FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules  2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“A system and a method to monitor quality and quantity of dispensed fuel”
APPLICANTS:

Name : HCL Technologies Limited

Nationality : India

Address : HCL Technologies Ltd.  50-53 Greams Road 
Chennai  600006  Tamil Nadu  India

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The embodiments herein relate to monitoring dispensed fuel  and more particularly but not exclusively to a method and a system to measure quality and quantity of fuel dispensed to vehicles and other fuel consuming devices.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Drastic increase in usage of vehicles and other fuel consuming devices such as generators  turbines and so on  calls for improved fuel efficiency. Some of the factors that affect the fuel efficiency are quality and quantity of the fuel being provided to operate the vehicle or other fuel consumption devices. Using a good quality fuel results in proper combustion of the fuel and decreases the amount of pollutant emission. Further  in case of vehicles  using a good quality fuel increases the life of an engine. Therefore  proper monitoring of the quality and quantity of fuel dispensed to the vehicles and other fuel consumption devices are necessary.
[003] At present  quantity of the fuel is measured and displayed on the fuel dispensing machine in gas stations. However  possibilities of tampering a meter which is used to measure the quantity of fuel and which is provided in the fuel dispensing machine in gas stations may not be ruled out. As a result of tampering with the meter  a user of the vehicle may not be sure of the quantity of the fuel that is being dispensed. Further  in order to confirm the quality of fuel being dispensed to the vehicle at the gas station  the user of the vehicle or other fuel consumption devices has to request gas station personnel to perform standard tests on the fuels. On receiving such request  the fuel station personnel will conduct certain standard tests and share the result with the user. On basis of the results the user can determine the quality of fuel that is delivered to his vehicle.
[004] Conventional method of determining the quality of fuel depends on the availability of test equipments. In most cases  the gas stations will have limited number of test equipments. Therefore  performing quality check for all the requested users may take more time. Further  the accuracy of the test performed by conventional method depends on the quality of test equipments and the skill set of the person involved in performing the test. Therefore  the accuracy of the result varies from person to person  which makes the whole process partially inefficient. Further  the conventional method is directed to measuring the quality and quantity of the fuel that is stored in fuel dispensing machine in gas stations. However  it is essential to confirm the quality and quantity of fuel that is delivered to the fuel tank of the vehicle or other fuel consumption devices..
[005] Therefore  there is a need for a system and a method to measure the quality and quantity of fuel before it is delivered to the fuel tank of the vehicle and to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks and determine the quality and quantity of the fuel delivered to the fuel consuming devices.

