KR20250045237A - Mixed prevention system of fuel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle mixed-fuel prevention system including: one or more fuel pumps having a first fuel nozzle corresponding to a first fuel type and a second fuel nozzle corresponding to a second fuel type; one or more cameras for photographing license plates of vehicles entering the fuel pump to refuel; a camera server for extracting vehicle numbers from information captured by one or more cameras; a POS for receiving signals from fuel pumps and the camera server of the entire gas station and transmitting a control command according to fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number; a communication control device for controlling each fuel pump according to the control command of the POS; and a fueling management server for receiving the vehicle number and requesting fuel type information from a server of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Description

{Mixed prevention system of fuel}

The present invention relates to a fueling system to prevent fuel mix-up, and more particularly, to a fueling system to prevent fuel mix-up by identifying the type of fuel for a vehicle that wishes to be refueled and then preventing the supply of a different type of fuel.

The vehicle is equipped with a fuel tank in which kerosene, gasoline or LPG is injected and stored as a driving fuel, and an inlet for injecting fuel into the fuel tank is exposed to the outside, so that at a gas station, a fuel gun appropriate for the type of fuel is inserted into the inlet to inject kerosene, gasoline or LPG into the fuel tank, thereby refueling the vehicle.

In the case of dual LPG vehicles, gas is filled at a separate LPG filling station, and the gas filling port has a completely different structure from the fuel ports of other vehicles, so there is no concern of confusion with gasoline or diesel vehicles.

However, passenger cars such as sedans usually use gasoline as fuel, and passenger vehicles such as trucks use diesel as fuel. However, recently, diesel is cheaper per liter and has better fuel efficiency than gasoline, so the number of cases of diesel being adopted as fuel in passenger cars is increasing.

However, in the case of these diesel passenger cars, the design is the same as that of regular gasoline passenger cars, so it is difficult to distinguish between diesel and gasoline passenger cars just by looking at the design. This can lead to problems such as people unconsciously filling up the car with gasoline just by looking at the exterior of the car at a gas station.

To prevent this, gas stations differentiate between diesel and gasoline fueling nozzles based on diameter size to prevent different types of fuel from being refueled.

For example, the diameter of a diesel fuel nozzle is about 31 mm, and that of a gasoline fuel nozzle is about 20 to 21 mm. Also, the diameter of the fuel inlet of a gasoline vehicle is about 20 to 21 mm, which is the same as that of a gasoline fuel nozzle, and that of a diesel vehicle is about 45 to 50 mm. Therefore, since it is physically impossible to insert a diesel nozzle into a gasoline vehicle, the problem of mixing diesel fuel with gasoline vehicles rarely occurs.

However, since the fuel inlet of a diesel vehicle can have not only a diesel fuel nozzle but also a gasoline fuel nozzle with a smaller diameter, the problem of mixing fuels can occur.

To prevent such cases, a safety device is used that installs a spring around a gasoline fuel nozzle with a diameter that allows it to pass through the fuel inlet of a diesel vehicle and be caught by the fuel inlet of a gasoline vehicle, and links a lever lock to this spring. This safety device is configured so that when the spring is expanded, the lever lock keeps the fuel lever locked, and when the spring is compressed, the lever lock releases the fuel lever to enable fueling. Accordingly, when a gasoline fuel nozzle is inserted into a diesel vehicle's fuel inlet, the gasoline fuel nozzle and the spring pass through the fuel inlet as they are, and the lever lock keeps the fuel lever locked, thus blocking gasoline fueling. However, when a gasoline fuel nozzle is inserted into a gasoline vehicle's fuel inlet, the lever lock unlocks the fuel nozzle when the spring is caught around the inlet and is compressed, allowing fueling.

However, in the case of these devices, they are often not installed depending on the vehicle, and also have the disadvantage of not being able to prevent mixed fuel when the fuel pump is inserted shallowly into the inlet to perform refueling. In addition, when the above-mentioned device is used for a long time, that is, when the vehicle is aged, the tension of the spring decreases, which causes the lever lock device to not operate properly, so the problem of gasoline mixed fuel under diesel has not been significantly improved.

Therefore, a new anti-mixing fueling system is needed to solve this mixing problem.

(0001) Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1767013 (0002) Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1755751

Accordingly, the present invention aims to solve the above problems by providing a fueling system that prevents fuel mixing by identifying the type of fuel of a vehicle that wants to be refueled and then preventing the supply of a different type of fuel, thereby preventing fuel mixing at the source.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a mixed fuel prevention fueling system, which includes: one or more fueling nozzles and fueling guns corresponding to fuel types; one or more cameras for photographing license plates of vehicles entering the fueling station to refuel; a camera server for extracting license plates from license plate images when license plate images received from one or more of the cameras are identical images for a set period of time or longer; a POS for receiving signals from the fueling pumps and the camera server of the entire gas station, transmitting a control command to the fueling pumps, and transmitting the license plate number and fuel type information request information received from the camera server; and a fueling management server for receiving the license plate number from the POS and requesting fuel type information corresponding to the license plate number to a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server, wherein the POS selectively activates only fueling pumps of the same fuel type as the fuel type information corresponding to the license plate number received from the fueling management server.

In one embodiment, the fuel pump may transmit fueling information selected by the user to the POS, and the POS may determine whether the fuel type information of the received fueling information matches the fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number received from the fueling management server, and if they match, transmit a control signal to the fuel pump to continue fueling, and if they do not match, output a warning to prevent mixed fueling.

In one embodiment, the fuel pump may have an interface through which a user can select a fuel type, and transmit information on the user's fuel type selection and information on the fueling station that the user has left to the POS, and the POS may determine whether fuel type information corresponding to the fuel type selection information and the fueling station information matches fuel type information received from the fueling management server.

In one embodiment, the POS may selectively transmit a control command to a gas pump at which the user wishes to refuel among the gas pumps in the entire gas station based on the final stopping location of the vehicle and the information on the gas pumps the user has left, received from the camera.

The present invention also provides a fueling method to prevent mixed fueling, including: a step in which a camera captures a license plate number and transmits a license plate number image when a vehicle enters a gas station and approaches a fuel pump; a step in which a camera server that has received the license plate number image extracts license plate data from license plate images that have been continuously captured for a set period of time or longer and transmits the data in association with a unique identification number for each camera; a step in which a POS that has received the license plate number data requests fuel type information corresponding to the license plate number using the license plate number data; a step in which a fueling management server that has received the fuel type information request from the POS acquires fuel type information corresponding to the license plate number from a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server and transmits the information to the POS; and a step in which the POS selectively activates only fuel pumps of the same type as the fuel type information corresponding to the license plate number received from the fueling management server and transmits a control signal so that the corresponding fuel type is dispensed through a fueling nozzle of the corresponding fuel pump.

The mixed fuel prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above recognizes the license plate number of a vehicle, identifies the type of fuel being refueled in a vehicle at a gas station through a captured image, and selectively operates only fuel pumps of the same type, thereby preventing accidents such as mixed fueling by users who are not familiar with refueling or mixed fueling by mistake, and helping to make the refueling process more convenient.

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a mixing prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a mixing prevention process of a mixing prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In explaining the present invention, if a detailed description of a related known technology is judged to obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Throughout the specification, singular expressions should be understood to include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and terms such as “include” or “have” should be understood to indicate the presence of a described feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof, but not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. In addition, in performing a method or a manufacturing method, each process constituting the method may occur in a different order from the stated order unless a specific order is clearly stated in the context. That is, each process may occur in the same order as the stated order, may be performed substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in the opposite order.

The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the implementation examples described herein and may be embodied in other forms. However, the implementation examples introduced herein are provided so that the disclosed content can be thorough and complete and so that the technical idea of the technology can be sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art. In order to clearly express the components of each device in the drawings, the sizes of the components, such as width and thickness, are somewhat enlarged. In the overall description of the drawings, the description is made from the observer's point of view, and when an element is mentioned as being positioned on another element, this may include all meanings that the element is positioned directly on the other element or that additional elements may be interposed between the elements. In addition, a person having ordinary skill in the relevant field may implement the idea of the present invention in various other forms without departing from the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, the same reference numerals in multiple drawings indicate substantially the same elements.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this can include not only the case where it is "directly connected," but also the cases where it is "electrically connected" with other elements interposed therebetween, and the case where it is "communicatively connected." Also, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this does not exclude other components, unless otherwise stated, but rather includes other components.

