Fuel pump control
First Claim
1. An apparatus in a mechanical returnless fuel system, said mechanical returnless fuel sytem including a fuel pump motor for providing fuel to a powertrain system, a powertrain control module for providing an activation signal for activating said fuel pump motor, and a restraint control system including a restraint control module for providing a disabling signal for disabling said fuel pump motor in response to a vehicle impact, said apparatus comprising:
- an electronic relay switch packaged outside of a fuel tank and adapted for coupling to said fuel pump motor to selectably energize said fuel pump motor according to a conductive state and a non-conductive state of said electronic relay switch;
a relay controller packaged with said electronic relay switch responsive to said activation signal from said powertrain control module and said disabling signal from said restraint control module for selecting said conductive state according to said activation signal when said disabling signal is not present and selecting said nonconductive state when said disabling signal is present.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus in a mechanical returnless fuel system is provided that includes a fuel pump motor for providing fuel to a powertrain system. A powertrain control module provides an activation signal for activating the fuel pump motor. A restraint control system includes a restraint control module for providing a disabling signal for disabling the fuel pump motor in response to a vehicle impact. An electronic relay switch is adapted for coupling to the fuel pump motor to selectably energize the fuel pump motor according to a conductive state and a non-conductive state of the electronic relay switch. A relay controller packaged with the electronic relay switch is responsive to the activation signal and the disabling signal for selecting the conductive state according to the activation signal when the disabling signal is not present and selecting the nonconductive state when the disabling signal is present.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus in a mechanical returnless fuel system, said mechanical returnless fuel sytem including a fuel pump motor for providing fuel to a powertrain system, a powertrain control module for providing an activation signal for activating said fuel pump motor, and a restraint control system including a restraint control module for providing a disabling signal for disabling said fuel pump motor in response to a vehicle impact, said apparatus comprising:
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an electronic relay switch packaged outside of a fuel tank and adapted for coupling to said fuel pump motor to selectably energize said fuel pump motor according to a conductive state and a non-conductive state of said electronic relay switch; a relay controller packaged with said electronic relay switch responsive to said activation signal from said powertrain control module and said disabling signal from said restraint control module for selecting said conductive state according to said activation signal when said disabling signal is not present and selecting said nonconductive state when said disabling signal is present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a fuel pump motor of in a mechanical returnless fuel system for providing power to a powertrain system that includes a powertrain control module for providing an activation signal for activating a fuel pump motor and a restraint control module for providing a disabling signal to an electronic fuel pump relay controller for disabling said fuel pump motor in response to a vehicle impact, said fuel pump relay packaged outside of a fuel tank including a relay controller that operatively controls a relay switch for energizing and de-energizing said fuel pump motor, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing a vehicle impact of said vehicle; communicating said disabling signal from said restraint control module to said relay controller; determining a validity of said disabling signal; and de-energizing said fuel pump motor via said relay switch in response to said disabling signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification