Control methodology for wireless fluid level sensor

• US 9,659,414 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Staley, David R., Gilgenbach, Karl R., Schneider, Eric W., Hammond, Bryant G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan Q
• Application Number:
  US14/601,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20160210793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 701 2905, 701 294, 73647
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A control methodology for a wireless oil level sensor includes mounting a wireless oil pressure sensor to the oil plug of an engine. The oil pressure sensor detects a pressure which is used to determine a volume or level of oil in the oil pan. The oil level sensor can include an accelerometer sensor that can be excited by the vibration caused by the starting of the engine to “wake up” the sensor. The sensor can take an initial pressure reading at start up and associate the pressure reading with an oil level that can then be transmitted to a vehicle control unit. The sensor can remain idle until the accelerometer sensor no longer detects engine vibrations. The sensor is activated to take pressure readings at predetermined time intervals and to transmit an associated oil level to the vehicle central processor unit until a predetermined time period has expired.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a wireless fluid level sensor in an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a wireless fluid level sensor in an oil pan of a vehicle, said wireless fluid level sensor including a pressure sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a battery and a transmitter;

waking the wireless fluid level sensor in response to the excitation of the accelerometer sensor caused by the starting of the engine and reading a pressure level and transmitting an oil level indicative of the pressure level to a vehicle controller.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining the sensor in an idle state until the accelerometer sensor no longer detects engine vibrations and then activating the pressure sensor to take pressure readings at predetermined time intervals and transmitting an associated oil level to the vehicle controller until a predetermined time period has expired.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein after the predetermined period of time, the wireless fluid level sensor then goes into sleep mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wireless fluid level sensor is mounted to an oil plug.

5. A method for detecting an oil change condition with a wireless fluid level sensor in an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a wireless fluid level sensor in an oil pan of a vehicle, said wireless fluid level sensor including a pressure sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a battery and a transmitter;

waking the wireless fluid level sensor in response to the excitation of the accelerometer sensor;

detecting a rate of change of pressure by the pressure sensor and determining if the rate of change of the pressure is indicative of an oil change condition;

transmitting a signal from the wireless fluid level sensor to a vehicle control unit to indicate that an oil change condition has been detected; and

re-setting an oil life monitor status of the vehicle control unit in response to the signal from the wireless fluid level sensor.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said wireless fluid level sensor is mounted to an oil plug.

7. A method for detecting an oil change condition with a wireless fluid level sensor in an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a wireless fluid level sensor in an oil pan of a vehicle, said wireless fluid level sensor including an accelerometer sensor, a battery and a transmitter;

waking the wireless fluid level sensor in response to the excitation of the accelerometer sensor;

detecting a series of knocks via the accelerometer sensor on the oil pan in close proximity to the wireless fluid level sensor indicative of an oil change condition;

transmitting a signal from the wireless fluid level sensor to a vehicle control unit to indicate that an oil change condition has been detected; and

re-setting an oil life monitor status of the vehicle control unit in response to the signal from the wireless fluid level sensor.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said wireless fluid level sensor is mounted to an oil plug.

9. A method for detecting an oil change condition with a wireless fluid level sensor in an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

mounting a wireless fluid level sensor in an oil pan of a vehicle, said wireless fluid level sensor including a pressure sensor, an attitude sensor, a battery and a transmitter;

detecting a change of attitude of the pressure sensor and determining if the change of attitude is indicative of an oil change condition;

transmitting a signal from the wireless fluid level sensor to a vehicle control unit to indicate that an oil change condition has been detected; and

re-setting an oil life monitor status of the vehicle control unit in response to the signal from the wireless fluid level sensor.

10. A method of diagnosing an engine condition with a wireless pressure sensor in an oil pan of an engine, comprising:

mounting a wireless fluid level sensor in an oil pan of a vehicle, said wireless fluid level sensor including a pressure sensor, a battery and a transmitter;

activating the wireless fluid level sensor using a signal monitoring device during engine operation to cause the wireless fluid level sensor to transmit a pressure signal to the signal monitoring device;

receiving the pressure signal by the signal monitoring device; and

determining whether the measured pressure is within a predetermined pressure range.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said wireless fluid level sensor is mounted to an oil plug.

12. A method of diagnosing an engine condition with a wireless pressure sensor in an oil pan of an engine, comprising:

mounting a wireless fluid level sensor in an oil pan of a vehicle, said wireless fluid level sensor including a pressure sensor, a battery, and a transmitter;

activating the wireless fluid level sensor during engine operation to cause the wireless fluid level sensor to transmit a pressure signal to the vehicle central processor unit; and

determining whether the measured pressure is outside of a normal operating range for the engine operating state and, if not, providing a maintenance signal to a vehicle operator.