Ultrasonic Fuel Level Sensor Bubble Interference Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic sensors face challenges in accurately measuring liquid levels in vehicle fuel tanks when fuel boils and bubbles form, leading to diffused reflection or scattering phenomena that result in measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing an ultrasonic sensor unit with a reference sensor and a measurement sensor, coupled with a central processing unit, to acquire and process multiple measurement data points, determine validity, and calculate liquid level information, minimizing errors by excluding invalid data and averaging valid data points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ultrasonic sensor is used to measure liquid level in fuel tank, then measurement capability is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates when fuel boils and bubbles are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs multiple preliminary measurements (N times) before final calculation to anticipate and compensate for bubble interference. By collecting multiple data points in advance and using statistical processing (excluding maximum and minimum values, averaging remaining values), the system prepares robust measurement data that can withstand the adverse effects of boiling and bubble generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors liquid level measurements and uses the statistical processing results to adjust and improve measurement accuracy. By comparing multiple measurements and excluding outliers caused by bubbles, the system provides feedback to maintain reliable liquid level detection even when fuel boiling occurs.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measurement data are collected and processed, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-processing of measurement data through automated statistical calculations. The control unit automatically collects N measurements, excludes maximum and minimum values, averages the remaining values, and determines liquid level without requiring external intervention or complex additional hardware. This self-service approach improves accuracy while keeping the system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameter from a single instantaneous value to multiple temporal samples (N measurements). By varying the number of measurements and using statistical processing parameters (excluding extreme values, averaging), the system improves precision without requiring fundamentally different measurement mechanisms or complex additional devices.
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 approach enables accurate liquid level measurement in vehicle fuel tanks even under boiling conditions, ensuring high reliability and minimizing measurement errors caused by bubbles, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of fuel level monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
when an ultrasonic signal is transmitted from an oscillator for measuring a distance to a fuel surface using an ultrasonic sensor
Implementation Method 2
acquire a time-of-flight surface level (TOF Lev.) for calculating the liquid level of the fuel tank
Implementation Method 3
acquiring a time-of-flight reference (TOF Ref.) for setting a reference of a transmitting and receiving speed of an ultrasonic signal depending on a fuel state in the fuel tank
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a system and a method for measuring a liquid level of a vehicle fuel tank, and more particularly, to a system for measuring a liquid level of a vehicle fuel tank including an ultrasonic sensor unit provided on a bottom surface in the vehicle fuel tank to acquire measurement data for calculating a distance from the bottom surface in the fuel tank to a fuel surface and a central processing unit using the measurement data transmitted from the ultrasonic sensor unit by a preset number of times for a preset time to calculate liquid level information of the fuel tank.