Vehicle fuel filler assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9643487-B2
Application number	US-201514848373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 9, 2015
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle and a fuel filler assembly may be provided. The fuel filler assembly may include a housing, a panel assembly, and a sensor assembly. The panel assembly may be carried by the housing and may include a door and a hinge extending from the door. The hinge may have indicia disposed thereon and the sensor assembly may be configured to provide a signal indicative of a location of the indicia relative to the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a housing;
a panel assembly including a door, and a hinge extending from the door and carried by the housing, the hinge having reflective indicia thereon;
a proximity sensor assembly configured to provide a signal indicative of a location of the indicia relative to the housing based on light reflected from the indicia; and
a controller programmed to output for display a fuel door open-closed indicator based on the signal.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the indicia is spaced apart from and does not engage the proximity sensor assembly.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the housing defines an aperture through which the proximity sensor assembly extends.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the proximity sensor assembly is spaced apart from and disposed above the indicia.

5. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the proximity sensor assembly is spaced apart from and faces towards the indicia.

6. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the proximity sensor assembly is spaced apart from and disposed below the indicia.

7. A fuel filler assembly comprising:
a housing;
a panel assembly provided with a door, and a hinge extending from the door and connected to the housing, the hinge having indicia defining a reflective section disposed thereon; and
a sensor assembly disposed proximate the hinge and configured to detect light reflected from the indicia.

8. The fuel filler assembly of claim 7 wherein the panel assembly rotates about a pivot axis from a closed position to an open position and the indicia is received within the housing when the panel assembly is in the closed position.

9. The fuel filler assembly of claim 7 wherein the sensor assembly is spaced apart from and faces towards the indicia.

10. A fuel filler assembly comprising:
a housing;
a panel assembly including a door, and a hinge extending from the door and carried by the housing, the hinge having indicia defining a reflective section thereon; and
a non-contacting sensor assembly configured to provide a signal indicative of a location of the indicia relative to the housing based on transmission of light reflected off the reflective section being received by the non-contacting sensor assembly.

11. The fuel filler assembly of claim 10 wherein the housing defines an aperture through which the non-contacting sensor assembly extends.

12. The fuel filler assembly of claim 10 wherein the non-contacting sensor assembly is spaced apart from and disposed above the indicia.

13. The fuel filler assembly of claim 10 wherein the non-contacting sensor assembly is spaced apart from and faces towards a side surface of the hinge.

14. The fuel filler assembly of claim 13 wherein the non-contacting sensor assembly provides a signal indicative of an open position of the door to a controller based on a location of the indicia.

15. The fuel filler assembly of claim 14 wherein a warning is output for display via a user interface indicative of an open door based on the signal.

16. The fuel filler assembly of claim 10 wherein the non-contacting sensor assembly includes an infrared sensor.

17. The fuel filler assembly of claim 10 wherein the non-contacting sensor assembly includes an ultrasonic sensor.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Szawarski Hubert
• Cuddihy Mark A
• Rao Manoharprasad K

Classifications

• B60K2015/0546

  Arrangements for checking the position of the inlet cover · CPC title

• B60K15/05 Primary

  Inlet covers · CPC title

• B60Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B60K2015/053

  with hinged connection to the vehicle body · CPC title

• B60Y2400/92

  Driver displays · CPC title