Fuel Hose Pressure Modulation for Reliable Vehicle Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication methods between fueling devices and vehicles, such as infrared interfaces, are prone to errors due to external influences like sunlight, scratches, and ice formation, leading to unreliable parameter exchange and lengthy fueling processes.

Innovation Solution

A method where the fueling device modulates an output pressure to transmit signals to the vehicle, allowing for targeted data exchange independently of wireless infrastructure and reducing susceptibility to errors. This involves coupling the fueling device to the vehicle's tank, providing pressurized fuel, varying the pressure on the fuel hose by superimposing a base pressure with a pressure sequence, and detecting this pressure sequence on the vehicle side to extract the transmitted signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If infrared interface (irDA) is used for communication between fueling device and vehicle, then communication can be established, but the communication is prone to errors due to sunlight, scratches, and ice formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidsunlight interference, scratches, ice formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the optical infrared communication system with a pressure-based communication system. The fueling device modulates pressure in the fuel hose to encode signals, and the vehicle detects these pressure variations through its existing pressure sensors. This substitution eliminates susceptibility to optical interference from sunlight, scratches, or ice formation while utilizing the mechanical pressure field already present during fueling operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the fuel hose as an intermediary medium for communication. Instead of direct optical transmission between transmitter and receiver, the fuel hose carries pressure modulations that encode communication signals. This intermediary approach allows the existing fueling infrastructure to serve dual purposes: fuel delivery and data transmission, thereby improving reliability without requiring separate communication hardware vulnerable to environmental factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If dynamic pressure modulation is used for communication, then error-resistant communication is achieved, but clear assignment of communication partners becomes challenging at fueling stations with multiple devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication error resistanceVSAvoidcommunication partner assignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback-based authentication mechanism where the vehicle responds to pressure-modulated signals with its own pressure variations. The fueling device analyzes these responses to verify the identity and authorization of the vehicle. This bidirectional feedback loop ensures that only authorized vehicles can establish communication and fueling operations, solving the partner assignment problem at multi-device fueling stations through cryptographic-like verification using pressure modulations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If conventional fueling operation is used, then fueling process is simple, but fueling duration is lengthy due to low hydrogen pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefueling speedVSAvoidfueling duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the hydrogen pressure during the fueling process based on real-time communication with the vehicle. The fueling device can increase pressure above conventional levels when communication confirms tank capacity and safety margins are satisfied, thereby accelerating the fueling rate. This dynamic pressure control allows the system to operate at optimal speeds throughout the fueling operation rather than being constrained by conservative constant pressure limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution provides a secure, error-resistant communication connection between the fueling device and the vehicle, ensuring clear assignment of communication partners and reducing fueling duration by allowing for efficient data exchange.

Implementation Method 1

varying the pressure on the fuel hose by superimposing a specified base pressure with a pressure sequence in order to modulate a first signal to be transmitted

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure modulation:

Implementation Method 2

detecting the pressure being applied to the fuel hose by means of the vehicle, and extracting the first signal to be transmitted from the detected pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Data Source

PatentUS12305811B2Method for a communication between a fueling device and a vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for a communication between a fueling device (2) and a vehicle (4), having the steps of coupling the fueling device to a tank (6) of the vehicle by means of a fuel hose (10), providing pressurized fuel to the fuel hose, varying the pressure on the fuel hose by superimposing a specified base pressure with a pressure sequence in order to modulate a first signal to be transmitted, detecting the pressure being applied to the fuel hose by means of the vehicle, and extracting the first signal to be transmitted from the detected pressure.