Abstract: A fuel dispensing apparatus comprises a flow conduit defining a fluid flow path. A plurality of fuel handling components are connected along the flow conduit. The fuel handling components include a fluid meter to measure quantity of fuel being dispensed and at least one valve to vary flow of fuel through the flow conduit. In some embodiments, the fuel handling components to be protected may further include a shear valve. A corrosion protection arrangement is in electrical communication with at least one of the fuel handling components. The corrosion protection arrangement is operative to inhibit formation of corrosion at an internal protected portion of the fuel handling component due to electrical current passing through liquid therein. The corrosion protection arrangement may include a reference circuit providing a selected DC potential to the protected portion.

Abstract: A fueling environment's safety is improved by adding static charge sensors to the fuel dispenser and its peripherals. The static charge sensors detect static charge proximate the fuel dispenser and provide an indication of the static charge to a threshold detector. If the static charge is above a predetermined threshold, one or more safety devices may be activated to disperse or reduce the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser. Reduction in the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser helps reduce the risk of harm from the static charge.

Abstract: A fuel dispenser contains a vapor sensor in the non-hazardous electronics chamber. The vapor sensor is operatively connected to a power interlock. When hydrocarbon vapors exceed a predetermined threshold in the electronics chamber, power is decoupled from the electronics in the electronics chamber to prevent explosions. The power interlock may further decouple power from the entire fuel dispenser. The detection of hydrocarbon vapors may also be communicated to another system including a remote location.

Abstract: A fuel dispenser contains a vapor sensor in the non-hazardous electronics chamber. The vapor sensor is operatively connected to a power interlock. When hydrocarbon vapors exceed a predetermined threshold in the electronics chamber, power is decoupled from the electronics in the electronics chamber to prevent explosions. The power interlock may further decouple power from the entire fuel dispenser. The detection of hydrocarbon vapors may also be communicated to another system including a remote location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting tampering with a fuel dispenser digital pulse stream during dispensing of a fuel. The method includes generating a digital pulse stream indicative of the volume and flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly; storing a digital pulse stream signature in a memory device wherein the stored signature includes the identifying pulse anomaly; comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with the stored digital pulse stream; and allowing fuel delivery to continue if the incoming digital pulse stream generated by the pulse generator is substantially similar to the stored digital pulse stream signature.

Abstract: A handheld energy detection diagnostic device for detecting and measuring high frequency energy comprising a pick-up or antenna mechanism coupled to electronics circuitry to receive and evaluate RF energy characteristics being emitted from an RF transmission source. Based upon the level of received energy and the level of expected energy, the device presents a ratio to a technician indicating a degree of performance currently being experienced at a particular device. Diagnostic data is also obtained to indicate to a technician the field geometry of the system being tested. The device is small enough to be handheld and included with a technician's standard set of tools.

Abstract: A fuel dispenser includes an overbody within which a wide, flat conductor acts as a loop antenna. The conductor is concentrically coiled to create a plurality of turns comparable in appearance to a coiled tape measure. The antenna is then molded into a panel or overbody and affixed to the fuel dispenser to present a visually pleasing appearance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting tampering with a fuel dispenser digital pulse stream during dispensing of a fuel. The method includes generating a digital pulse stream indicative of the volume and flow rate of fuel dispensed wherein the pulse stream includes an identifying pulse anomaly; storing a digital pulse stream signature in a memory device wherein the stored signature includes the identifying pulse anomaly; comparing the incoming digital pulse stream with the stored digital pulse stream; and allowing fuel delivery to continue if the incoming digital pulse stream generated by the pulse generator is substantially similar to the stored digital pulse stream signature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel dispenser antenna configuration having an antenna with a directive radiation pattern for receiving or transmitting electromagnetic energy, and a reflective surface on the fuel dispenser housing for redirecting the directive radiation pattern of the antenna so that the directive radiation pattern reflects off of the reflective surface and extends in a second direction over a fueling position.

Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing an unmodulated video signal that has a sync tip voltage includes an amplifier for amplifying the video signal according to a control voltage, a transistor receiving the amplified video signal from the amplifier on the base of the transistor and outputting the amplified video signal on the collector, a sync tip voltage detector connected to the emitter of the transistor for detecting the sync tip voltage in the video signal and outputting a voltage derived from the sync tip voltage, an integrator having three inputs, one of which is the voltage derived from the sync tip voltage and another of which is a reference voltage and an output to the amplifier as the control voltage, a stabilization loop including a low current detector that detects low current levels in the amplified video signal through an optical coupler to a resistive element and a pulse stretcher that outputs a signal to the third input of the integrator, whereby the sync tip voltage detector, integrator and amplifier

Abstract: An apparatus the dispensing a liquid fuel and measuring the amount dispensed according to a temperature-corrected volumetric measure includes a housing having a fuel-handling compartment and an electronics compartment and a barrier between the fuel handling compartment and the electronics compartment, a plurality of fuel passageways through the fuel-handling compartment, each passageway having a flow meter to measure the volume of fuel flowing through the passageway and a thermometric probe adapted to read the temperature of fuel flowing through the passageway, each of the meters being connected by a first electrical circuit to pass an electrical signal representative of the volumetric flow through its respective passageway onto the first circuit, each of the probes being connected by a second electric circuit to pass an electrical signal representative of the temperature of the probe onto the second circuit, the second circuit having one intrinsically safe passage through the barrier, and electronics in the

Abstract: A gas plasma display panel heater device for use with a gas plasma panel display, and methods for using and mounting the same. The gas plasma display panel has a display viewing area, external connection and heather. The gas plasma display heater device includes a thermally conductive layer, preferably a foil or coating, arranged and configured to substantially envelop the gas plasma display panel while not covering the display viewing area. The gas plasma display heater device is operative to conduct heat generated by the heater to other portions of the gas plasma display panel. The plasma display heater further includes a supplemental heater device. The supplemental heater device includes a heating element which is formed from an electrically resistive material such that, when a current is passed through the heating element, the same will generate heat. The supplemental heater also has electrical leads electrically connected with the heating element.

Abstract: In a switching power supply including a step-up transformer having primary and secondary windings, wherein in each successive cycle of operation, during a first period of time a voltage pulse is applied across the primary winding for causing forward current in the secondary to flow through a shuttle capacitor and output capacitor connected in series with the secondary winding at this time, for charging the output capacitor to a voltage level approaching the voltage across the series circuit of the shuttle capacitor and secondary winding, and in an immediately following second period of time terminating the voltage pulse across the primary winding, and allowing flyback energy in the secondary winding to charge and be captured only by the shuttle capacitor for transfer to the output capacitor during the next cycle of operation.

Abstract: A shaft encoder for deriving a number of pulses indicative of the extent of rotary shaft motion including a disc having plural relatively narrow opaque regions spaced from each other by relatively wide transparent regions. Light from a pair of sources is directed through the regions toward a pair of light detectors. The detectors and regions are such that under normal operation light from the sources is incident on at least one of the detectors. The wide regions have an extent sufficiently great to prevent them from being clogged by dirt and other debris. In response to neither of the detectors having light incident on them, an indication of a failure of the shaft encoder is provided and operation of an accumulator responsive to the number of light transitions incident on the detectors is prevented. Thereby, a fail-safe apparatus is provided in the event of a failure of any of the light sources, the detectors and circuitry responsive thereto.