Electric power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank using resistive non-metallic wire and an optical hybrid fuel height sensor

A vehicle, comprising:

• a fuel tank;
• and
• a power and data communications system within the fuel tank, the power and data communications system comprising:
• an optical hybrid fuel height sensor;
• a sealed connector extending through a wall of the fuel tank;
• an electric power connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed connector, wherein the electric power connection comprises a resistive non-metallic wire;
• a sealed optical connector extending through the wall of the fuel tank;
• an internal data communications connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed optical connector, the internal data communications connection comprising an optical signal out connection;
• and
• an external data communications connection outside the fuel tank between the sealed optical connector and a device configured to calculate a volume of fuel in the fuel tank, wherein the external data communications connection comprises an optical data converter or a data concentrator connected between the sealed optical connector and the device.

A method, comprising:

• inserting one or more optical hybrid fuel height sensors in a fuel tank;
• providing an electric power connection between each optical hybrid fuel height sensor and a sealed connector extending through a wall of the fuel tank;
• providing a sealed optical connector extending through the wall of the fuel tank;
• and
• providing an internal data communications connection between each optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed optical connector, the internal data communications connection comprising an optical signal out connection;
• and
• providing an external data communications connection outside the fuel tank between the sealed optical connector and a device configured to calculate a volume of fuel in the fuel tank, wherein the external data communications connection comprises an optical data converter or a data concentrator connected between the sealed optical connector and the device.

A data concentrator, comprising

• an interface configured to receive data from a system for electric power and data communications within a fuel tank and across a wall of the fuel tank, the system comprises:
• an optical hybrid fuel height sensor;
• a sealed connector extending through the wall of a fuel tank;
• an electric power connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed connector, wherein the electric power connection comprises a resistive non-metallic wire;
• a sealed optical connector extending through the wall of the fuel tank;
• and
• an internal data communications connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed optical connector, the internal data communications connection comprising an optical signal out connection.

A system, comprising:

• an optical hybrid fuel height sensor;
• a sealed connector extending through a wall of a fuel tank;
• an electric power connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed connector, wherein the electric power connection comprises a resistive non-metallic wire;
• a sealed optical connector extending through the wall of the fuel tank;
• an internal data communications connection between the optical hybrid fuel height sensor and the sealed optical connector, the internal data communications connection comprising an optical signal out connection;
• and
• an external data communications connection outside the fuel tank between the sealed optical connector and a device configured to determine at least a quantity of fuel in the fuel tank, wherein the external data communications connection comprises an optical data converter or a data concentrator connected between the sealed optical connector and the device.