Control apparatus for detecting a variation of a fluid level in a tank

A control apparatus for detecting a variation of a fluid level in a tank with a fluid level sensor (510), the control apparatus comprising:

• an Electronic Control Unit (450) connected to the fluid level sensor (510) and configured to:
• monitor a signal value representative of a fluid level in a tank;
• filter the fluid level signal value using a first filter to obtain a first filtered signal and using a second filter to obtain a second filtered signal, the first filter having a first time constant lower than a second time constant of the second filter;
• calculate an integral value of a difference between the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal;
• and
• generate a signal representative of the detection of an increase in the fluid level in the tank when the integral value is greater than a predefined threshold.

A method of detecting a variation of a fluid level in a tank, the tank being equipped with a fluid level sensor, the method comprising:

• monitor a signal value representative of a fluid level in the tank;
• filtering the fluid level signal value using a first filter to obtain a first filtered signal and using a second filter to obtain a second filtered signal, the first filter having a time constant (τ1) lower than a time constant (τ2) of the second filter;
• calculating an integral value of a difference between the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal;
• and
• generating a signal representative of the detection of an increase in the fluid level in the tank when the integral value is greater than a predefined threshold.

An automotive system comprising:

• an internal combustion engine managed by an engine Electronic Control Unit;
• and
• a tank equipped with a fluid level sensor for sensing a fluid level, the Electronic
• Control Unit being connected to the fluid level sensor and being configured to:
• monitor a signal value representative of a fluid level in the tank;
• filter the fluid level signal value using a first filter to obtain a first filtered signal and using a second filter to obtain a second filtered signal, the first filter having a time constant (τ1) lower than a time constant (τ2) of the second filter;
• calculate an integral value of a difference between the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal;
• and
• generate a signal representative of the detection of an increase in the fluid level in the tank when the integral value is greater than a predefined threshold.