Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling fuel systems
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a gaseous fuel level of a fuel tank of a vehicle and compensating the monitored gaseous fuel level, comprising:
- receiving, at an electronic control unit, at least one sensing signal from one or more sensors configured to monitor the gaseous fuel level of the fuel tank;
receiving, at the electronic control unit, a selected fuel level compensation scheme chosen from a plurality of fuel level compensation schemes, wherein the selected fuel level compensation scheme includes a first fuel level compensation scheme adapted to determine a compensated gaseous fuel level of the fuel tank based on a reduction in a maximum pressure of the monitored gaseous fuel in the fuel tank since filling and a time duration since a vehicle engine start, the first fuel level compensation scheme being based on a time constant indicative of a length of time that has elapsed after the maximum pressure has been achieved in the fuel tank since filling, and the first fuel level compensation scheme compensates the monitored gaseous fuel level differently (i) when the time duration since the vehicle engine start is less than or equal to the time constant as compared to (ii) when the time duration since the vehicle engine start is greater than the time constant;
determining the compensated gaseous fuel level of the fuel tank based on the at least one sensing signal and the selected fuel level compensation scheme; and
sending a signal indicative of the compensated gaseous fuel level to a gauge, thereby causing the gauge to display the compensated gaseous fuel level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods may be provided for monitoring a fuel level of a vehicle. The fuel may be a gaseous fuel, such as natural gas. An electronic control unit may be able to receive a signal from one or more sensors. The electronic control unit may provide a command to drive a fuel gauge to display the fuel level. The electronic control unit may determine the gauge command based on the received signal and a filling compensation scheme. The electronic control unit may be initialized through a user interface. A filling compensation scheme may be selected during initialization. The electronic control unit may be capable of communicating various sensors, gauges, devices, controls and/or other ECUs of varying specifications.
201 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a gaseous fuel level of a fuel tank of a vehicle and compensating the monitored gaseous fuel level, comprising:
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receiving, at an electronic control unit, at least one sensing signal from one or more sensors configured to monitor the gaseous fuel level of the fuel tank; receiving, at the electronic control unit, a selected fuel level compensation scheme chosen from a plurality of fuel level compensation schemes, wherein the selected fuel level compensation scheme includes a first fuel level compensation scheme adapted to determine a compensated gaseous fuel level of the fuel tank based on a reduction in a maximum pressure of the monitored gaseous fuel in the fuel tank since filling and a time duration since a vehicle engine start, the first fuel level compensation scheme being based on a time constant indicative of a length of time that has elapsed after the maximum pressure has been achieved in the fuel tank since filling, and the first fuel level compensation scheme compensates the monitored gaseous fuel level differently (i) when the time duration since the vehicle engine start is less than or equal to the time constant as compared to (ii) when the time duration since the vehicle engine start is greater than the time constant; determining the compensated gaseous fuel level of the fuel tank based on the at least one sensing signal and the selected fuel level compensation scheme; and sending a signal indicative of the compensated gaseous fuel level to a gauge, thereby causing the gauge to display the compensated gaseous fuel level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification