The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 12, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 09, 1993
John J Kopera, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, MI (US);
Abstract
An electronic sensor (20) for measuring methanol content in gasoline fuels for automotive engines including a sensing coil (108/108') and a paired capacitance element (42,44/42', 44') that cooperates with the coil to define an oscillating circuit wherein the gasoline methanol fuel mixture is used as a dielectric for the capacitor elements of the sensor, a change in the methanol concentration in the fuel resulting in a change in the dielectric constant of the sensor (20) which results in a change in the resonant frequency of the capacitor elements (108/108', 42/44/42', 44'), and a microprocessor circuit (160) which responds to a change in the oscillating frequency to establish a control signal that may be used by an automotive powertrain controller (24) to effect appropriate adjustments in the air/fuel ratio and ignition timing for the engine (10) to compensate for variations in the methanol content of the fuel.