Abstract:
A fuel gauge system has a fuel gauge unit, a processing unit, display units, input units, and a GPS navigation system unit with means to connect to other connections and which, by audio and visual aids, informs and alerts an operator of a vehicle of the amount of fuel remaining and range and which allows the operator to manipulate and select and alter the levels, the volume and frequency intervals at which the alerts are sounded, emitted and displayed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/337,712 filed Jan. 31, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/399,742 filed Jul. 16, 2010, which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fuel gauge system and, more particularly pertains to tracking and alerting drivers to fuel levels and related information. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of fuel gauge systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, fuel gauge systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of tracking fuel use and ranges are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     While the prior art devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not describe fuel gauge system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     In this respect, the fuel gauge system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of tracking and alerting drivers to fuel levels and related information. 
     Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved fuel gauge system which can be used for tracking and alerting drivers to fuel levels and related information. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Description 
     A device primarily used in vehicles such as but not limited to automobiles and trucks comprising of at least a fuel level gauges unit, a processing unit, display units, input units and a GPS navigation system unit. This device by means of audio and visual aids informs and or alerts the operator of the vehicles the levels or a ranges of levels of fuel and the device also having the means by which the operator can select set and alter the range or the levels at which these information and or alerts are emitted and or displayed and also having the provision to change the type of information, messages and alerts including the volume and the frequency of such alerts. The operator further have the option to program, record or input different or distinctive types alerts for different levels and range of levels of fuel. The integration of the processor unit with a GPS navigation system unit enables an operator to obtain the location, direction and distance to fuel stations based upon factors such as the fuel level and distance to the fuel stations as determined by the operator. 
     Functions in Part or as Whole. 
     The following are the detailed description of the units of systems described above: 
     A fuel level gauges unit capable of measuring the levels of fuel and consisting of sensors and the interface and integration software and hardware to transfer this data to a processing unit. 
     The fuel cell gauges refers to gauges used to gauge (obtain) the amount or level of elements such as but not limited to liquids, gas, vapor and electricity. For the scope of this invention the term fuel used for describing the invention is not self limiting to only elements used as fuel. 
     The term fuel refers to elements such as but not limited to fuels, liquids, solids, gas, vapor and electricity. For the scope of this invention the term the term fuel is not self limiting to only elements used as fuel. 
     A processing unit, consisting of associated hardware, microprocessors, software, programmer means ( 200 ), memory/storage means ( 201 ), receiver/transmitter component ( 203 ) and, GPS integration hardware and software ( 207 ) and the programmer means further adapted to compute, analyze, process, integrate, interpret and to transmit the signals and data relayed from and to the fuel gauge unit, the display units, GPS system unit and data entered through the input unit by an operator. The processor unit has means to change or alter software programs through the use of USB ports. 
     The and the programmer means further adapted to enable an operator of this system to select pre installed programs installed in the memory/storage means of this system, manipulate to alter such program or enter and installed the operators own programs. The A processing unit operatively coupled to; 
     (A) Display units (output means) comprising multiple units of analog and digital display such as LCD lights touch screens, bars and indicator lights which displays the data received from the processing unit and also data entered by on operator using the input unit described hereunder. The different displays are placed on various locations for safety and convenience of the operator 
     (B) Input units (input means) consisting of switches, key pads, touch screen inputs, joysticks and a microphone. These systems are grouped and also dispersed at various locations for the convenience of an operator. 
     (C) A global positioning system (GPS) navigation system comprising of software and hardware programmed to interface ( 207 ) and integrate with the processing unit of this device. 
     This system further has the means to connect to other connections such as but not limited to mobile network, cell phone net work, Wi-Fi network and blue tooth connections and thus enabling communication and retrieving of data through such connections and also enabling indirect connections to the GPS system to obtain GPS related data. The processing units and the programs of this system further having the means for obtaining necessary data in part or as whole from more than one source or networks and to be connected to components of other systems such as but not limited the computer, and fuel gauge of a vehicle, cell/smart phones and other communication devices. 
     The units of these systems have the means to be interconnected by wires or by wireless means. 
     Upon manipulation of this device using the input buttons, switches, touch screen, the joysticks and the microphone of the input unit and with the information available through the display unit, an operator of this device is able to set alerts and reminders when the fuel level drops to a level at which the operator chooses to be alerted or reminded. This invention also gives the operator various other options to select to suet the preferences needs and skill level of the operator. This invention is further adapted to enable an operator of this device to; 
     (a) vary, alter, preset, set and or select a level(s) and or range(s) of levels of the fuel (fuel) at which an audio and or visual alert(s) are emitted and or displayed and also the type of alerts, messages and information pertaining to such levels of the fuel is emitted or displayed, 
     (b) Select and set alerts for one or more levels and ranges of levels of fuel level gauges, 
     (c) Vary, alter and choose the type of audio alerts, messages and the information displayed, 
     (d) Choose the frequency of the alerts and vary the intervals and messages, 
     (e) Increase or decrease the volume of the alerts and messages, 
     (f) To record sounds and tones of alerts and messages, 
     (g) Select and set different alerts, tones and or information for different levels or ranges of levels of fuel level gauges and designate different types of alerts and messages for different set of levels or ranges of levels of fuel level gauges (fuel). 
