Ultrasonic Sensor Driving Voltage Control for Fuel Level Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic sensors face challenges in accurately measuring fuel levels in vehicle fuel tanks due to blind zones created by ringing times and bubble formation when fuel reaches boiling point, leading to measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that control the driving state of the ultrasonic sensor by adjusting voltage and pulse width based on real-time liquid level information, minimizing blind zones and correcting for errors caused by bubbles, using a central processing unit to calculate and display accurate fuel levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the ultrasonic sensor operates continuously at maximum driving voltage to ensure sufficient signal strength for measurement, then the measurement range is improved, but the blind zone caused by ringing time increases, reducing measurement precision near the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic control by adjusting the driving voltage of the ultrasonic sensor based on the measured liquid level. When the liquid level is high, the sensor operates at lower voltage to minimize ringing time and blind zone. When the liquid level is low, the sensor increases driving voltage to maintain sufficient measurement range. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between measurement range and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the driving voltage parameter of the ultrasonic sensor according to liquid level conditions. By varying this key parameter, the system optimizes the balance between signal strength (for range) and ringing duration (for precision), allowing the sensor to adapt to different measurement scenarios and eliminate the fixed trade-off between range and precision.
2Measurement precision
If the ultrasonic sensor uses high driving power to penetrate through bubbles and measure accurate liquid level, then the measurement capability is improved, but the blind zone overlapping with ringing time increases, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts driving voltage based on liquid level feedback. When liquid level indicates potential bubble interference, the system reduces driving power to minimize ringing time, thereby reducing the blind zone where measurements are unreliable. This dynamic adaptation improves reliability by avoiding conditions that create measurement uncertainty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the measured liquid level information is used to adjust subsequent ultrasonic sensor operation. This closed-loop approach allows the system to learn from previous measurements and adjust driving parameters to avoid blind zone issues, improving overall measurement reliability through continuous optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a system and a method for optimizing driving of an ultrasonic sensor. The system for optimizing driving of an ultrasonic sensor includes: an ultrasonic sensor unit provided on an inner bottom surface of a fuel tank for a vehicle and obtaining a time of flight (TOF) for calculating a distance from the inner bottom surface of the fuel tank to a fuel surface; and a central processing unit calculating liquid level information of the fuel tank using the TOF transferred from the ultrasonic sensor unit and controlling a driving voltage of the ultrasonic sensor unit using the liquid level information.