OBJECT OF INVENTION
[006] The principal object of this invention is to provide a method and system to determine the quantity of fuel that is delivered to fuel consuming applications.
[007] Another object of the invention is to provide a method and system to determine the quality of fuel.
[008] A further object of the invention is to provide a method and system to measure the quality and quantity of fuel delivered to the fuel consuming applications accurately.
[009] A further object of the invention is to provide a method and system to measure the quality and quantity of fuel delivered to the fuel consuming devices in minimum time.
.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0010] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings  throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings  in which:;
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a line diagram that depicts a system to measure the quality and quantity of fuel according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a line diagram that depicts the position of the system to measure the quality and quantity of fuel according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flow chart that depicts the method of measuring quality and quantity of fuel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0014] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly  the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0015] The embodiments herein achieve a system and method to measure and display the quality and quantity of fuel that is delivered to a fuel consuming applications. Referring now to the drawings  and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3  where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures  there are shown embodiments.
[0016] Throughout the specification  the words fuel  petrol and diesel have been used interchangeably. The fuel  petrol and diesel refer to any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform work.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a line diagram that depicts a system that could measure the quality and quantity of fuel according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes a flow meter 102  a density sensor 104  a temperature sensor 106 and a micro controller 108. The flow meter 102 is configured to measure amount of fuel that passes through it. In one embodiment  the flow meter 102 includes primary device  transducer and transmitter. The transducer senses the fuel that passes through the primary device. The transmitter produces a usable flow signal from the raw transducer signal. However  it is also within the scope of the invention that the flow meter 102 may include any other elements that could measure the amount of fluid that flows across the flow meter 102. In one embodiment  the fuel is a liquid material. However  it is also within the scope of the invention that the flow meter 102 may be configured to measure the flow of any material such as gas or vapor which depends on the application of the system 100. The density sensor 104 is configured to measure the density of the fuel that passes through them. In one embodiment  the fuel is a liquid material. However  it is also within the scope of the invention that the density sensor 104 may be configured to measure the density of any material such as gas or vapor which depends on the application of the system 100. In one embodiment  the density sensor 104 is a photoelectric density sensor. Further  the temperature sensor 106 is configured to measure the temperature of the fuel that passes through them. In one embodiment  the fuel is a liquid material. However  it is also within the scope of the invention that the temperature sensor 106 may be configured to measure the temperature of any material such as gas or vapor which depends on the application of the system 100.
[0018] Further  output of the flow meter 102  density sensor 104 and temperature sensor 106 is connected to the microcontroller 108. In one embodiment  the microcontroller 108 includes a processor core  a memory and programmable input/output peripherals. However  it is also within the scope of the invention that the microcontroller 108 may include any other hardware devices or combination of hardware devices or combination of hardware or software devices that could achieve one or more process discussed below. The input of the microcontroller 108 is configured to receive the output of the flow meter 102  density sensor 104 and temperature sensor 106. Further  the processor of microcontroller 108 is configured to control the operations of flow meter 102  density sensor 104 and temperature sensor 106 and to measure the quantity and density of fluid that passes through the system 100 at a sample time tx. The quantity of the fluid at the sample time tx is directly proportional to the output of the flow meter 102 at the sample time tx. Further  the density of the fluid at the sample time tx for a temperature (T) is determined by the output of the density sensor at the sample time tx and the temperature of the fluid (T) at the sample time tx. Further  a dashboard 110 and the microcontroller 108 are connected to each other. In an embodiment  the dashboard 110 is provided at a remote distance from the microcontroller 108. In another embodiment  the dashboard 110 is provided as an integral element of the system 100. In another embodiment  the existing dashboard 110 such as the one in the vehicle is used by the microcontroller 108. Further  the preferred density of fluid at different temperatures is fed in to the dash board 110 by the user of system 100. The micro controller 108 is configured to receive the information from the dashboard 110 and stores the information in the memory. Furthermore  the processor of microcontroller 108 compares the preferred density of the fluid at different temperatures and the calculated density of the fluid at a temperature T in order to calculate the quality of fluid at a sample time tx.
[0019] In one embodiment  the system 100 is used in a fuel consuming devices. In one embodiment  the fuel consuming device is vehicle therefore the system 100 is used as a fuel reliability detector 100. However  it is also within the scope of invention  that the system 100 can be used in any device that requires a user to measure the quality and quantity of fuel that is being delivered to the fuel tank 202 of the vehicle. In one embodiment  the fuel is a fluid material. FIG. 2 shows a line diagram that depicts the position of system 100 that could measure the quality and quantity of fuel in the vehicle 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 is provided at the path 201 through which the fuel flows in to the fuel tank 202. In one embodiment  the system 100 is provided as an integral part of the fuel tank 202. In another embodiment  the system 100 is removably attached to the path 201 through which the fuel flows in to the fuel tank 202. However  it is also with in the scope of the invention  that the system 100 may be provided at any position in the fuel tank 202  which depends on the requirement of the user of the vehicle.
[0020] The microcontroller 108 is configured to turn on the flow meter 102  density sensor 104  temperature sensor 106 and inform the dash board 108 when the fuel tank cap is open. Further  the microcontroller 108 is configured to turn off the flow meter 102  the density sensor 104  temperature sensor 106 and inform the dash board 108 when the fuel tank cap is closed. Furthermore  the dash board 110 is configured to act both as an input and an output unit for the user of a vehicle. The dashboard 110 may act as the input when the user feeds the information about the preferred density of fuel at different temperatures and act as the output when the system 100 displays the information about the quality and quantity of fuel to the user of the vehicle. In another embodiment  the dash board 110 informs the user about the quality and quantity of fuel through an audio system. Furthermore  the dash board 110 and the microcontroller 108 are connected to each other. In one embodiment  the connection between the microcontroller 108 and the dash board 110 is established by a wired or wireless communications. Further  the microcontroller 108 is configured to receive the information from dashboard 110  store the information in the memory and send the information to the dashboard 110 when required.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a flow chart that depicts the method of measuring quality and quantity of fuel 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 may be provided at the path through which the fuel flows into the fuel tank 202. Further  the processor of microcontroller 108 of the system 100 initializes the flow meter 102  density sensor 104  temperature sensor 106 and informs the dashboard 110 when the fuel tank cap is opened (step 302). Further  when the fuel flows across the system 100 for a sample time period tx  the flow meter 102 provides output corresponding to the quantity of fuel that passes through it for a sample time period tx (step 304). Further  the density sensor 104 provides output corresponding to the density of fuel that passes through the density sensor for a sample time period tx (step 306). Further  the temperature sensor 106 provides output corresponding to the temperature (T) of the fuel that passes through the temperature sensor for a sample time period tx (step 308). The output from the flow meter 102  density sensor 104 and temperature sensor 106 is passed on to the memory of microcontroller 108. Further  the processor of microcontroller 108 calculates the quantity of fuel that flows in to the fuel tank for a sample time period tx based on the output from the flow meter 102 (step 310). Further  the processor of microcontroller 108 calculates the density of the fuel that flows into the fuel tank for a sample time period tx at a temperature T based on the output from the density sensor 104 and the output from the temperature sensor 106
(step 312). Further  the preferred density of the fuel at different temperatures is fed into the microcontroller 108 through the dashboard 110. Furthermore  the quality of the fuel that flows in to the fuel tank 202 for a sample time period tx may be determined by the processor of microcontroller 108 by comparing the preferred density of the fuel at different temperatures with the calculated density of the fuel at a temperature T (step 314). The microcontroller 108 passes the information regarding the quality and quantity of fuel delivered for a sample time period tx to the dashboard 110. In one embodiment  the microcontroller 108 stores the information regarding the quality and quantity of fuel delivered to the fuel tank 202 for a sample time period tx in its history log. Further the microcontroller 108 stores the information regarding the average quality of fuel delivered for its entire life in its history log. Further  the information regarding the quality and quantity of fuel delivered for a sample period tx is displayed in the dashboard 110 (step 316). Further  the information regarding the quality and quantity of fuel delivered for a sample period tx is informed to the user through the audio system by the dashboard 110 (step 316). The various actions in the above method may be performed in the order presented  in a different order or simultaneously. Further  in some embodiments  some actions listed in fig. 3 may be omitted. Further  for any single instance of fuel dispensing multiple sampling technique check may be performed using the actions listed.
[0022] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can  by applying current knowledge  readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept  and  therefore  such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore  while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments  those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

