Claims
- 1. A fuel dispensing system for displaying menu options and receiving input from a user comprising:a display for providing a display screen having menu options; a first input device corresponding to same menu options for the user to input said menu options; and a dispenser controller for controlling said display and receiving input from said first input device, said dispenser controller equipped to receive a signal indicating that the user is handicapped; said dispenser controller adapted to provide a second input device, corresponding to said menu options, and within handicapped-accessible range in response to said dispenser controller receiving said signal indicating that the user is handicapped.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second input device is inactive until receipt of said signal by said dispenser controller.
- 3. The fuel dispensing system of claim 2, wherein said second input device is a keypad that comprises at least one key corresponding to at least one of said menu options.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display and said menu options are maintained the same upon receipt of said signal by said dispenser controller.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second input devices are positioned at a height of less than about 48 inches to allow access for disabled persons.
- 6. The fuel dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said dispenser controller provides said second input device by modifying said first input device.
- 7. The fuel dispensing system of claim 6, wherein at least one input on said first input device is lowered in height to provide said second input device.
- 8. A fuel dispenser having an interface accessible to disabled persons, comprising:a fuel dispenser capable of delivering fuel to a vehicle; and a user interface and control system associated with said fuel dispenser and adapted to display information to a user and receive input from the user, said user interface adapted to provide a first interface configuration for standard operation and a second interface configuration accessible by handicapped user upon receipt of a signal indicating the presence of a handicapped user at said fuel dispenser.
- 9. The fuel dispenser of claim 8, wherein said user interface includes a display capable of displaying selection indicia to the user and soft keys adjacent said display for receiving input from the user selecting the selection indicia upon actuating one of said soft keys located proximate the selection indicia, said first interface configuration providing said selection indicia in a first position and said second interface configuration providing said selection indicia in a second position adjacent one said soft key, which is accessible to the handicapped user.
- 10. The fuel dispenser of claim 8, wherein said control system determines the presence of a handicapped user at the dispenser upon the user actuating an input portion of the user interface indicating the user is handicapped.
- 11. The fuel dispenser of claim 8, wherein said control system is associated with a receiver and determines the presence of a handicapped user at the dispenser upon receiving a signal via the receiver indicating the user is handicapped.
- 12. The fuel dispenser of claim 11, wherein the signal is one of the group consisting of acoustic, radio frequency, optic, and wireless signals.
- 13. The fuel dispenser of claim 11, wherein the signal is one of the group consisting of vocal, aural, and mechanically reproduced.
- 14. The fuel dispenser of claim 11, wherein the control system is further associated with an interrogator including said receiver, said signal is transmitted from a transponder associated with the user or user's vehicle.
- 15. The fuel dispenser of claim 8, wherein said user interface includes a touch screen display capable of displaying selection indicia to the user and receiving input from the user selecting the selection indicia upon touching the display proximate the selection indicia, said first interface configuration providing said selection indicia in a first position and said second interface configuration providing said selection indicia in a second position, which is accessible to the handicapped user.
- 16. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein said first interface configuration is compressed to provide said second interface configuration.
- 17. The fuel dispenser of claim 15, wherein said first interface configuration is reduced to provide said second interface configuration.
- 18. The fuel dispenser of claim 17, wherein said first interface configuration has the same aspect ratio as said second interface configuration.
- 19. The fuel dispenser of claim 17, wherein the height of said first interface configuration is reduced to provide said second interface configuration.
- 20. The fuel dispenser of claim 8, wherein said controls system provides said second interface configuration by modifying said standard interface configuration.
- 21. The fuel dispenser of claim 20, wherein at least one input on said standard interface configuration is lowered in height to provide said second interface configuration.
- 22. The fuel dispenser of claim 8, wherein said second interface configuration is a keypad that comprises at least one key corresponding to said display information.
- 23. A fuel dispenser interface accessible to disabled persons comprising:a fuel dispenser capable of delivering fuel to a vehicle; and means associated with said fuel dispenser for displaying information to a user and receiving input from the user, said means adapted to provide a first interface configuration for standard operation and a second interface configuration accessible by handicapped user upon receipt of a signal indicating the presence of a handicapped user at said fuel dispenser.
- 24. The fuel dispenser of claim 23, wherein said means determines the presence of a handicapped user at the dispenser upon the user actuating an input means on said dispenser indicating the user is handicapped.
- 25. The fuel dispenser of claim 23, wherein said means is associated with a receiver and determines the presence of a handicapped user at the dispenser upon receiving a signal via the receiver indicating the user is handicapped.
- 26. The fuel dispenser of claim 23, further including a means for said user to change said user interface from said second interface to said first interface.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/174,518 filed Oct. 16, 1998.
US Referenced Citations (16)