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US 2026/0071907 A1Published application
Methods and systems for determining vehicle fuel level
AssigneeGeotab Inc.
InventorsJustin Russell Ballaro, Young Seok Shin, Nadia Sophia Stefopulos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, devices, and models determining fuel level in vehicles are described. Fuel tank capacity often extends beyond what can be measured by a fuel level sensor. Herein, fuel level data is augmented with fuel consumption data or fuel consumption rate to estimate a fuel level in a fuel tank when a fuel level sensor reads 100%. Fuel consumed until the fuel level sensor reads less than 100% can be added to measurable capacity of the tank to determine an initial volume of fuel in the tank.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- collecting, by a telematics device positioned at a vehicle, operation data representing kinetic operation of the vehicle from at least one operation sensor at the vehicle;
- collecting, by the telematics device, raw fuel level data indicating a fuel level in a fuel tank from the vehicle from a fuel sensor in communication with the telematics device;
- generating, by a first at least one processor of the telematics device, a fuel level data subset comprising only data points of the raw fuel level data for which corresponding operation data is within the stability criteria;
- receiving, by a management device remote from the vehicle, the fuel level data subset, the fuel level data subset indicating a first fuel level fI(t1e) for a fuel tank of the vehicle as measured by the fuel level sensor at an end t1e of a first period t1;
- if the first fuel level fI(t1e) is less than 100%, determining, by a second at least one processor of the management device, a final fuel volume V(t1e) for the first period t1 as fuel volume corresponding to the first fuel level fI(t1e);
- and
- if the first fuel level fI(t1e) is 100%:
- accessing a second fuel level fI(t2) for the fuel tank of the vehicle indicated in the fuel level data subset as measured by the fuel level sensor from a start t2s of a second period t2, the start t2s of the second period t2 being after an end t1e of the first period t1;
- after the second fuel level fI(t2) falls below 100% at a time t<100 during the second period t2, determining, by the second at least one processor, a fuel adjustment value fA as fuel consumed between start t2s of the second period t2 and the time t<100, based on a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle;
- determining, by the second at least one processor, an adjusted fuel volume VA as a measurable capacity Vmax of the fuel tank plus the fuel adjustment value fA;
- and
- determining, by the second at least one processor, the final fuel volume V(t1e) for the first period t1 as the adjusted fuel volume VA.
9 more elements
A system comprising:
- a telematics device positioned at the vehicle and in communication with a fuel sensor installed at the vehicle, the telematics device including:
- a first communication interface;
- a first at least one processor;
- and
- a first at least one non-transitory processor-readable storage medium, the first at least one non-transitory processor-readable storage medium storing first processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the first at least one processor cause the telematics device to:
- collect, by the telematics device, operation data representing kinetic operation of the vehicle from at least one operation sensor at the vehicle;
- collect, by the telematics device, raw fuel level data indicating a fuel level in a fuel tank of the vehicle from the fuel sensor;
- generate, by the at least one processor, a fuel level data subset comprising only data points of the raw fuel level data for which corresponding operation data is within the stability criteria;
- and
- transmit, by the first communication interface, the fuel level data subset;
- and
- a management device remote from the vehicle, the management device comprising:
- a second communication interface;
- a second at least one processor;
- a second at least one non-transitory processor-readable storage medium, the second at least one non-transitory processor-readable storage medium storing second processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the second at least one processor cause the management device to:
- receive, by the second communication interface, the fuel level data subset, the fuel level data subset indicating a first fuel level fI(t1e) for a fuel tank of the vehicle as measured by the fuel level sensor at an end t1e of a first period t1;
- if the first fuel level fI (t1e) is less than 100%, determine, by the second at least one processor, a final fuel volume V(t1e) for the first period t1 as fuel volume corresponding to the first fuel level fI(t1e);
- and
- if the first fuel level fI(t1e) is 100%:
- access a second fuel level fI(t2) for the fuel tank of the vehicle indicated in the fuel level data subset as measured by the fuel level sensor from a start t2s of a second period t2, the start t2s of the second period t2 being after an end t1e of the first period t1;
- after the second fuel level fI(t2) falls below 100% at a time t<100 during the second period t2, determine, by the second at least one processor, a fuel adjustment value fA as fuel consumed between start t2s of the second period t2 and the time t<100, based on a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle;
- determine, by the second at least one processor, an adjusted fuel volume VA as a measurable capacity Vmax of the fuel tank plus the fuel adjustment value fA;
- and
- determine, by the second at least one processor, the final fuel volume V(t1e) for the first period t1 as the adjusted fuel volume VA.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.