Fuel indicator method
US8401761B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 9, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01C9/06
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for operating a vehicle is provided. The method includes, in one example during a first a rate of change of an inclination of the vehicle, adjusting a fuel level indication based on the inclination and a level of fuel within the fuel tank; and during a second rate of change of the inclination different from the first rate of change, adjusting the fuel level indication based on actual fuel consumption of the engine. In this way, it is possible to provide an accurate fuel level indication based on the inclination when the inclination is not changing too quickly. However, when inclination is changing quickly and may give degraded level readings, it is still possible to provide an accurate fuel level by transiently estimating fuel usage and using, for example, a previous fuel level reading from when the inclination was not changing too quickly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.