Fuel optimization system with improved fuel level sensor

A fuel optimization system for a vehicle traveling on a system of roads and highways, the system comprising:

• a fuel level sensor for being mounted on a fuel tank, the fuel level sensor having a transducer for generating a distance signal that represents the distance between the sensor and the surface of the fuel in the fuel tank and a processor coupled to the transducer, the processor programmed to convert the distance signal to a percentage of capacity signal, calculate the volume of fuel within the fuel tank, calculate the rate of fuel consumption per unit distance of the vehicle, and create a message that includes information regarding the volume of fuel in the fuel tank and the rate of fuel consumption per unit distance;
• a vehicle information system to provide data concerning the distance traveled by the vehicle, and the identity of the vehicle;
• and
• a network coupled to the processor to calculate an optimal location on the system of roads and highways for refilling the fuel tank and to select an optimal route from a plurality of suitable routes along the system of roads and highways for reaching the optimal location using the message provided by the fuel level sensor and data provided by the vehicle information system.

A vehicle monitoring system comprising:

• a vehicle information system to provide data concerning the operation of the vehicle and the identity of the vehicle;
• a network coupled to the vehicle information system to record and process the data concerning the operation of the vehicle, the network including
• a fuel optimization server;
• a dispatch terminal coupled to the fuel optimization server;
• and
• a fuel-price-by-location service coupled to the fuel optimization server;
• the vehicle information system providing data concerning the location of the vehicle and the direction of travel of the vehicle to the dispatch terminal;
• the fuel optimization server calculating an optimal location for refilling a fuel tank in the vehicle based on information received from the dispatch terminal and the fuel-price-by-location service.

A fuel level sensor for use with a fuel tank, the fuel level sensor comprising:

• a transducer for generating a distance signal that represents the distance between the sensor and the surface of the fuel in the fuel tank;
• a vehicle speed dependent filter to reduce measurement affects on the distance signal of standing waves in the fuel tank;
• and
• a processor programmed to convert the distance signal to a percentage of capacity signal, calculate the volume of fuel within the fuel tank, and create a message that includes information regarding the volume of fuel in the fuel tank.

A fuel level sensor for use with a fuel tank having a fuel capacity value, the fuel level sensor comprising:

• a transducer for generating a distance signal that represents the distance between the sensor and the surface of the fuel in the fuel tank;
• and
• a processor operable to be coupled to the transducer, the processor operable to
• convert the distance signal to a percentage of capacity signal,
• receive a distance traveled value from a vehicle information system connected to the fuel level sensor,
• calculate a miles-to-empty value using a ratio-metric algorithm without knowledge of the fuel capacity value of the fuel tank, and
• create a message that includes information regarding the miles-to-empty value.

A fuel level sensor for use with a fuel tank in a vehicle, the fuel tank having a fuel capacity value, the fuel level sensor comprising:

• a transducer for generating a distance signal that represents the distance between the sensor and the surface of the fuel in the fuel tank;
• and
• a processor operable to be coupled to the transducer, the processor operable to
• convert the distance signal to a percentage of capacity signal,
• receive a vehicle distance traveled value from a vehicle information system connected to the fuel level sensor,
• calculate a fuel economy value,
• calculate a fuel remaining value without knowledge of the fuel capacity value using a ratio-metric algorithm, and
• create a message that includes information regarding the fuel remaining value.

A fuel management system comprising:

• a vehicle having a fuel tank and a fuel level sensor, the fuel level sensor providing a low-fuel message when a fuel level in the fuel tank falls below a predetermined level;
• a vehicle information system coupled to the fuel level sensor, the vehicle information system providing vehicle location data;
• and
• a network coupled to the vehicle information system to process the low-fuel message and the vehicle location data, the network including
• a dispatch terminal to receive the vehicle location data and to determine vehicle routing;
• and
• a fuel optimization server coupled to the dispatch terminal, the fuel optimization server upon receiving the low-fuel message determining an optimal refueling route based on the vehicle location data and the vehicle routing.