Systems and methods for fuel level estimation
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a refueling report at a controller of a control system included in a vehicle from a vehicle operator via a user interface of a user device or vehicle dashboard in communication with the controller; and
via the controller;
adjusting an estimated fuel level in a fuel tank of the vehicle based on the received refueling report; and
adjusting a fuel gauge of the vehicle based on the adjusted fuel level estimate, the fuel gauge providing a visual indication to the vehicle operator of an amount of fuel included in the fuel tank.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for estimating fuel levels in a fuel tank. In one example, a method may comprise adjusting estimates of a fuel level in a fuel tank based on an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank during a refueling event. The amount of fuel added to the fuel tank may be provided by a vehicle operator via one or more of a dashboard user interface, a wireless device user interface, and a digital camera included within a user device.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a refueling report at a controller of a control system included in a vehicle from a vehicle operator via a user interface of a user device or vehicle dashboard in communication with the controller; and via the controller; adjusting an estimated fuel level in a fuel tank of the vehicle based on the received refueling report; and adjusting a fuel gauge of the vehicle based on the adjusted fuel level estimate, the fuel gauge providing a visual indication to the vehicle operator of an amount of fuel included in the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for a vehicle, comprising:
via a controller of a control system included in the vehicle; operating the vehicle in a first mode, and, responsive to operating in the first mode, adjusting a fuel level reading displayed to a vehicle operator only based on outputs from a fuel level indicator (FLI) sensor of the vehicle; and operating the vehicle in a second mode, and, responsive to operating in the second mode, adjusting the fuel level reading displayed to the vehicle operator based on an amount of fuel added to a fuel tank of the vehicle during a most recent refueling event, and an amount of fuel consumed since the most recent refueling event, where the amount of fuel added is provided to the controller via input from the vehicle operator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system included in a vehicle, comprising:
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a fuel level indicator (FLI) sensor for indicating an amount of fuel included within a fuel tank of the vehicle; a fuel gauge that provides a visual indication of the amount of fuel included within the fuel tank to a vehicle operator; and a controller in communication with the FLI sensor and the fuel gauge and with computer-readable instructions stored in non-transitory memory for; determining whether the FLI sensor is degraded based on outputs, received at the controller, from the FLI sensor; in response to determining that the FLI sensor is not degraded, adjusting the fuel gauge only based on outputs from the FLI sensor; and in response to determining that the FLI sensor is degraded, adjusting the fuel gauge based on a refueling report received at the controller via an input from the vehicle operator and an amount of fuel injected by one or more fuel injectors since a most recent refueling of the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification