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:
Apr. 19, 2005
Filed:
May. 17, 2002
Han-sheng Lee, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
David K. Lambert, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Charles Robert Harrington, Troy, MI (US);
Rick Daniel Kerr, Fenton, MI (US);
Han-Sheng Lee, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
David K. Lambert, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Charles Robert Harrington, Troy, MI (US);
Rick Daniel Kerr, Fenton, MI (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining an approximation to a measure of the volatility of fuel on-board a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one characteristic of the fuel corresponding to a temperature of the fuel, a volume of the fuel, and a concentration of oxygenates within the fuel; determining an approximation of the a measure of the volatility of the sample volume of fuel using a linear function based on the at least one measured characteristic of the fuel corresponding to temperature, volume, and concentration of oxygenates of the fuel. Preferably, at least one temperature measurement is associated with a predetermined volume of the sample as the sample is evaluated. The method can include determining whether a fuel contains ethanol, and if not, whether the fuel is a winter blend of fuel or a summer blend of fuel. The method to determine whether ethanol is present can include the steps of bringing the fuel into contact with a sensing element; measuring a characteristic of the fuel corresponding to concentration of oxygenates, such as the change in capacitance or resistance of the sensing element; and calculating the dielectric constant or the conductivity of the sample respectively. The method to determine the type of non-ethanol containing fuel can be based on two temperature measurements taken at two predetermined volumes during the evaporation process.