FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an LED based fuel level indicator in a vehicle
information display instrument and more particularly to a fuel level indicator that can
provide a visual and audible indication of the level of the fuel present in the fuel tank
of the automobile before the tank is completely emptied.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The statements in this section merely provide background information related
to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
The automotive vehicles are equipped with a fuel level sensor in a fuel tank of
an automobile to sense the level of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank and indicate the
same in a vehicle information display instrument. Examples' of such fuel level
detectors include the subject matters disclosed in 250933, 262944, 256778, and the
like. Typically, the fuel level sensors are known for sensingldetecting the level of
stored fuel in a fuelrank of a vehicle. The fuel level detectors typically comprises of a
~ float and its arm in the fuel tank which includes a variable impedance element whose
impedance varies in proportion to the fuel level in the fuel tank. This impedance is
read by a coil-type fuel gauge mounted in the vehicle information display instrument -
positioned in front of a rider'sldriver's seat of the vehicle. Thus, a signal
corresponding to the level of the he1 as sensed by the fuel level sensor can be
transmitted to the gauge to inform the.leve1 of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank.
' . Further, the purely mechanical fuel level sensor includes the float, a spiral strip of
metal, and the fuel gauge. In operation, the float moves according to the fuel level in
a vertical direction along the spiral strip of metal, which is attached to an indication
needle of the fuel gauge. As the fuel level rises and lowers, the float causes the strip
of metal to turn, thus 'moving the indication needle 'of the fuel gauge and informing
the rider about the current fuel level, preferably by indicating the. same in the
information display 'instrument device of the vehicles.
Generally, the level of the fuel present in the fuel tank is indicated by a
horizontallvertical fuel level bar that glows in a segment comprising of two separate
light emitting diodes (hereinafter may be referred as LEDs) which indicates the
normal level of the fuel in the fuel tank (in white color) and the reserved condition of
the fuel tank (in amber color). However, the exact level of the fuel remaining in the
fuel tank is left only to the approximation and assumption of the,rider/.driver. This
results in an incorrect judgment of the remaining fuel that may suddenly stop the
vehicle without any other prior intimation to the riderldriver. Additionally, the
absence of clear indication on the fuel level bar misguide the riderldriver about the
accurate .amount of fuel filled in the filled tank. Furthermore, the method and the
I apparatus of indicating the level of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank by two LEDs is
governed by a microcontroller which is programmed to show the level of the fuel
remaining in the fuel tank on a liquid crystal display accordingly, which is costly in
terms of the overall cost of the manufacturing of vehicle information display
I instruments in automobiles.
Various attempts have been made to replace the conventional fuel level
detectors to meet the necessities of the present market in, all kinds of vehicles.
However, the concepts could not be commercially accepted due to some drawbacks
such as complex electronic circuit structure, extensive manufacturing cost, and the
like.
Hence, there is an urgent need for an improved mechanism of showing the
level of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank without losing the basic requirements of
. .
reliability, safety, less cost, customers' satisfaction and the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
The present subject matter relates to a system for detecting and displaying the
I~ level of fuel in an automotive fuel tank wherein the system includes a fuel level
detector for detecting the level of fuel remaining in 'the fuel tank to display the status
bar of the fuel level. The system is provided with an electronic circuit s t r u c k for
governing the display of the fuel level in a vehicle information display instrument
. wherein the electronic circuit structure is supplied with a regulated voltage supplied
from an ignition circuit to the electronic circuit structure, and a comparator provided
with the electronic circuit structure to compare the regulated voltage with a plurality
of reference voltages allocated to each respective level of the rue1 remaining in Lhe
fuel tank. The system is further provided with plurality of light emitting diodes
assigned to the respective reference voltages that correspond to the level of the fuel
remaining in the fuel tank 'wherein the light erbitting diodes are of different colors so
as to indicate various levels of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank in respective
different colors. Additionally, the multiple light emitting diodes may be replaced with
-a -RED- GREEN-BLU.E-(BGB)-li&t- emitting diode-dm:-Hence, tht--pre~@nt-subject-1
matter discloses an improved, advanced, reliable, and customers' fiiendly vehicle
information display instrument.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the vehicle with the fuel
tank, an engine mounted ahead of a. rider's seat, brake lights, tail lights, and other
necessary components of the vehicle.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the fuel tank with a fuel
supply port formed .on the upper surface of the fuel tank.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the vehicle information
I display instrument with a basic outer body onto which a printed circuit board is
assembled supported by the basic body.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide two adjacent dials on a
dashboard of the vehicle information display instrument of the automobiles.
An object of the present subject matter is to section one of the printed circuit
board in atleast four sections so as to accommodate the respective light emitting
diodes .
An object of'the present subject matter is to indicate the level of the fuel
remaining in the fuel tank with respect to the respective light emitting diode.
An object of the present subject matter is to replace the multiple light emitting
diodes with a RGB light emitting diode.
An object of.the present subject matter is to pmvide the automobile with an
electric circuit strucihre that control the operation of detecting and displaying the
level of the fluid remaining in the fuel tank.
An object of the present subject matter is to provide the electronic circuit
structure with a fuel level detector that send the signals with reference to the level of
the fuel to the electronic circuit structure.
An object of the present subject matter is to supply a regulated voltage from
an ignition circuit to the electronic circuit structure.
An object of the present subject matter is 'to provide the electronic circuit
structure with a comparator that compares the regulated voltage with plurality of
reference voltages. '
Another object of the present subject matter is to send the signals, after
comparing, to the corres$ndkg light emitting diode to indicate the level of the fuel
at that level in the fuel tank'of the automobiles.
Another object of the present subject matter is to structure the, comparator
with a 14 pin integrated chip.
Yet another objective of the present subject matter is to indicate the level of
the fuel remaining in the fuel tank by an audible buzzer along with the light emitting
diodes.
Yet another objective of the present subject matter is to calculate the reference
voltage by resistors whose resistance may vary according to the requirements.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an easy, compact,
less costly and advanced vehicle information display instrument.
5
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS .
The summary narrated above and the following detailed description of the
invention can be understood with the drawings appended to this claim. The
illustrations provide the details of thg invention. However, it should be understood
that the invention is not limited to the arrangements shown. In the drawings:
PIG. 1 shows perspective view of a two wheeler in an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
. . I1 FIG. 2 shows a fiont perspective view of a vehicle information display instrument of
I the vehicle in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
PIG. 3 illustrates a line diagram of a fuel level indicator in an embodiment of the
present subject matter.
FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic circuit structure governing the fuel level indicator in
an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF,THE INVENTION
The embodiments .of the present subject matter are described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not
. limited to these embodiments which are only provided to explain more clearly the
present subject matter to the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present disclosure. .In
the accompanying drawings, like reference alphabets and numerals are used to
indicate like components. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to the scale, and in
some instances the drawings have been exaggerated andor simplified in places for
illustrative purposes only.
The present invention relates to an LED based fuel level indicatir in a vehicle
information display instrument and more particularly to a fuel level indicator that can
provide a visual and audible indication of the level of the fuel present in the fuel tank
of the automobile before the tank is completely emptied. The following description is
merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure,
application, or uses. The present invention will hereinafter be described in detai+\ l
below as applied to a motor cycle 100. However, the principles of the present
invention are also applicable to other vehicles such as three wheelers, four iheelers,
and the like. Upward, lower, ffont and rear directions (see the directions indicated by
the arrows in FIG. 1) will be described with respect'to directions as seated. by the
rider on the motorcycle 100. Further, the present subject 'matter is explained with
reference to a vertical fuel level indicator as shown in the vehicle idormation display
instrument. However, the scope of the present subject matter may be extended to the
design of the fuel level indicator in vehicle information display instrument in any
direction, such as but not restricted to, horizontal, tilted, curved, and the like.
FIG. 1 illustrates the motor cycle 100 that may include a fuel tank 102 and an
engine mounted ahead of a rider's seat 104, a frame 106 and two relative.l y la. rge sized
wheels 108 on which the frame 106 rides. The structure is necessarily provided with a
pair of left and right front fork members rotatably supported by a head pipe 110 on
the front end of the vehicle frame. The steering of the motor cycle 100 is possible .via
a front wheel which is mounted on the front fork member whereas the rear wheel
- (drive wheel) is at the rear end. FIG. 1 shows a handlebar 112 secured to an upper
portion of the front fork member, and the front and rear portion of the handle bar 112
is covered with a. handle cover which is further divided into forward and backward .
