Portable fuel analyzer for analyzing the alcohol content of a mixed fuel
First Claim
1. A portable fuel analyzer for a fuel mixture comprising:
- a housing having an opening to a container;
a sensor communicating with said container such that the a mixed fuel sample within said container operates as a dielectric for said sensor;
a processor communication with said sensor, said processor operable to determine as alcohol content of the mixed fuel sample in response to said sensor;
a temperature sensor communicating with said container and said processor to sense a temperature of the mixed fuel sample; and
a display within said housing, said display communicating with said sensor and said processor to indicate a quality of the fuel mixture in response to a predetermined conductivity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable fuel analyzer includes a sensor, a processor and a display. The portable analyzer receives a fuel sample and the display identifies whether the vehicle fuel is tainted. The portable fuel analyzer is linked to an evaluation unit to determine a frequency measurement based upon signals from the sensor in the portable fuel analyzer. The evaluation unit compares the frequency from the vehicle fuel sensor with the frequency from the portable fuel analyzer. If the green LED is illuminated and the portable fuel analyzer indicates a different frequency than the vehicle fuel sensor, the vehicle fuel sensor is defective and should be replaced; If the green LED is illuminated and the portable fuel analyzer indicates the same frequency as the vehicle fuel sensor, a vehicle component other than the vehicle sensor is faulty; and, if the red LED is illuminated, the mixed fuel sample is tainted and a determination about the vehicle fuel sensor cannot be determined.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A portable fuel analyzer for a fuel mixture comprising:
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a housing having an opening to a container;
a sensor communicating with said container such that the a mixed fuel sample within said container operates as a dielectric for said sensor;
a processor communication with said sensor, said processor operable to determine as alcohol content of the mixed fuel sample in response to said sensor;
a temperature sensor communicating with said container and said processor to sense a temperature of the mixed fuel sample; and
a display within said housing, said display communicating with said sensor and said processor to indicate a quality of the fuel mixture in response to a predetermined conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of analyzing a mixed fuel sample comprising the steps of:
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(1) removing a mixed fuel sample from a vehicle;
(2) containing the mixed fuel sample in a portable fuel analyzer;
(3) determining whether the mixed fuel sample is of acceptable quality; and
(4) determining an alcohol content of the mixed fuel sample. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. A method of analyzing a fuel mixture unit comprising the steps of:
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(1) removing a mixed fuel sample from a vehicle;
(2) containing the mixed fuel sample in a portable fuel analyzer;
(3) determining whether the mixed fuel sample is of acceptable quality in response to a conductivity of the mixed fuel sample;
(4) activating a first indicator if said conductivity of said step (3) is below a first predetermined value;
(5) activating a second indicator if said conductivity of said step (3) is above a second predetermined value. (6) measuring the capacitance of a capacitor sensor formed in which the mixed fuel sample is a dielectric for said capacitor sensor;
(7) determining an alcohol content of the mixed fuel sample in response to a frequency indicated by the capacitor sensor of said (6); and
(8) comparing the frequency of said step (7) with a frequency measure by a vehicle sensor.
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Specification