     The above mentioned options offers an operator of this device, the ability to program his choice of alerts and messages and also enables the operator to chose the level or a range of levels of fuel (fuel) at which these alerts and messages are emitted or displayed by this device. 
     Descriptions of the terms used for the description of the following section of the invention; 
     The term set refers to the program stored in the memory of this device and this program is programmed and installed during the manufacture of this device or thereafter and does not permit the operators to select change or alter the programs. This programs when selected by an operator follows the instructions of the information and data programmed and stored in the memory/storage means of this device. Selecting this option reduces the time and skill level that is required by an operator required for programming more complex programs. 
     The term operator preset refers to the program stored in the memory of this device and this program enables an operator system to program the operators own values and also select from data available from the installed programs such as but not limited to selecting the distance between the vehicle and the fuel relishing location and the amount of fuel remaining when the alerts are emitted or sounded. 
     The term preset refers to the program stored in the memory of this device and this program enables an operator system to select from part or whole of data stored in the memory of this device to program the device 
     The term preprogrammed proximity refers to instructions or formula to obtain distance between the physical location of the device and a fuel replenishing location that is selected by operators and recorded in the memory of this device or computed by the processing unit based upon the instructions installed in the memory of this device. 
     The term predetermined location refers to a location such as but not limited to a fuel relishing location which is selected by an operator of this device and recorded into the memory of this device or determined by the processing unit based upon the instructions installed in the memory of this device. 
     The functions described by the above terms are adapted to be available to the operators of this system as whole function, as a part of a function or as a combination of one or more of the 
     The integration of the processor unit and the GPS navigation system unit and the means to connect to other connections such as but not limited to mobile network, cell phone net work, Wi-Fi network and blue tooth connections (ENABLING RETRIEVING INFORMATION AND DATA AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM OTHER REMOTE SOURCE (HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE) further enabling the operator the following functions (h, I, j, l, m) and the operator of this device able to; 
     (h) program to alert and inform the operator when the fuel reaches or at or within an operator preset level or range of level and when this device is located physically within a preprogrammed proximity of predetermined location(s) (filling station(s)) which is programmed in to the memory of this device by the operator and to display a map, information and the direction to these location and the location(s), program to alert and inform the operator when the fuel reaches or at or within an operator preset level or range of level and the means for this device to display a map, information and the direction to these location and the location(s) fuel relishing locations, 
     (i) program the device to alert and inform the operator when the fuel reaches or at or within a preset level or range and when this device is physically within a preprogrammed proximity of predetermined location(s) (filling station(s)) which is programmed by the operator and to display a map, messages, information and the direction and the location(s) 
     (j) program the device to alert and inform the operator when the fuel reaches or at or within an operator preset level or range and when this device is physically within a preprogrammed proximity of preset location(s) (filling station(s)) and to display a map, messages, information and the direction and the location(s) 
     (k) Program the device to alert and inform the operator when the fuel is at a preset level or range and when this device is physically within a preprogrammed proximity of preset location(s) (filling station(s)) and to display a map, information and the direction and the location(s) 
     (l) program the device to alert and inform the operator when the fuel is at a operator preset level or a range of levels set location(s) (filling station(s)) which is within a set or preset distance(s) and to display a map, messages, information and the direction to the location and the location(s) 
     (m) to program the alerts and messages to stay on or continue on or switch off upon leaving the above preset or predetermined areas and distances. 
     It is within the scope of this invention that other components and devices such as but not limited to an on board vehicle computer, its display system or GPS navigation system and other navigation systems in part or as whole be incorporated and be an integral part or component of this invention. 
     It is within the scope of this invention that this device in part or as whole be incorporated as an integral part(s) or component(s) of other components and devices such as but not limited to an on board vehicle computer, its display system or GPS navigation system and other navigation systems in part or as whole be incorporated in to this device keeping the spirit of this invention. 
     In consideration of the condition in which an operator may use this device and for convenience and safety of the operator, it is within the scope of this invention that part(s) and components of a unit of the device may be dispersed and located in various locations and or incorporated in to other systems, units or device such as but not limited to the dash board of a vehicle. 
