Measuring and testing – Simulating operating condition – Marine
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2001-08-14
McCall, Eric S. (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Simulating operating condition
Marine
C073S29000R, C073S305000, C073S306000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a vehicle fuel sensing system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a computer-based adaptive fuel sensing system.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Fuel level sensing for vehicles is critical for the safe operation of a vehicle. A fuel level sensing system must indicate to the vehicle's operators that a fuel tank is approaching empty when indeed the fuel tank is approaching empty. This warning indication alerts the vehicle operator that the vehicle should soon be refueled. Correspondingly, vehicle manufacturers mandate that the fuel gauge in a vehicle's console indicates that the fuel level is full when the fuel tank is full.
Previous fuel level sensing approaches have used a float assembly within the vehicle's fuel tank. The level of the float approximates the level of the vehicle's fuel. These approaches have used a predetermined linear relationship for interrelating fuel level with the float's level.
However, the geometric configuration of fuel tanks differ even within the same vehicle model and significantly affect the linear relationship between fuel level and float level. Such differences arise from inconsistencies that invariably creep into the manufacturing of a large number of fuel tanks for a particular model. Fuel components and other objects within a fuel tank also affect the rise and fall of the float within the fuel tank. Due to these components in the fuel tank and the aforementioned fact that geometric configurations of a fuel tank differ, the float may rise and fall more quickly at different points in the fuel tank. This adversely affects the assumed linear relationship between the float's level and the fuel's level.
Accordingly, vehicle manufacturers' typically place a “safe” factor in the predetermined linear relationship. The “safe” factor exhibits a non-limiting disadvantage in that the built-in “safe” factor overcompensates for the fuel level. For example, the “safe” factor makes the fuel gauge show an empty level despite a significant amount of fuel actually remaining. This has led people to believe that their vehicles may be driven for a greater amount of distance although their fuel gauge indicates an empty level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantage as well as other disadvantages. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a fuel card is used for detecting the amount of fuel within a fuel tank of a vehicle. The fuel tank has a fuel level indicator for sensing level of fuel within the fuel tank. The card includes a substrate and resistive material that is disposed on the substrate and in connection with the fuel level indicator. The resistive material is correlated in a non-linear manner with respect to the sensed level of fuel by the fuel level indicator in order to determine the amount of fuel based upon the sensed level. A computer-based module adapts the fuel tank's full and empty levels for each vehicle build during operation or fuel fill-ups of the vehicle.
In one embodiment, the present invention determines unique fuel amount limit values for a fuel tank of a particular vehicle. The fuel tank has a first fuel amount limit that is associated with a level of fuel in the fuel tank. A fuel varying activity is performed related to the fuel tank of the vehicle so that the level of fuel in the fuel tank is beyond the first fuel amount level. A second fuel amount limit is determined based upon the level of fuel that is beyond the first fuel amount level. A fuel amount indicator display is adjusted based upon the determined second fuel amount.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Calcaterra Mark P.
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
McCall Eric S.
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