As used herein, the term 'and/or' can include a combination of multiple listed items or any one of multiple listed items. As used herein, 'A or B' can include 'A', 'B', or 'both A and B'.

Throughout the specification, “mixed fuel” means that the vehicle is refueled with a fuel other than that required for the normal operation of the vehicle. For example, this may include refueling a diesel vehicle with premium gasoline fuel or regular gasoline fuel, and refueling a gasoline vehicle with diesel fuel.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mixing prevention system according to some embodiments.

It may include one or more fuel dispensers (100) equipped with a first fuel nozzle corresponding to a first fuel type and a second fuel nozzle corresponding to a second fuel type, one or more cameras (210) for photographing license plates of vehicles entering to refuel at the fuel dispenser, a camera server (200) for extracting vehicle numbers from the photographed information of one or more cameras, a POS (300) for receiving signals from all of the fuel dispensers (100) and the camera server (200) of the gas station and transmitting control commands, a communication control unit (CCU; 400) for controlling each fuel dispenser (100) according to the control command of the POS (300), a fuel management server (700) for receiving vehicle numbers and requesting fuel type information, and a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server (600) for holding vehicle information corresponding to the vehicle number.

The above fuel pump (100) is installed in multiple units within a gas station and may include multiple fuel nozzles, a control unit, a communication unit, a display, and an input/output interface.

The above fuel pump (100) may include a first fuel nozzle corresponding to a first type of fuel and a second fuel nozzle corresponding to a second type of fuel different from the first type of fuel.

At this time, the first and second types of fuel may be kerosene and gasoline, respectively, and may also be regular gasoline and premium gasoline, depending on the case. However, since there is almost no damage due to mixing in the case of regular gasoline and premium gasoline, the present invention will be explained mainly in the case of diesel and gasoline.

The above control unit can control the operation of each component forming the fuel tank according to the program, and can receive signals or commands from each component and perform corresponding operations.

The above communication unit can perform communication with a POS (300) and a communication control device (400) connected to a network or wired or wirelessly. At this time, the communication unit can be a communication module capable of wired, wireless, or wired/wireless integrated connection. In addition, the communication module can include both a wired communication module and a wireless communication module. For example, the wired communication module can be a power line communication device, a telephone line communication device, a cable home (MoCA), Ethernet, IEEE1294, an integrated wired home network, or an RS-485 control device. In addition, the wireless communication module can be a communication module using WLAN (wireless LAN), Bluetooth, HDR WPAN, UWB, ZigBee, Impulse Radio, 60GHz WPAN, Binary-CDMA, wireless USB technology, or wireless HDMI technology.

The above camera (210) can capture the license plate numbers of vehicles entering a gas station and stopping adjacent to each gas pump. At this time, it is preferable that at least one camera (210) be placed in a position where it can easily capture the license plate numbers of vehicles stopping in front, behind, left, and right of the gas pump. The license plate image captured by the camera as described above can be transmitted to the camera server (200). Each of the multiple cameras (210) is assigned a unique identification number, and the license plate image and the unique identification number are linked and transmitted to the camera server (200). It is preferable that the cameras (210) be placed at each gas pump so that the operating status information is displayed through the ODT of the gas pump.

In addition, based on the image captured as described above, the final stop location of the vehicle can be transmitted to the POS. Generally, a plurality of fuel pumps are installed at a gas station. In the case of the present invention, only the fuel pump of the desired type of fuel is selectively operated by the POS, so it is preferable to identify the final stop location of the vehicle as described above and read the fuel pump of the desired type of fuel. If this reading process is not performed, only the same type of fuel can be refueled throughout the gas station, and a fuel pump other than the desired fuel pump can be operated.

In addition, to assist this, the fuel pump (100) can transmit fuel type information corresponding to the fuel gun to the POS (300) depending on whether the fuel gun is detached. In this process, the fuel gun that wants to be free can be accurately read, and in parallel with the identified stopping location, it is possible to accurately identify the fuel gun that the vehicle wants to refuel.

At this time, the user can be a driver of the vehicle during self-fueling or a gas station attendant.

In addition, the user can select the fuel type and flow rate through the input/output interface of the ODT (OUTDOOR DISPLAY TERMINAL) of the fuel pump (100). In addition, the fuel pump (100) can output a fuel type mismatch warning when the fuel type information of the fuel gun, the fuel type information selected by the user, and the fuel type information transmitted from the POS (300) do not match. The fuel type mismatch warning can be performed through a speaker or a display. The fuel pump (100) dispenses the corresponding fuel type from the first fuel nozzle or the second fuel nozzle according to the control signal of the CCU (400).

That is, in the case of the present invention, if the fuel type selected by the user and the fuel type identified by the vehicle number are the same, the desired fuel type can be refueled. However, if they do not match, a mismatch warning is generated as described above, and only the fuel pump of the original fuel type is selectively activated, so that refueling of the mismatched fuel type can be blocked.

The above camera server (200) can extract vehicle number data from vehicle number images transmitted in association with a unique identification number. The camera server (200) transmits extracted vehicle number data of vehicle number images captured for a set period of time or longer to the POS (300) in association with a unique identification number.

The above POS (300) is a terminal that processes the fuel amount counted according to the fuel amount measured by the fuel pump of the gas station, and the POS (300) according to the embodiment of the present invention transmits the vehicle number data transmitted from the camera server (200) to the fuel management server (700) to request fuel type information. The POS (300) can selectively activate only the fuel pumps of the same type as the fuel type information transmitted from the fuel management server (700) based on the fuel type information transmitted from the fuel management server (700). Through this, mixed fueling can be prevented even if the user does not recognize or ignores the warning.

In addition, the POS determines whether the fuel type information transmitted from the fuel management server (700) matches the fuel type information transmitted from the fuel pump (100). If the fuel types are the same, it transmits a fueling permission command to the fuel pump (100) via the communication control device (400). If the fuel types do not match, it notifies the user of the fuel type mismatch through a speaker connected to the POS (300) or warns of the fuel type mismatch through a speaker and/or display equipped in the fuel pump (100).

In addition, the POS (300) can control both the first fuel nozzle and the second fuel nozzle so that refueling is not possible if the fuel types do not match. The POS (300) controls the fuel corresponding to the fuel type information to be discharged through the first fuel nozzle or the second fuel nozzle if the fuel types match. When the POS (300) performs a random refueling permit operation, the fuel type information is checked by the vehicle number corresponding to the camera unique identification number corresponding to the fuel pump, and the fuel is controlled so that refueling is performed through the fuel nozzle of the corresponding fuel type, and a guidance message is output through the ODT.

The above communication control device (400) can control the display, speaker, first fuel nozzle, and second fuel nozzle of each fuel pump (100) according to the control command received from the POS (300).

The above fuel management server (700) accesses the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server (600) at the request of the POS and obtains fuel type information according to the vehicle number. The fuel management server (700) encrypts the vehicle number data and requests fuel type information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server (600), receives the result, and transmits the fuel type information to the POS. The fuel management server (700) immediately deletes the vehicle information collected from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server after completing the mixed fuel prevention process to prevent personal information leakage.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server (600) is a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport_Automobile Comprehensive Information API service, and transmits fuel type information corresponding to vehicle number data. This enables the possibility of mixing fuels due to uncertainty in fuel type information analyzed by taking pictures of the vehicle's exterior, etc., to be prevented in advance.

The fuel mixing prevention process of the vehicle fuel mixing prevention system according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

First, when a vehicle enters a gas station and approaches a gas pump, a camera (210) captures the vehicle number. One or more cameras (210) transmit the vehicle number image to the camera server (200) in association with a unique identification number set for each camera (S10).

The camera server (200) extracts vehicle number data from vehicle number images that have been continuously captured for a set period of time and transmits it to the POS (300) in association with the camera's unique identification number (S20). The POS (300) requests fuel type information from the fuel management server (700) using the vehicle number data (S30).