portions. The motor cycle 100 are also provided with various lights mounted
externally on the vehicle to indicate certain information about the vehicle to other
drivers and pedestrians. These lights mainly include brake lights and tail lights
' besides indicator light bulbs which are provided to indicate the driving direction of
the two wheelers; The motor cycle 100 is further provided with the intelligent vehicle
information display instrument (also known as a speedometer) located between the
handle bars 112 of the motor cycle 100. The vehicle information display instrument
I . 114 may be viewable by the rider of the motor cycle 100 when the rider is seated on
1 the seat 104 ,and operating the' motor cycle 100. The vehicle information display
instrument 114 may be disposed generally in front of the rider so that the rider can
inspect or view a variety of information $at form part of the vehicle information
display instrument 114, which information may indicate an operating condition or
conditions of the vehicle. The vehicle information display instrument 114 may be
provided with audiolvisual warning indicators comprising information. such as speed,
the fuel level, telephone, bluetooth, rpm of the engine, tell tale symbols, turn signal
indicator, hazard warning indicator and I or other indicators. FIG. 1 further shows a
headligh; 116 provided, ai an attachment to the top middle of the handlebar of the
motor cycle, to light the road ahead.
. .
In an embodiment of the present subject matter, FIG. 2 discloses a fiont
perspective view of the vehicle information display instrument 114 provided with a
basic outer body onto which a printed circuit board (not shown) is assembled
supported by the basic body. In an embodiment of the present subject matter, FIG. 2
shows two adjacent dials 210 located on the motorcycle 100 wherein one of the dials
indicate the instantaneous running speed of the motor cycle 100 in kilometer per hour
(hereinafter may be referred as KMPH). In a unique embodiment of the present
subject matter, the second dial 210 is furnished with a polycarbonic sheet (generally
known as dial plate) provided with a second printed circuit board placed beneath the . .
polycarbonic sheet. In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the second
printed circuit board is sectioned to plant atleast four light emitting diodes 118 for
highlighting and thus indicating various level of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank, as
also shown in FIG. 3. In an embodiment of the present subject matter, these four light
emitting diodes 118 are of different colors and may vary according to the
requirements of the market. In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the
four LEDs 118 may also be replaced with, a RED, GREEN, BLUE (RGB) light
emitiing diode, which is characterized in producing multiple colors.
FIG. 4 discloses an electronic circuit structure 200 provided to govern the
operation of LED based fuel level indicator in the vehicle information display
instrument 114, in an embodiment of the present subject matter. The electronic circuit
structure 200 illustrates a battery powered ignition switch 202 which when turned
therein with an ignition key (not shown) activates an engine (not shown) of the motor
cycle 100. The electronic circuit structure 200 is provided with an interface 204 that
refine and supply a regulated voltage of 5 V (from the battery supplying a voltage of
13 V) to a comparator 206 provided with the electronic circuit structure 200 of the
vehicle information display instrument 114. The electronic circuit structure 200
receives signals from a fuel level detector 208 to capture the level of the fuel
remaining in the fuel tank 102 in analog form, in an embodiment of the present
subject matter. The fuel level sensing circuit may comprises of various electronic
components such as capacitors, resistors, diodes, and the likes to filter the voltage
surgeslspikes. In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the electronic circuit
structure 200 is also provided with plurality of reference voltage circuits that are .___ _-__ -- --- -- - - - - - - - -
-attached to-flic-~ul1l~~dlU~f2o06r ~ ~ pthbe rges pective voltages with the refined
supplied voltage, as discussed later. The electronic circuit structure 200 further
illustrates plurality of light emitting diodes 118 (hereinafter may be referred as LED)
corresponding to each reference voltage circuit wherein the respective LED 118 glow
on the basis of the signals received and compared. In an embodiment of the present
subject matter, the reference voltage is calculated by various electronic components
such as resistors R. In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the resistors
I
R may be in the range of different resistance values.
