Fuel gauge for an automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. A fuel gauge for an automotive vehicle comprising;
- first means for generating a first signal, the value of which varies in response to the fuel level in a fuel tank;
second means for generating a second signal, the value of which is the average of the value of the above mentioned first signal over a first predetermined length of time;
third means for generating a third signal, the value of which is the average of the value of the above mentioned first signal over a second predetermined length of time;
fourth means for actuating alternatively the above mentioned second or third means in accordance with the vehicle driving condition so as to allow the actuated means to output the corresponding one of said second and third signals; and
fifth means for calculating a fuel quantity according to the value of the outputted one of said the second and third signals and displaying the calculated result.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel gauge is so designed that a fuel level signal having a signal value responsive to the fuel amount in a fuel tank is averaged over time intervals which vary according to whether the liquid level of the fuel in the tank is stable or unstable and a fuel quantity is calculated and displayed according to the averaged value. The stable or unstable condition of the fuel level is discriminated in accordance with vehicle speed, the "on" or "off" position of an ignition switch or the like. Accordingly, when the fuel level is unstable, the signal value is averaged over a time interval which is longer than that used when the fuel level is stable so that the response of display to variation of the fuel level is improved.
35 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fuel gauge for an automotive vehicle comprising;
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first means for generating a first signal, the value of which varies in response to the fuel level in a fuel tank; second means for generating a second signal, the value of which is the average of the value of the above mentioned first signal over a first predetermined length of time; third means for generating a third signal, the value of which is the average of the value of the above mentioned first signal over a second predetermined length of time; fourth means for actuating alternatively the above mentioned second or third means in accordance with the vehicle driving condition so as to allow the actuated means to output the corresponding one of said second and third signals; and fifth means for calculating a fuel quantity according to the value of the outputted one of said the second and third signals and displaying the calculated result. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An automotive vehicle characterized by comprising;
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a fuel level detecting means for generating a detected fuel-level signal corresponding to a fuel level; an averaging circuit having different selectable averaging times for averaging the detected signal output from the detecting means; a condition discriminating means for discriminating the vehicle condition; a switching means for switching the averaging time of the above mentioned averaging circuit in accordance with the condition signal output from the condition discriminating means; a calculating means for calculating a fuel quantity according to the detected signal averaged by the above mentioned averaging circuit; and a display device for displaying the fuel amount output from the calculating means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fuel gauge for an automotive vehicle comprising;
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a fuel level detecting means for generating a first signal, the value of which viries in response to the fuel quantity in a fuel tank; an averaging means for averaging the above mentioned first signal at a predetermined timing and generating a second signal having a value according to the averaged value; a timing control means for detecting vehicle driving conditions according to the variation of a preselected parameter and changing the predetermined timing of the above mentioned averaging means in accordance with the driving conditions; and a calculating means for calculating the fuel quantity in the fuel tank according to the second signal and displaying the calculated result. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A measuring method for measuring a fuel quantity comprising;
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measuring continuously a fuel level in a fuel tank; generating a first signal the value of which continuously varies in accordance with the measured value; averaging the above mentioned signal value over predetermined time intervals; generating a second signal corresponding to the averaged value; calculating a fuel amount in accordance with the value of the second signal to display the calculated fuel amount; discriminating vehicle driving condition according to a predetermined parameter; and varying the above mentioned predetermined time interval according to the discriminated conditions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification