Automatic refuelling system

A system for control of automatic refueling of automotive vehicles parked alongside a fuel dispenser unit, the system comprising:

• (a) a communication means for starting, monitoring and finishing a refueling procedure, said refuelling procedure including a starting step, a fuel supply step and a finishing step, the communications means being arranged within a vehicle to be refueled such that during the refuelling procedure the communications means is functional to control the refuelling procedure, the communications means also being functional to stop the fuel supply step by transmitting from the vehicle an interruption data signal;
• (b) operating control units for controlling operating functions involved within said refuelling procedure, the operating functions being carried out by respective operating units having the capability of performing the operating functions on vehicle fuel systems which have different refuelling configurations;
• (c) a processing unit for processing data signals from the vehicle and directing the processed data signals to and from said operating control units which control said respective operating units in executing the refuelling procedure;
• (d) wherein the data signals comprise first and second data signals, said first data signals comprising fill pipe data, fuel cap position data, fuel type data and cap lock data, and said second data signals comprising customer identification data and customer bank account data;
• and
• (e) wherein the starting step includes processing the first and second data signals to determine whether the operating units are compatible with the vehicle's fill pipe, fuel cap position, fuel type and cap lock such that the operating units can refuel the vehicle and whether automatic payment can be made for the fuel, should the starting step determine that the operating units are capable of refuelling the vehicle and payment can automatically be made, the starting step approves the starting of the fuel supply step, otherwise the starting step aborts the refuelling procedure;
• (f) wherein the communication means includes a transmitter/receiver means for transmitting and receiving signals, the transmitter/receiver means being located on the fuel dispenser unit and also being arranged within a rear light unit of the vehicle and wherein said fill pipe data signals, said fuel cap position data signals, said fuel type data signals, and said cap lock data signals are transmitted by the transmitter/receiver means on the vehicle and received by the transmitter/receiver means on the fuel dispenser unit.