief is forced to refuel with his own money and not be able to make use of the automatic payment system of the vehicle. The driver's communication with the device is done through a communication system (27) that can

be hands-free with voice recognition, or a communication system

visual and tactile through the display of the vehicle's own radio, or any other deemed appropriate taking into account the type of vehicle in which the device is installed.

The information that the driver indicates is stored in the module (2), and is transmitted once it is at a certain distance from the supplier (7) that has the module (3), so that it will be activated for reporting. Once the operation is finished, module (3) sends an SMS to the bank for the account charge, and at the same time, sends said confirmation to module (2) to communicate it to the driver.

Thus, for the correct operation, the described automatic fuel payment device comprises at least:

an electronic module (2) intended to be coupled in a vehicle, associated with the fuel level sensor (1) of the vehicle, comprising a microcontroller (21), a memory card (25), a wireless communication system (26) , GPS (24), GPRS (23), and a hands-free communication system (27), an electronic module (3) intended to be coupled to a dispenser (7) of a service area, provided with a microcontroller (33) with connection to the electronic head of said dispenser (7) and a connection element

(35) between them, and a memory card (31), a wireless communication system (32).

Both modules (2, 3) can have a battery with the power supply, but if possible, the module (2) will be directly connected to the vehicle's own battery while the module (3) will have the energy supply provided by the supplier itself (7).

As previously mentioned, in a preferred embodiment, the communication system (27) can be hands-free system with voice recognition, where the module (2) is associated with the speakers (6) of the vehicle and a microphone (4) . In another embodiment, the communication system could be by means of data visualization, that is, manual control of data entry through the radio steering wheel controls and visualization through the display or any other similar.

The procedure for automatic payment of fuel comprises the following stages:

a) The fuel level sensor (1), when it reaches a certain value, activates the module (2) installed inside the vehicle, so that the nearest service station is located, b) the module (2) by means of the microcontroller (21) warns the driver, through a communication system (27), about the need to refuel and about the service station located through the GPS (24), requesting a driver access code as a measure safety, c) the driver indicates the characteristics and amount of fuel to refuel, and the module (2) confirms said data and stores it in the memory card (25) through the microcontroller (21), d) when the modules (2, 3) are at a certain distance between them, the module (3) receives the information from the module (2) and activates the dispenser (7) for the fuel supply according to the characteristics previously selected by the driver, e) Once it has been refilled, the module It (3) sends an SMS to the bank to charge the account, while simultaneously the module (3) sends a signal to the module (2) inside the vehicle to indicate the driver through the communication system (27) that the operation was successful

The module (2) locates the nearest service station through a microcontroller (21) associated with a GPRS (23) and a GPS (24), activating a communication system (27) with the driver. This communication system

(27) with the driver it can be a hands-free communication system with voice recognition associated with the speakers (6) of the vehicle and a microphone (4).

Once the module (2) asks the driver and he answers the questions raised, all the information indicated by the driver is stored in a memory card (25) of said module (2), which will dump it, through the microcontroller (21) And a wireless communication system (26, 32) in each of the modules (2, 3), to a memory card (31) arranged in the module (3).

The dispenser (7) is activated through the microcontroller (33) and an intermediate connection element (35) between the microcontroller (33) and the electronic head of the dispenser (7), which interprets and executes the order of the microcontroller (33 ) from the memory card (31).

When the driver has refueled, the microcontroller (33) activates the communication system (27) to indicate to the driver that the operation has been performed correctly, while sending an SMS to the bank to

Make the account charge. This end of process information operation

It could be associated with the start of the vehicle, the speedometer or any other that is considered appropriate.

In step b) of the procedure, if the driver indicates that he does not want to refuel and still has enough fuel to reach the next service station, a new communication is made possible before said need, repeating step b) until affirmative response . The driver also has the possibility to indicate that he does not want to refuel and deactivate

the automatic system and activate the conventional system.

Claims (11)

1.-Automatic fuel payment device, characterized in that  understand at least an electronic module (2) intended for coupling ... e in a vehicle, associated with the fuel level sensor (1) of the vehicle, comprising a microcontroller (21), a memory card (25), a communication system wireless (26), GPS (24), GPRS (23), and a communication system (27), an electronic module (3) intended for coupling ... e in a dispenser (7) of a service area, provided with a microcontroller (33) with connection to the electronic head of said dispenser (7) and a connection element (35) between them, a memory card (31), and a wireless communication system (32). 2. Automatic fuel payment device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication system (27) is a hands-free system with voice recognition, where the module (2) is associated with the speakers (6) of the vehicle and a microphone (4). 3.-Automatic fuel payment device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication system (27) is a manual control of data entry and display through a display.  4. -Automatic fuel payment device, according to claims above, characterized in that the power supply of the module (2) comes from the vehicle's own battery, while the power supply of the module (3) comes from the supply of the dispenser (7). 5.-Automatic fuel payment device, according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the modules (2, 3) has a small battery. 5 6.-Automatic fuel payment procedure, characterized in that it comprises the following stages: a) The fuel level sensor (1), when it reaches a certain value, activates the module (2) installed inside the vehicle, so The nearest service station is located, b) the module (2) by means of the microcontroller (21) warns the driver, through a communication system (27), about the need to refuel and about the service station located at via GPS (24) and GPRS (24), requesting a password to the conduelor as a measure 15, c) the conduelor indicates the characteristics and amount of fuel to refuel, and the module (2) confirms said data and stores it in the memory card (25) through the microcontroller (21), d) when the modules (2, 3) are at a certain distance 20 among them, the module (3) receives the information from the module (2) and activates the dispenser (7) for the fuel supply according to the characteristics previously selected by the driver, e) once it has been refueled, the module (3 ) send an SMS to the bank to charge the account, while simultaneously 25 module (3) sends a signal to the module (2) inside the vehicle to indicate to the driver through the communication system (27) that the operation was successful. 7.-Automatic fuel payment procedure, according to claim 6, 30 characterized in that the communication system (27) with the driver will be a hands-free communication system with voice recognition associated with the speakers (6) of the vehicle and a microphone (4). 8.-Automatic fuel payment procedure, according to 6 and 7, characterized in that according to the instructions of the microcontroller (21), the module (3) receives the information from the module (2) by dumping the data from its memory card (25) to a memory card (31) arranged in the module (3), through a wireless communication system (26, 32). 9. Automatic fuel payment method according to claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the dispenser (7) is activated through the microcontroller (33) and an intermediate connection element (35) between the microcontroller (33) and the electronic spout head (7), which interprets and executes the order of the microcontroller (33) from the memory card (31). 10.-Automatic fuel payment method, according to claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the microcontroller (33) activates the communication system (27) to indicate to the driver that the operation has been carried out correctly, while sending an SMS to the bank to charge the account. 11.-Automatic fuel payment procedure, according to claims 6 to 10, characterized in that in step b) of the procedure, if the driver indicates that he does not want to refuel and still has enough fuel to reach the next service station, it is possible a new communication before this need, repeating stage b) until affirmative answer. 12.-Automatic fuel payment method according to claim 6, characterized in that in step b) of the procedure, if the driver indicates that he does not wish to refuel, the deactivation of the device and the  Conventional operation .