CLAIMS
We Claim 

1. A method to determine fuel parameters  said method comprising:
determining at least one of amount of flow of fuel  a density of fuel and a temperature (T) of fuel during a period of usage;
utilizing at least one of determined density of fuel and determined temperature (T) of fuel to measure quality of fuel; and
communicating information regarding at least one of amount of flow of fuel for said period  density of fuel  temperature (T) of fuel and quality of fuel during said period to a user.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1  wherein said quality of fuel is determined by comparing the determined density of fuel at temperature (T) with a preferred density of fuel at the temperature (T).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1  said method further comprising:
storing information regarding at least one of quality and quantity of fuel delivered for a sample period of usage tx;
determining at least one of average quality of fuel and average quantity of fuel delivered; and
communicating information regarding at least one of average quality of fuel and average quantity of fuel to a user.

4. A system to determine fuel parameters  said system comprising:
atleast one of flow meter configured to measure amount of flow of fuel  a density sensor configured to measure density of the fuel and a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature of fuel during a period of usage;
a microcontroller configured to control atleast one of said flow meter  said density sensor and said temperature sensor; and
a dashboard connected to said microcontroller and configured to communicate the fuel parameters through at least one of an audio system and a video system. 
wherein
said microcontroller determines the quality of fuel during said period of usage based on atleast one of measured density of fuel and measured temperature (T) of fuel during said period of usage.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4  wherein said microcontroller is further configured to determine the quality of fuel during said period of usage based on measured density of fuel at temperature (T) during said period of usage and preferred density of fuel at temperature (T).

6. The system as claimed in claim 5  wherein said dashboard is configured to transfer information about said preferred density of fuel at the temperature (T) to the microcontroller.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6  wherein said dash board is provided at a remote distance from said microcontroller.

8. The system as claimed in claim 4  wherein said fuel is in the form of fluid.

9. The system as claimed in claim 4  wherein atleast one of said flow meter  said density sensor and said temperature sensor is provided in the path of flow of fuel.

10. The system as claimed in claim 4  wherein said microcontroller is further configured to store information regarding the quality and quantity of fuel delivered for a sample period of usage tx in its history log.

11. The system as claimed in claim 4  wherein said microcontroller is further configured to stores the information regarding the average quality of fuel delivered for its entire life in its history log.

12. The system as claimed in claim 4  wherein said microcontroller is further configured to determine the quantity of fuel during said period of usage based on measured flow by the flow meter.

Dated: 18th day of January 2012 Signature:
Dr Kalyan Chakravarthy
(Patent Agent)
ABSTRACT
A system to measure fuel parameters during a period of usage. The system includes at least one of flow meter  density meter and temperature sensor controlled by a microcontroller. The microcontroller measures quality of fuel based on the results of at least one of density meter and temperature sensor  and the quantity of fuel is measured based on the output of the flow meter. Further  the fuel parameters are communicated to a user through at least one of audio and video system. Fig. 1