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. 26, 2005
Filed:
May. 17, 2002
Isabelle Desmier, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
David Vanzuilen, Fremont, IN (US);
Francois-xavier Bernard, Corronsac, FR;
Gerard Mouaici, Toulouse, FR;
Isabelle Desmier, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
David Vanzuilen, Fremont, IN (US);
Francois-Xavier Bernard, Corronsac, FR;
Gerard Mouaici, Toulouse, FR;
Siemens VDO Automotive Corp., Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A fuel sensor () includes a single capacitor () that operates in two different modes to obtain capacitance and conductance information when a fuel mixture flows between the electrodes () of the capacitor. Two different oscillators () are selectively used to obtain the conductance and capacitance information. In a disclosed embodiment, a capacitor includes an outer electrode () that is received around an inner electrode () such that there is a spacing between the electrodes through which the fuel flows. The fuel acts as a dielectric of the capacitor allowing the conductance and capacitance measurements to be made. The inventive fuel sensor can be readily incorporated into a variety of locations within a vehicle fuel supply system depending on the needs of a particular situation. In one example, a portion of the fuel rail () is used as one of the electrodes of the capacitor.