Fuel Level Sensor Temperature Compensation for In-Tank Fuel Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel delivery devices require dedicated temperature sensors to determine fuel temperature, leading to increased complexity and costs due to the need for separate installation and electrical cables, which is not cost-effective compared to magnetically passive fill level sensors.
Innovation Solution
A fuel delivery device that uses a magnetoresistive fill level sensor with a temperature-effect compensator to generate a compensation signal, allowing the evaluation unit to determine the fuel temperature without a separate temperature sensor, thereby eliminating the need for additional hardware and reducing installation effort and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated temperature sensor is installed in the fuel tank to determine fuel temperature, then the fuel temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and installation costs increase due to additional hardware and electrical cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature measurement function with the existing magnetoresistive fill level sensor by utilizing the temperature-effect compensator already present in the sensor system. The compensator's temperature-dependent resistance changes are evaluated to determine fuel temperature, eliminating the need for a separate temperature sensor and its associated installation infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetoresistive fill level sensor is made multi-functional by using its temperature-effect compensator not only for compensating measurement errors but also for determining the fuel temperature. This allows a single component to serve multiple purposes: fill level detection, temperature compensation, and temperature measurement.
2Measurement precision
If a dedicated temperature sensor is installed in the fuel tank to determine fuel temperature, then the fuel temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing costs increase due to additional components and installation efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature measurement function with the existing magnetoresistive fill level sensor by utilizing the temperature-effect compensator already present in the sensor system. The compensator's temperature-dependent resistance changes are evaluated to determine fuel temperature, eliminating the need for a separate temperature sensor and its associated installation infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-effect compensator, originally designed to compensate for temperature influences on fill level measurements, is utilized to also provide temperature information. The system uses its own existing temperature compensation mechanism to serve the additional function of temperature measurement, eliminating the need for separate temperature sensing components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a magnetoresistive fill level sensor with temperature-effect compensator is used, then the temperature determination function is integrated, but the sensor sealing complexity increases to ensure reliability against fuel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature measurement function with the existing magnetoresistive fill level sensor by utilizing the temperature-effect compensator already present in the sensor system. The compensator's temperature-dependent resistance changes are evaluated to determine fuel temperature, eliminating the need for a separate temperature sensor and its associated installation infrastructure.
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 reduces costs and complexity by allowing the fuel delivery device to determine fuel temperature using the compensation signal from the magnetoresistive fill level sensor, making it more cost-effective than using a magnetically passive fill level sensor with a dedicated temperature sensor.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetoresistive fill level sensor (4) that can generate a fill level signal
Implementation Method 2
comprising a temperature-effect compensator (3) that can generate a compensation signal to compensate for temperature-related influences on the fill level signal
Implementation Method 3
an evaluation unit (5) which is designed in such a way that the evaluation unit can determine the temperature of a fluid surrounding the fill level sensor by the compensation signal
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel conveying device having a pumping stage, an electric motor to drive the pumping stage, a control unit, a magnetoresistive fill level sensor that generates a fill level signal, including a temperature-effect compensator that generates a compensation signal to compensate for temperature-related influences on the fill level signal, and an evaluation unit (5) designed such that the temperature of a fluid surrounding the fill level sensor can be determined by the evaluation unit by the compensation signal. A fuel tank equipped with a fuel delivery device of said type, a method for determining the temperature of a fluid inside a fuel tank, a method for controlling and/or regulating an electric motor, and a method for controlling and/or regulating an injection of fuel vapors to a combustion process of an internal combustion engine.