Fuel monitoring apparatus and methods

• US 8,928,473 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microlise Group Holdings Limited (Microlise Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Robert Meechan, James Wilson Gilchrist, Ronald Thomas Meechan
• Inventors: Gilchrist, James Wilson, Meechan, Ronald Thomas, Meechan, Andrew Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/060,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20110140877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/438, 340/933, 701/29.6, 701/32.5, 701/32.6, 705/28
• US Class Current: 340/450.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03434 for preventing theft of fuel locks for filler caps B60K15/0409; locking of the inlet cover B60K2015/0561
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/804 containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A fuel monitoring device for a vehicle having one or more fuel tank sensors, the fuel monitoring device comprising a control module in communication with the or each fuel tank sensor, wherein the control module is operable to receive data from the or each fuel tank sensor and operable to output fuel level related data to a mobile communications system transmitter for transmission to an end user. The fuel monitoring device may be installed covertly within a vehicle and communicate with the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank sensor and, optionally, further sensors. The fuel monitoring device facilitates the transmission of information to an end user allowing the end user to identify occurrences of fuel theft from a remote location and/or the fuel monitoring device is operable to generate an alarm condition in or in the proximity of the vehicle. Data may additionally be audited to identify opportunities to improve operating efficiency of a vehicle, or a fleet of vehicles, or to provide early warning of possible vehicle faults and/or to identify fuel theft.

Claims

1. A fuel monitoring device for a vehicle having one or more fuel tank sensors and a Controlled Area Network (CAN) wherein the one or more fuel tank sensors are in communication with the CAN, the fuel monitoring device comprising a control module in communication with the or each fuel tank sensor, wherein the control module is operable to receive data from the or each fuel tank sensor across the CAN when the CAN is activated, and directly from the or each fuel tank sensor when the CAN is deactivated, and operable to output fuel level related data to a mobile communications system transmitter for transmission to an end user.

2. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, for a vehicle having an ignition system, the fuel monitoring device operable when the ignition system is off and/or powered up and/or partially powered up.

3. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, for a vehicle having at least one battery, operable when the or each battery is connected and/or disconnected and/or charged and/or partially charged and/or discharged.

4. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, in direct communication with one or more further vehicle sensors.

5. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 4, in direct communication with the vehicle speed sensor and/or the vehicle odometer.

6. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the control module is operable to receive data from one or more urea sensors located in the or each fuel tank.

7. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein data received from the or each fuel tank sensor across the CAN is used to calibrate data received directly from the fuel tank sensor.

8. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the control module is operable to receive data from a vehicle octane sensor across the CAN and is operable to output vehicle octane level related data to a mobile communications system transmitter for transmission to an end user.

9. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, operable to output fuel level related data to a mobile communications system transmitter for wireless transmission to a fuel dispensing pump.

10. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 9, operable to output fuel level related data to a mobile communications system transmitter for wireless transmission to a fuel dispensing pump, such that the maximum amount of fuel to be dispensed by the fuel dispensing pump may be limited to the available fuel tank capacity.

11. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 9, comprising a processing module in communication with the control module, the processing module operable to process information received by the control module and create an alarm condition if a fuel theft condition is met, wherein a fuel theft condition comprises comparison of fuel tank related date to with recorded fuel purchases, to thereby detect of fuel theft by the filling of separate fuel tanks during refueling of the vehicle.

12. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 9, further comprising a fuel dispensing pump operable to communicate wirelessly with the control module to receive fuel level related data concerning the vehicle, said fuel dispensing pump comprising a control system for metering the quantity of fuel dispensed, the fuel dispensing pump operable to stop dispensing fuel under one or more of the following circumstances:

a volume of fuel in excess of the available fuel tank capacity, determined from the fuel level related data has been dispensed;

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets a fuel theft condition;

or

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets an alarm condition.

13. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising a processing module in communication with the control module, wherein the processing module is operable to process information received by the control module and create an alarm condition if a fuel theft condition is met.

14. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 13, wherein a fuel theft condition comprises one or more of:

a decrease in fuel level when the engine is switched off;

an increase in fuel level when the octane level decreases;

a rapid decrease in fuel level when the vehicle is stationary;

a rapid change in fuel composition;

a loss of direct communication between the control module and a sensor;

a loss of direct communication between the control module and the or each fuel tank sensor;

a loss of communication between the control module and the CAN, when the CAN is activated or between successive periods when the CAN is active;

a loss of communication between the control module and a sensor across the CAN, when the CAN is activated or between successive periods when the CAN is activated;

a loss of communication between the control module and the or each battery;

a decrease in fuel level between successive periods when the CAN is active; and

dispensing a volume of fuel exceeding the available fuel tank capacity, as calculated from fuel level related data.

15. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 14, further comprising a fuel dispensing pump operable to communicate wirelessly with the control module to receive fuel level related data concerning the vehicle, said fuel dispensing pump comprising a control system for metering the quantity of fuel dispensed, the fuel dispensing pump operable to stop dispensing fuel under one or more of the following circumstances:

a volume of fuel in excess of the available fuel tank capacity, determined from the fuel level related data has been dispensed;

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets a fuel theft condition;

or

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets an alarm condition.

16. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 13, wherein the processing module is operable to determine time averaged fuel level related data and thereby distinguish between variations with fuel level related data over time resulting from motion, rocking or vibrations of the vehicle and a fuel theft condition.

17. A fuel monitoring device for a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the control module is operable to output an alarm signal in response to an alarm condition of the processing module.

18. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 17, wherein the control module is operable to output the alarm signal to a mobile communications system transmitter for transmission to an end user.

19. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 17, wherein the alarm signal is an audible alarm signal.

20. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 13, wherein the control module is operable to immobilise the vehicle in response to an alarm condition of the processing module.

21. Computer software comprising program code which, when executed on a computing device, causes it to function as a control module of a fuel monitoring device according to claim 1.

22. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a fuel dispensing pump operable to communicate wirelessly with the control module to receive fuel level related data concerning the vehicle, said fuel dispensing pump comprising a control system for metering the quantity of fuel dispensed, the fuel dispensing pump operable to stop dispensing fuel under one or more of the following circumstances:

a volume of fuel in excess of the available fuel tank capacity, determined from the fuel level related data has been dispensed;

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets a fuel theft condition;

or

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets an alarm condition.

23. A vehicle having one or more fuel tank sensors, a Controlled Area Network (CAN) wherein the or each fuel tank sensor is in communication with the CAN, and a fuel monitoring device, the fuel monitoring device comprising a control module in communication with the or each fuel tank sensor, wherein the control module is operable to receive data from the or each fuel tank sensor across the CAN when the CAN is activated, and directly from the or each fuel tank sensor when the CAN is deactivated, and operable to output fuel level related data to a mobile communications system transmitter for transmission to an end user.

24. A fuel monitoring device according to claim 23, further comprising a fuel dispensing pump operable to communicate wirelessly with the control module to receive fuel level related data concerning the vehicle, said fuel dispensing pump comprising a control system for metering the quantity of fuel dispensed, the fuel dispensing pump operable to stop dispensing fuel under one or more of the following circumstances:

a volume of fuel in excess of the available fuel tank capacity, determined from the fuel level related data has been dispensed;

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets a fuel theft condition;

or

the fuel level related data wirelessly received from the fuel monitoring device meets an alarm condition.