Operationally, the level of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank 102 is sensed by
a fuel level detector 208 that sends signals to a comparator 206 provided to compare
the regulated voltage with plurality of reference voltages designed within the
electronic circuit structure 200 of the motor cycle 100. The comparator 206,
- compares, the two voltages and accordingly send the signals to corresponding LED
118 to consequently indicate the level of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank 102 in
that particular color 'which is visually shown in the vehicle information display
instrument 114 of the motor cycle 100. In an embodiment of the present subject
matter, the comparator 206 is structured of a 14 pin integrated chip. However, the
number of pin in the comparator's integrated chip may vary according' to the
requirement. For instances, if the level of the fuel remaining .in the fuel tank 102 is
'X', then the comparator 206 may signal one of the LEDs 118 to glow to indicate the
then level of the fuel in the fuel tank 102. The, operation continues to be the same for
each of the rest LEDs 118 present within the electronic circuit structure 200 wherein
respective LEDs 118 glow according to the level of the fuel remaining in the fuel
tank 102. In a unique embodiment of the present subject matter, the LEDs 118
provided within the electronic circuit structure 200 are of different colors to indicate
various levels of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank 102. For instance, the green LED
on the status bar may indicate the full level of the fuel in the fuel tank 102. Similarly,
orange and amber may indicate the middle two levels of the fuel level whereas a red
LED may indicate the reserve level of the fuel tank in the motor cycle 100. The
reserve level may indirectly indicate the riderldriver of re-filling the fuel tank102 of
the motor cycle 100. In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the
illulliplt: LEDs 118 may be replaced with a RGB (RED GREEN BLUE) LED whose
permutation and combination can produce plurality of colors. In an embodiment of .
the present subject matter, the visual indication of the fuel level remaining in the fuel
tank 102 may also be indicated by an audible buzzer (not shown).
The LED based fuel level indication according to the present subject matter
advantageously facilitates a microcontroller less and liquid crystal display less
arrangement for displaying the level of fuel remaining in the fuel' tank 102 of the
motor cycle 100. Additionally, the arrangement according to the present. subject
matter discloses the visuallaudible display of fuel level in various stages that
corresponds to the amount of fuel (in liters) remaining in the fuel tank. This warns the
riderldriver about the status of the fuel tank before the riderldriver incorrectly judges ,
the remaining fuel that may consequently stop the vehicle leading to the irritation of
the passengers as well. Moreover, since the arrangement does not have any costly
electronic components, such as but not restricted to, microcontroller, liquid crystal
display, and the like. This subsequently reduces the overall cost of the manufacturing
of the vehicle information display instrument according tothe present subject matter.
Furthermore, the present subject matter ensures least requirement of servicing and
maintenance that subsequently lowers the overall cost of any vehicle information
display instruments for vehicles. Moreover, the present subject matter discloses an
improved, advanced, reliable, and customers' friendly vehicle information display
instrument.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to
the embodiments described above without departing fiom the broad inventive concept
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
. .
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all variations,
substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency
of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
WE CLAIM:
1. A system for detecting and displaying the level of fuel in an automotive fuel tank
102 comprising:
a fuel level detector 208 for detecting the level of fuel remaining in the fuel
tank 102 to display the status bar of the fuel level;
an electronic circuit structure 200 governing the display of the fuel level in a
vehicle information display instrument 114, wherein the electronic circuit
structure 200 comprising:
a regulated voltage supplied fiom an ignition circuit to the electronic
circuit structure 200;
a comparator 206 provided with the electronic circuit structure 200 to
compare the regulated voltage with a plurality of reference voltages
allocated to each respective level of the fuel remaining in the fuel tank
plurality of light emitting diodes. 118 assigned to the respective
reference voltages that correspond to the level of the he1 remaining in
the fuel tank 102;
the light emitting diodes 118 are of different colors so as to indicate
various levels of the fuel rem.aining in the fuel tank 102 in respective
different colors.
2. The system for displaying 'the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit structure 200 is provided with
' an interface 204 that refine and supply a regulated voltage of 5 V (fiom the
battery supplying a voltage of 13 V) to the comparator 206 provided with the
electronic circuit structure 200 of the vehicle information display instrument 114.
3. The system for displaying the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank. 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit struchue 200 comprises of
various electronic components such as capacitors, resistors, diodes, and the likes.
4. The system for displaying the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein plurality of light emitting diodes 118 may be . .
replaced with a RGB @ED GREEN BLUE) light emitting diode whose
permutation and combination can result in plurality of colors.
5. The system for displaying the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference voltage is calculated by various
electronic components such as resistors R.
6. The system for displaying the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the resistors R provided in calculating the reference
voltages may be in the range of different resistance values.
7. The system for displaying the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the comparator 206 is structured of a 14 pin
integrated chip.
8. The system for displaying the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of pin in the comparator integrated chip
may vary according to the requirement.
9. The system for displaying the level of fuel in the automotive fuel tank 102 as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes are sectioned in a printed
circuit board of the vehicle information display instrument.