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AssigneesBorg-Warner Automotive, Inc., Chrysler Corporation
InventorsRichard K. Rader, Rodney E. Barr, Carl R. Vogt, John J. C. Kopera
Estimating the term…
An electronic sensor (20) for measuring methanol content in gasoline fuels for automotive engines including a sensing coil (108/108') and a paired capacitance element (42,44/42', 44') that cooperates with the coil to define an oscillating circuit wherein the gasoline methanol fuel mixture is used as a dielectric for the capacitor elements of the sensor, a change in the methanol concentration in the fuel resulting in a change in the dielectric constant of the sensor (20) which results in a change in the resonant frequency of the capacitor elements (108/108', 42/44/42', 44'), and a microprocessor circuit (160) which responds to a change in the oscillating frequency to establish a control signal that may be used by an automotive powertrain controller (24) to effect appropriate adjustments in the air/fuel ratio and ignition timing for the engine (10) to compensate for variations in the methanol content of the fuel.
A fuel sensor for measuring concentration of an additive to liquid fuel in a fuel system for an internal combustion engine for a vehicle, said vehicle and said engine having a chassis ground, said sensor comprising an electronic oscillator circuit including a capacitor and an inductance coil exposed to said fuel, said oscillator circuit having an oscillating frequency that is functionally related to additive concentration as said fuel acts as a dielectric, a sensor signal voltage source, voltage regulator means connected to said source for establishing a predetermined voltage input for said oscillator circuit;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.