The fuel pump (100) transmits fuel type information according to user selection and/or fuel type information according to fuel station departure to the POS (300), and the POS (300) checks the fuel type selected by the user and the fuel type information of the fuel station at which the user will refuel (S40).

The POS (300) selectively activates only the fuel pumps whose fuel type matches the fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number received from the fuel management server (700) (S50). In addition, it determines whether the vehicle number received from the fuel management server (700) matches the fuel type received from the fuel pump (100) (S60), and if they do not match, it warns of the fuel type mismatch (S70). If the fuel type selected by the user does not match the fuel type corresponding to the vehicle number, the ODT of the fuel pump (100) notifies whether the fuel type mismatch exists, and displays a guidance message so that the correct fuel type can be selected. Guidance can be provided through the speaker of the fuel pump.

If the user attempts to refuel by removing a fuel gun that does not match the fuel type from the fuel pump even after selecting the correct fuel type through the ODT, a warning light, ODT, and speaker will be activated to prevent mixing fuel and to enable selection of the correct fuel gun.

If the user-selected fuel type and the fuel type corresponding to the fuel gun and vehicle number all match, the fuel type is controlled to be dispensed through the fuel nozzle of the corresponding fuel pump (S80).

The mixed fuel prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention has the effect of preventing both the possibility of mixed fuel that may occur due to a user's error in selecting a fuel type in the case of self-fueling and the possibility of mixed fuel that may occur due to a user's error in selecting a fuel gun at the source.

100 : Fuel pump 200 : Camera server
210 : Camera 300 : POS
400: CCU 600: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Server
700: Fuel management server

Claims (5)

One or more fuel dispensers having one or more fuel nozzles and fuel guns corresponding to the type of fuel;
One or more cameras for photographing the license plates of vehicles entering the fuel pump to refuel;
A camera server that extracts a vehicle number from a vehicle number image when vehicle number images received from one or more of the above cameras are identical images for a set period of time or longer;
A POS that receives signals from the gas pumps and the camera server of the entire gas station, transmits control commands to the gas pumps, and transmits vehicle number and fuel type information request information received from the camera server; and
Includes a fuel management server that receives a vehicle number from the above POS and requests fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server.
The above POS is a fueling system that prevents mixed fueling by selectively activating only fuel pumps of the same type as the fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number received from the fueling management server.
In the first paragraph,
A fueling system to prevent mixed fueling, characterized in that the fuel pump transmits fueling information selected by the user to the POS, and the POS determines whether the fuel type information of the received fuel pump matches the fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number received from the fueling management server, and if they match, transmits a control signal to the fuel pump to continue fueling, and if they do not match, outputs a mixed fueling prevention warning.
In the second paragraph,
The above fuel pump is equipped with an interface that allows the user to select the fuel type, and transmits the user's fuel type selection information and the fuel station information that the user has left to the POS.
A fueling system to prevent mixed fuel, characterized in that the POS determines whether the fuel type information corresponding to the fuel type selection information and the fueling condition information matches the fuel type information received from the fueling management server.
In the first paragraph,
The above POS is a mixed fuel prevention fueling system characterized in that it selectively transmits a control command to a fuel pump at which the user wishes to fuel among the fuel pumps in the entire gas station based on the final stopping location of the vehicle received from the camera and the fuel pump information from which the user has left.
When a vehicle enters a gas station and approaches a gas pump, a camera captures the license plate number and transmits an image of the license plate number;
A step in which a camera server that receives the above license plate image extracts license plate data from license plate images that have been continuously captured for a set period of time or longer and transmits the data in association with a unique identification number for each camera;
A step in which the POS, which has received the above vehicle number data, requests fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number using the above vehicle number data;
A step in which the fuel management server, which has received a request for fuel type information from the above POS, obtains fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport server and transmits it to the above POS; and
The above POS is a fueling method to prevent mixed fuel, including a step of selectively activating only fuel pumps of the same type as the fuel type information corresponding to the vehicle number received from the fueling management server and transmitting a control signal so that the corresponding type of fuel is dispensed through the fueling nozzle of the corresponding fuel pump.