AN ADVANCED ELECTROTHERMAL SENSOR FOR AUTOMOTIVE LEVEL MEASUREMENT

This paper describes a fuel level sensor, which basically consists of thin-film resistors encapsulated in Kapton foils. The thin-film elements are heated by constant current pulses and the immersed part is cooled by the liquid to be measured. This results in a change in resistance which can be detected by various types of evaluation circuitry discussed in the paper. This electrothermal principle has a number of advantages compared to conventional methods: (1) long life due to absence of mechanical moving parts or contacts; (2) high media compatibility including ethanol or methanol containing fuels; (3) high resolution in the "empty region"; and (4) easy shaping of output characteristics with unusual tank shapes. A status report on development progress is given including test results with first prototypes and a discussion of the achieved errorband.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sensors and Actuators (1983) SP-536. International Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Michigan, February 28-March 4, 1983.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Haub, M
  • Jakobs, R-H
  • Kuehnel, F
• Publication Date: 1983-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 45-53
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
  • Publisher: Canada Centre for Remote Sensing

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Fuel tanks; Indicators (Instruments); Measuring instruments; Sensors; Thin films
• Old TRIS Terms: Fuel level; Level indicators
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00372771
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 830106, HS-034 356
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1983 12:00AM