Fuel level indicator

• US 9,855,799 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Surman, James J., Buttolo, Pietro, Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Boettger, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/019,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 3404502, 340450, 340488, 34053816, 340555, 340571, 340618, 340632, 3406916, 340 738, 34030916, 340332, 34081543, 34081545, 34081556
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2661 mounted on parts having other functions on wheels B60Q1/326
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/92 Driver displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/16 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

An indicator disposed proximate a fuel port of the vehicle is disclosed. The indicator comprises a persistent luminescent layer, a first light source, and one or more circuits. The persistent luminescent layer is configured to emit a first color of light. The first light source is configured to emit a charging emission to charge the persistent luminescent layer. The one or more circuits are configured to selectively activate one or more portions of the first light source such that the persistent luminescent layer is charged and illuminates the indicator in the first color.

Claims

1. A vehicle indicator comprising:

a persistent luminescent layer forming a trim ring extending around a fuel receiving port and configured to emit a first color of light;

a first light source configured to emit a charging emission to charge the persistent luminescent layer; and

circuitry configured to selectively activate a plurality of portions of the first light source, wherein the persistent luminescent layer is charged and illuminates the indicator in the first color.

2. The indicator according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive a fuel level signal of the vehicle.

3. The indicator according to claim 2, further comprising a second light source configured to selectively illuminate the indicator in a second color.

4. The indicator according to claim 3, wherein the second light source is configured to emit the second color of light through the persistent luminescent layer and superimposed over the first color of light.

5. The indicator according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of portions illuminated by the first light source correspond to a fuel level of the vehicle identified from the fuel level signal.

6. The indicator according to claim 1, wherein the level indicator substantially encircles the fuel port.

7. The indicator according to claim 1, wherein the fuel receiving port comprises an electrical charge port configured to receive current charging a battery of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle fuel level indicator comprising:

an indicator encircling a fuel door enclosing a fuel port;

a persistent luminescent layer configured to illuminate the indicator in a first color;

a first light source configured to illuminate the indicator in at least a second color; and

a second light source configured to sequentially charge a portion of the persistent luminescent layer in a second color, the portion corresponding to the fuel level of the vehicle.

9. The fuel level indicator according to claim 8, further comprising a controller configured to selectively activate the first light source and the second light source.

10. The fuel level indicator according to claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to charge the persistent luminescent layer by controlling a frequency and timing of the activation of the second light source.

11. The fuel level indicator according to claim 9, further comprising an indicator light sensor in communication with the controller.

12. The fuel level indicator according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to charge the persistent luminescent layer to illuminate the fuel level indicator in response to a light signal received from the indicator light sensor communicating a charge level of the persistent luminescent layer.

13. The fuel level indicator according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further operable to receive a fuel signal configured to communicate a fuel level of the vehicle.

14. The fuel level indicator according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further operable to illuminate the portion of the persistent luminescent layer corresponding to the fuel level in response to a battery of the vehicle being charged in a charging operation.

15. A charge indicator for a vehicle comprising:

a trim portion of at least partially light transmissive material disposed substantially around a fuel port of the vehicle;

a persistent luminescent layer configured to emit a first color of light and form a portion of the trim portion; and

a light source configured to;

emit a charging emission charging the persistent luminescent layer; and

emit an output emission illuminating the trim portion in a second color.

16. The charge indicator according to claim 15, wherein the light source is configured to emit the charging emission and charge a portion of the persistent luminescent layer corresponding to a charge level of the vehicle.

17. The charge indicator according to claim 16, wherein the portion is sequentially illuminated by the light source as a plurality of segments of the trim portion.

18. The charge indicator according to claim 15, wherein the light source corresponds to a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed as a layer of the trim portion configured to emit light into the partially light transmissive material.

19. The charge indicator according to claim 15, wherein the light source is further configured to emit the second color of light through the trim portion in response to one or more vehicle conditions.

20. The charge indicator according to claim 15, wherein the persistent luminescent portion is configured to carry a charge and discharge the output emission for a period of several minutes.