Fuel dispenser having integrated control electronics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10679456-B2
Application number	US-201715470284-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2017
Priority date	Mar 27, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A fuel dispenser comprises fuel flow piping defining a flow path from a source of fuel toward a fueling nozzle. A plurality of fuel handling components are disposed along the fuel flow piping. Control electronics, in operative communication with the fluid handling components, include a multi-core processor having at least two processor cores located on a common integrated circuit chip, the at least two processor cores utilizing different operating systems in an asynchronous manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel dispenser comprising:
fuel flow piping defining a flow path from a source of fuel toward a fueling nozzle;
a plurality of fuel handling components disposed along said fuel flow piping, said fuel handling components including at least one electrically-controlled valve;
a user interface having at least one peripheral device for input of sensitive payment information and a media display;
control electronics in operative communication with said fluid handling components, said control electronics including a multi-core processor having at least three processor cores located on a common integrated circuit chip, said at least three processor cores operating separately in an asynchronous manner;
a first processor core of said at least three processor cores utilizing a real-time operating system to control hydraulic functions of said fuel dispenser;
a second processor core of said at least three processor cores utilizing a first non-real time operating system to control payment functions of said fuel processor; and
a third processor core of said at least three processor cores utilizing a second non-real time operating system and functioning as a media processor to drive content to said media display.

2. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first processor core is operative to control operation of said electrically-controlled valve.

3. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first processor core executes pump hydraulic software to calculate a running total of volume and price of fuel dispensed during a dispensing event.

4. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said pump hydraulic software is identified by digital fingerprint before executing via said real-time operating system.

5. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one peripheral device comprises at least one of a card reader and a PIN pad.

6. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said multi-core processor has at least four of said processor cores utilizing at least three different types of operating systems, all operating in an asynchronous manner.

7. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first non-real time operating system and said second non-real time operating system are different operating systems.

8. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first non-real time operating system and said second non-real time operating system are different instances of the same type operating system.

9. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first non-real time operating system and said second non-real time operating system is the Linux operating system.

10. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said content includes advertising information.

11. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said common integrated circuit chip further includes an on-board memory shared by all of said processor cores.

12. A fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 11 , wherein software running on said processor cores communicates with each other via said on-board memory.

Assignees

• Gilbarco Inc

Inventors

• Payne Edward Asbell
• Williams Rodger K

Classifications

• G06Q20/34

  using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards · CPC title

• G07F15/001 Primary

  for gas · CPC title

• G06Q50/06

  Energy or water supply · CPC title

• G06Q20/204

  comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit · CPC title

• G07F9/023 Primary

  Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising · CPC title