     It is within the scope of this invention that not all the feature explained in this invention is included in one device or embodiment. One or more features may be omitted for economics, availability of other unrelated devices and component to share functions or preference of a user. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a fuel monitoring system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged showing of the keyboard and associated components as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged showing of the keyboard and associated components as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration similar to  FIG. 1  but directed to an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged showing of the central processing unit and related components shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     A device primarily used in vehicles such as automobiles and trucks comprising of units of systems such as a fuel level gauges units  100 , 101   102  and  103  a processing unit  1 , display units  10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , input units  50 , 60 , 70 , 80  and a GPS navigation unit  90 . This device by means of audio and visual aids informs and or alerts the operator of the vehicles the levels or a range of levels of fuel and the device also having the means by which the operator can set and alter the range or the levels at which these information and or alerts are emitted and or displayed and also having the provision to change the type of information, messages and alerts including the volume and the (frequency) intervals of such alerts. The operators further have the option to program, record or input different or distinctive types of alerts for different levels and ranges of levels of fuel. The integration of the processor unit with a GPS navigation system unit enables an operator to obtain the location, direction and distance to fuel stations based upon factors such as the fuel level and distance to the fuel stations as determined by the operator. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following are the detailed description of the unit of systems described above: 
     The fuel level gauges units ( 100 , 101 , 102  and  103 ) capable of measuring (DETERMINING) the levels/volume of fuel and consisting of sensors and the interface and integration and integration software and hardware to transfer this data to a processing unit. The fuel level gauges located in the proximity of the fuel storage location of the fuel such as but not limited to the gas tank of a vehicle. 
     The processing unit  1 , consisting of hardware, microprocessors, and software programs to analyze, process, integrate, interpret and to transmit the signals and data relayed from and to the fuel gauge unit, the display units, GPS systems unit and data entered through the input unit by an operator. The processor unit has means to 2 enhance or alter software programs through the use of USB ports (2.) The processing unit has a means for connections and for access to other external devices by means such as USB ports for functions such as but not limited to updating, modifying of the programming software and for coupling with other components and external devices. 
     The display units comprise multiple units of analog and digital display such as LCD lights and touch screens, bars and indicator lights which displays the data received from the processing unit and also data entered by an operator using the input unit described hereunder. The different displays are placed on various locations for safety and convenience of the operator. The first unit of the display unit has a display LCD monitor  80  capable of touch screen data input using the screen  81  and also has interactive programs for the operator to input data. 
     The second unit of the display unit has multiple LCD lights  51 ,  52  placed to indicate the fuel level between full as marked by the letter (F) and empty as marked by the letter (E) and the LCD lights  52  lights  51 . The lighted lights which are shaded in the drawing give visual guidance for an operator to be able to select a desired range of level. 
     The third unit of the display unit has a bar graph light display placed to indicate that the level between full as marked by the letter (F) and empty as marked by the letter (E), the bar lights and or changes its color  61  (shaded area) gives a visual guidance for an operator to be able to select a desired (range of) level. 
     The fourth unit of the display unit has multiple lights  71  placed to indicate the level between full which is marked by the letter (F) and empty as marked by the letter (E) and the lighted lights are shaded in the drawing and these lights gives a visual guidance for an operator to be able to select a desired range of level. Each light in this unit is representing a range of fuel. 
     The input units consists of switches, key pads, touch screen inputs, joy sticks and a microphone  12  to record sounds and tones. These systems may be grouped and also dispersed at various locations for the convenience of the operator. The key pad  10  has multiple keys  11  enables an operator to record alpha and numerical messages and alerts. 
     The joystick  20  of the input unit assists in data input. The sliding key input  30  systems provide an easy and quick input of data for selecting a level or range of level of fuel. To select the lower point of the range of fuel the lever  31  is slid in to that position and then the push button switch  33  is pressed to select and record the lower level range point. The bar  31  is then moved and positioned at the top point of the range level and the push button switch  32  is pressed to select the upper point of the range of the fuel level and this is the starting point for the alerts or messages to begin. 
     The multiple key systems  40  of the input unit enables operator select only ranges of level of fuel, one key represents one range of fuel and pressing one of the keys  40 ,  41  enables the operator to select a particular range. 
     The microphone  12  enables an operator to record sounds and tones. The microphone  12  and voice recognizing software installed in the processing unit allows an operator to input data with voice commands. 
     A global positioning system (GPS) navigation system comprising of software and hardware programmed to interface and integrate with the processing unit of this device. This system has a LCD screen  91  that displays information and the touch sensitive screen enables an operator to input data. The integration of the GPS system and the processing also enables for an operator to input data in to the processing unit through the data entry means of the GPS system. 
     The units of the systems are adapted to be interconnected by wired means or by wireless means. 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.