Fuel level sensor

摘要

An electronic fuel sensor which utilizes the characteristics of fluid (such as gasoline) to dissipate heat more readily than a gas. Specifically the fuel sensor utilizes a linear array of sensors comprising a couple heat detector and heat source which can determine which of the sensors are in fluid and which are in air.

主权项

1. A fuel level sensor comprising:
a plurality of measurement sensors arranged in a vertical array, each of said measurement sensors including:
a thermal diode; anda resistor; a plurality of calibration sensors arranged in a vertical array, each of said calibration sensors including a thermal diode; a microprocessor; and wherein each one of said calibration sensors in said plurality is arranged at a vertical position in said vertical array corresponding to a vertical position of one of said measurement sensors; wherein each of said calibration sensor and said measurement sensor having the same vertical position comprises a sensor pair; wherein at least one of said measurement sensors in said plurality is arranged at a vertical position in said vertical array not corresponding to a vertical position of one of said calibration sensors; wherein said microprocessor is programmed so that at least some of said resistors can generate heat and to cool; wherein said microprocessor is programmed to record the change in temperature of all said thermal diodes in each measurement sensor where one said at least some of said resistors generates heat; and wherein said microprocessor is programmed to use said changes in temperature to calculate a level of fluid into which said fluid level sensor is at least partially immersed.