Detecting vehicle state via fuel level

• US 10,094,696 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen H
• Application Number:
  US15/208,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0319 with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting for LPG tanks B60K2015/03013
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03197 Systems for exchanging data
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03223 comprising at least two level fuel sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03388 in case of a roll over of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03514 with vapor recovery means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/304 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/3042 Collision sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/306 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/36 using electrically actuated indicating means G01F23/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of monitoring a vehicle includes monitoring a precollision fuel level, detecting a collision event, and detecting a vehicle orientation based at least on the precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level. The method can be executed by a controller having a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions where the processor is programmed to monitor the precollision fuel level, detect the collision event, and detect the vehicle orientation based on at least a precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising:

monitoring, by a controller of the vehicle, a precollision fuel level;

detecting, by the controller, a collision event;

detecting, by the controller, a vehicle roll orientation based at least on the precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level and independent of an output from a rollover sensor; and

controlling, by the controller, at least one operational component of the vehicle based on the detected vehicle roll orientation and the detected collision event.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification of the vehicle state to a remote server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the vehicle orientation includes detecting an upside-down orientation when the postcollision fuel level is equal to a difference of a fuel-tank capacity relative to the precollision fuel level.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the upside-down orientation is associated with an elevated fuel-leak risk.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the vehicle orientation includes detecting a sideways orientation when the postcollision fuel level is equal to a stored value corresponding to the precollision fuel level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the vehicle orientation includes detecting a right-side-up orientation when the postcollision fuel level is equal to the precollision fuel level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the vehicle orientation includes detecting an elevated fuel-leak risk when the postcollision fuel level is decreasing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving fuel-level readings from at least two fuel-level indicators.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is a vehicle controller, the method further comprising, by the controller, operating an engine, braking system, and steering of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is a restraint control module, the method further comprising, by the controller, controlling airbags of the vehicle.

11. A controller comprising a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor is programmed to:

monitor a precollision fuel level;

detect a collision event;

detect a vehicle roll orientation based on at least a precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level and independent of an output from a rollover sensor; and

control at least one operational component of the vehicle based on the detected vehicle roll orientation and the detected collision event.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed to transmit a notification of the vehicle orientation to a remote server.

13. The controller of claim 11, wherein the programming to detect the vehicle orientation includes programming to detect an upside-down orientation when the postcollision fuel level is equal to a difference of a fuel-tank capacity relative to the precollision fuel level.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein the upside-down orientation is associated with an elevated fuel-leak risk.

15. The controller of claim 11, wherein the programming to detect the vehicle orientation includes programming to detect a sideways orientation when the postcollision fuel level is equal to a stored value corresponding to the precollision fuel level.

16. The controller of claim 11, wherein the programming to detect the vehicle orientation includes programming to detect a right-side-up orientation when the postcollision fuel level is equal to the precollision fuel level.

17. The controller of claim 11, wherein the programming to detect the vehicle orientation includes programming to detect an elevated fuel-leak risk when the postcollision fuel level is decreasing.

18. The controller of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed to receive fuel-level readings from at least two fuel-level indicators.

19. The controller of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed to operate an engine, braking system, and steering.

20. The controller of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed to control airbags of the vehicle.