# US 10,865,732 B2 · Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling fuel systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,732 B2 - Document ID: US10865732B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/247,148 - Filed: 2019-01-14 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-07 - Assignees: Agility Fuel Systems LLC - Applicants: Agility Fuel Systems LLC - Inventors: Todd Sloan; Chris Forsberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865732B2 ## CPC - F02D 45/00: Electrical control not provided for in groups F02D41/00 - F02D43/00 - B60K 15/03006: {Gas tanks (B60K15/07 takes precedence)} - G01F 23/18: Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically - B60K 2015/03013: {Control systems for LPG tanks} - Y02T 10/30: Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Systems and methods may be provided for monitoring a fuel level of a vehicle. The fuel may be a gaseous fuel, such as natural gas. An electronic control unit may be able to receive a signal from one or more sensors. The electronic control unit may provide a command to drive a fuel gauge to display the fuel level. The electronic control unit may determine the gauge command based on the received signal and a filling compensation scheme. The electronic control unit may be initialized through a user interface. A filling compensation scheme may be selected during initialization. The electronic control unit may be capable of communicating various sensors, gauges, devices, controls and/or other ECUs of varying specifications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining an amount of fuel in a gaseous fuel containing device, the method comprising: initializing an electronic control unit to operate with a sensor configured to monitor a condition of the gaseous fuel containing device and/or a fuel gauge; placing the electronic control unit in communication with the sensor and the fuel gauge; receiving, at the electronic control unit, an input for a selected compensation scheme chosen from a plurality of compensation schemes; receiving, at the electronic control unit, a first signal from the sensor; calculating the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device based on the input, the first signal, and/or stored data, the amount being calculated with reference to the selected compensation scheme corresponding to the input; and causing the fuel gauge to display the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a pressure within the gaseous fuel containing device using the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a temperature of the fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device using the sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring an ambient temperature using the sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, at the electronic control unit, the input for the selected compensation scheme occurs prior to operation of a vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of compensation schemes comprises an instruction for providing a gauge command. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device comprises accounting for non-linearity of gas compressibility. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device comprises performing one or more algorithm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device in volume measurements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device in percentages and/or fractions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating a look up table comprising at least one gauge command. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the electronic control unit to operate with another sensor and/or another fuel gauge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the electronic control unit comprises setting up the fuel gauge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the electronic control unit comprises performing diagnostics. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a filter change. ### Claim 16 A method for determining an amount of fuel in a gaseous fuel containing device, the method comprising: configuring an electronic control unit to: communicate with a sensor, the sensor configured to monitor a condition of the gaseous fuel containing device and a fuel gauge; receive an input for a selected compensation scheme chosen from a plurality of compensation schemes; receive a first signal from the sensor; calculate the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device based on the input, the first signal, and/or stored data, the amount being calculated with reference to the selected compensation scheme corresponding to the input; and cause the fuel gauge to display the amount of fuel in the gaseous fuel containing device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising initializing the electronic control unit to operate with the sensor and/or the fuel gauge.