Vehicle fuel delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10759652-B2
Application number	US-201715683249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2017
Priority date	Aug 22, 2017
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

Data are received indicating an amount of pumped fuel provided to a vehicle fuel tank. A vehicle fuel tank fuel volume is received. Upon determining that a difference between the pumped amount of fuel and a detected change in a fuel volume in the fuel tank exceeds a threshold, a fuel pump is deactivated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising computer programmed to:
receive data indicating an amount of pumped fuel provided to a vehicle fuel tank of a vehicle while a fuel pump external to the vehicle provides fuel to the vehicle fuel tank;
detect a change in a fuel volume of the vehicle fuel tank; and
upon determining that a difference between the amount of pumped fuel and the detected change exceeds a threshold, then, deactivate the fuel pump.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to actuate a vehicle image sensor to provide image data for an area at a refueling side of the vehicle and, upon identifying a fuel spill from the image data, deactivate the fuel pump.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer is further programmed to identify the fuel spill based on the image data by identifying a color difference on a roadway surface greater than a color difference threshold.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon identifying the fuel spill, actuate the vehicle to move away from the fuel spill.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer is further programmed to obtain thermal image data from the image sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the computer is further programmed to identify the fuel spill when the thermal image data indicate a temperature difference on a roadway surface greater than a temperature difference threshold.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the computer is further programmed to measure an ambient air temperature and to identify the fuel spill based on the thermal image data and the ambient air temperature.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to disengage the fuel pump from the fuel tank upon deactivating the fuel pump.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to instruct a side mirror to move toward a vehicle door.

10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the computer is further programmed to identify a fuel door with the image sensor and actuate the vehicle image sensor to provide image data for an area within a predetermined distance of the fuel door.

11. A method, comprising:
receiving data indicating an amount of pumped fuel provided to a vehicle fuel tank of a vehicle while a fuel pump external to the vehicle provides fuel to the vehicle fuel tank;
detecting a change in a fuel volume of the vehicle fuel tank; and
upon determining that a difference between the pumped amount of fuel and the detected change exceeds a threshold, then, deactivating a fuel pump.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising actuating a vehicle image sensor to provide image data for an area at a refueling side of the vehicle and, upon identifying a fuel spill from the image data, deactivating the fuel pump.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising identifying the fuel spill based on the image data by identifying a color difference on a roadway surface greater than a color difference threshold.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, upon identifying the fuel spill, actuating the vehicle to move away from the fuel spill.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising obtaining thermal image data from the image sensor.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising identifying the fuel spill when the thermal image data indicate a temperature difference on a roadway surface greater than a temperature difference threshold.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising measuring an ambient air temperature and identifying the fuel spill based on the thermal image data and the ambient air temperature.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disengaging the fuel pump from the fuel tank upon deactivating the fuel pump.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising instructing a side mirror to move toward a vehicle door.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising identifying a fuel door with the image sensor and actuating the vehicle image sensor to provide image data for an area within a predetermined distance of the fuel door.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed M
• Miller Kenneth James
• Leone Thomas G

Classifications

• G06V10/56

  relating to colour · CPC title

• B60K2015/03342

  to allow automatic or robotised filling of the tank · CPC title

• G06V20/56

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• B60K2015/03197

  Systems for exchanging data · CPC title