Intelligent liquid level display for auxiliary tanks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12312233-B2
Application number	US-202217938796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2022
Priority date	Oct 7, 2022
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A system to display liquid levels in vehicle auxiliary tanks is disclosed. The vehicle includes a plurality of auxiliary tanks disposed on a vehicle cargo bed. The vehicle further includes a first detection unit to detect a user activity associated with the plurality of auxiliary tanks, and a second detection unit to measure a vehicle weight. The vehicle further includes a control unit to identify a first auxiliary tank, from the plurality of auxiliary tanks, which is associated with the user activity. The control unit further determines a vehicle weight change based on the measurement of weight and an initial vehicle weight. In addition, the control unit correlates first auxiliary tank identification and weight change determination, and calculates a liquid level change associated with the first auxiliary tank. Responsive to the calculation, the control unit displays the liquid level change on a user interface.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a plurality of auxiliary tanks configured to store liquid;
a first detection unit configured to detect a user activity associated with the plurality of auxiliary tanks;
a second detection unit configured to measure a weight in the vehicle;
a user interface;
a control unit communicatively coupled to the first detection unit, the second detection unit, and the user interface, wherein the control unit is configured to:
determine, using the first detection unit, that the user is proximate to a first auxiliary tank of the plurality of auxiliary tanks;
activate, based on the user being proximate to the first auxiliary tank, the second detection unit;
determine, based on the first auxiliary tank, a liquid type associated with the first auxiliary tank;
determine, using the second detection unit, a current weight in the vehicle;
determine a weight change in the vehicle based on the current weight and a baseline weight in the vehicle;
calculate a liquid level change associated with the first auxiliary tank based on the weight change and a density associated with the liquid; and

display, via the user interface, the liquid level change and the type of liquid.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks further comprises a second auxiliary tank and a third auxiliary tank.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first auxiliary tank, the second auxiliary tank, and the third auxiliary tank are configured to store at least one of a fuel, water, a lubricating oil, and an engine oil.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks is placed on a vehicle cargo bed.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first detection unit is a vehicle camera, and the second detection unit is a vehicle on-board weight scale.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks further comprise a second auxiliary tank, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that that both the first auxiliary tank and the second auxiliary tank are to be filled; and
provide, via the user interface, instructions for sequential filling of the first auxiliary tank and the second auxiliary tank.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein to determine the type of the liquid, the controller is further configured to:
detect, using the first detection unit, a color of a nozzle being used with the first auxiliary tank; and
determine, based on the color of the nozzle, the type of the liquid.

8. A method comprising:
determining, by a control unit and using a first detection unit, that a user is proximate to a first auxiliary tank of a plurality of auxiliary tanks, wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks is configured to store liquid;
activating, by the control unit and based on the user being proximate to the first auxiliary tank, a second detection unit;
determining, by the control unit and based on the first auxiliary tank, a liquid type associated with the first auxiliary tank;
obtaining, by the control unit, a current weight in the vehicle from the second detection unit;
determining, by the control unit, a weight change in the vehicle based on the current weight and a baseline weight;
calculating, by the control unit, a liquid level change associated with the first auxiliary tank based on the current weight and a density associated with the liquid in the first auxiliary tank;
displaying, by the control unit, the liquid level change and the liquid type on a user interface;
determining, by the control unit, that the first auxiliary tank and a second auxiliary tank, of the plurality of auxiliary tanks, are to be filled; and
providing, by the control unit, instructions to the user to sequentially fill the first auxiliary tank and the second auxiliary tank.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks further comprises a second auxiliary tank and a third auxiliary tank.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary tank, the second auxiliary tank, and the third auxiliary tank are configured to store at least one of a fuel, water, a lubricating oil, and an engine oil.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks is placed on a vehicle cargo bed.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first detection unit is a vehicle camera, and the second detection unit is a vehicle on-board weight scale.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a distributed computing system, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
determine, using a first detection unit, that a user is proximate to a first auxiliary tank of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of auxiliary tanks configured to store liquids;
activate, based on the user being proximate to the first auxiliary tank, a second detection unit of the vehicle;
determine, using the first detection unit, that a nozzle is being used to fill liquid in the first auxiliary tank;
determine, based on a color of the nozzle, a liquid type associated with the liquid;
obtain a current weight in a vehicle from the second detection unit;
determine a weight change in the vehicle based on the current weight and a baseline weight;
calculate a liquid level change associated with the first auxiliary tank based on the weight change and a density of the liquid; and
display the liquid level change and the liquid type on a user interface.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks further comprises a second auxiliary tank and a third auxiliary tank.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the first auxiliary tank, the second auxiliary tank, and the third auxiliary tank are configured to store at least one of a fuel, water, a lubricating oil, and an engine oil.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks is placed on a vehicle cargo bed.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the first detection unit is a vehicle camera, and the second detection unit is a vehicle on-board weight scale.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary tanks further comprises a second auxiliary tank, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
determine that both the first auxiliary tank and the second auxiliary tank are to be filled; and
provide, via the user interface, instructions for sequential filling of the first auxiliary tank and the second auxiliary tank.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed M

Classifications

• G01F23/20

  by measurement of weight, e.g. to determine the level of stored liquefied gas · CPC title

• B60P3/2205

  Constructional features · CPC title

• B60K2360/21

  using cameras · CPC title

• B60K15/03

  Fuel tanks · CPC title

• B60K2015/0319

  with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting · CPC title