Abstract:
A system for preventing the illumination of a vehicle check engine light by notifying the driver that the fuel door is not closed. The system includes an interference member, a sensor for detecting the position of a fuel door, and a processor to communicate a detectable signal to the driver. The interference member prevents the fuel door from closing if the fuel cap is not properly seated in the fuel injection port, and the sensor detects the position of the door. The sensor can communicate the position of the door to the processor which in turn can send a detectable signal to the driver that the fuel door is ajar and the fuel cap is loose. Furthermore, in vehicles equipped with power slide doors, the processor can also disable the operation of the power slide door to prevent the power slide door from colliding with the fuel door.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/869,163 filed on Oct. 9, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A system and method of eliminating the illumination of a vehicle&#39;s check engine light due to a loose fitting between a vehicle&#39;s fuel cap and a fuel injection port. More particularly, a system and method of notifying a driver that a vehicle&#39;s fuel cap may be loose because the fuel door is ajar using only one sensor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Vehicles are typically equipped with a check engine light which notifies the driver that there may be a problem with the operation of the vehicle&#39;s engine. Such lights are illuminated when the vehicle&#39;s emission sensor determines that the engine may not be running in compliance with predetermined fuel emission standards. However, illumination may occur even when the engine is operating within predetermined emission standards because of a loose fuel cap. Currently, some vehicles are equipped with a sensor to detect the position of the fuel door, and some are equipped with a different sensor to determine if the fuel cap is loose. However, the addition of a second sensor increases vehicle manufacturing costs. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system and method that can detect the position of a door and warn the driver that the fuel cap may be loose using only one sensor. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A system and method of warning a driver that the fuel door is open and that the fuel cap may be loose utilizing a sensor, an interference member, and a processor. The interference member can be either a pad fixed to the interior of the fuel door, or a protruding member of a fuel cap such that the fuel door cannot close unless the fuel cap is properly seated in the fuel injection port. The sensor detects the position of the fuel door and communicates the fuel door position to the processor. If the fuel door is open and the vehicle is started, the processor provides the driver with a detectable signal that the fuel door is open and the fuel cap may be loose. 
         [0005]    The system and method may also be used to control other vehicle features. For example, system and method may render a power slide door inoperable to prevent the power slide door from colliding with an open fuel door. This can be done two ways: 1) the sensor can communicate to the processor and the processor can control the power slide door as well as provide the driver with a detectable signal warning the driver that the fuel door is open and to check the fuel cap; or 2) the sensor can communicate directly with the power slide door and render it inoperable when the fuel door is open. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top down view of a vehicle having a system for detecting if a fuel cap is not properly seated in a fuel injection port; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2 , is a perspective view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a method for preventing the inadvertent actuation of a vehicle&#39;s check engine light; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an interference member mounted to the fuel door; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an interference member mounted to the fuel cap; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the textual display shown in the cabin space of a vehicle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7 , is a cross-sectional view of the injection port housing assembly showing the fuel door closed, and the interference member contacting the outer surface of the fuel cap; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7 , showing the interference member preventing the fuel door from closing because the fuel cap is not properly seated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    An embodiment of a system  10  for preventing the inadvertent actuation of a vehicle check engine light is provided in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  is configured to prevent the inadvertent actuation of the check engine light using only one sensor. The system is further configured to warn a driver that a fuel cap  16  may not be fully seated in a fuel injection port  18  of a vehicle. The system includes an interference member  12 , a sensor  20 , and a processor  22 . The sensor  20  communicates with the processor  22 . 
         [0016]    With reference now to  FIG. 2 , the fuel injection port  18  is disposed within a fuel injection port housing assembly  15 . The fuel injection port housing assembly  15  includes a fuel door  14  pivotably mounted to an opening of the fuel injection port housing assembly  15 . The fuels door  14  includes an inner surface  14   a  disposed within the fuel injection port housing assembly  15  when the fuel door  14  is closed. The sensor  20  is positioned in the space between the fuel injection port  18  and a closed fuel door  14 . The sensor  20  detects the position of the fuel door  14 . 
         [0017]    With reference again to Figure to  FIG. 2 , and now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the operation of the system  10  is provided. The interference member  12  has a contact surface  12   a  and is configured to prevent the fuel door  14  from closing if the fuel cap  16  is not fully seated on the fuel injection port  18 . More specifically, the contact surface  12   a  is displaced a predetermined distance, as indicated by “PD”, from the inner surface  14   a  of the fuel door  14 . The predetermined distance is equal to the distance from the inner surface  14   a  of the fuel door  14  and the outer surface of the fuel cap  16  when the fuel door  14  is closed and the fuel cap  16  is fully seated within the fuel injection port  18 . Accordingly, the interference member  12  will not allow the fuel door  14  to close every time the fuel cap  16  is not fully seated within the fuel injection port  18 . 
         [0018]    The sensor  20  communicates the position of the fuel door  14  to the processor  22 . If the ignition switch  26  is on, the processor  22  sends a detectable signal  28  to the driver that the fuel door  14  is ajar and to check the fuel cap  16 . Additionally, the processor  22  may be able to control other vehicle functions, such as the operation of a power slide door  30 , regardless of whether the ignition switch  26  is on or off. Accordingly, the system  10  is configured to prevent the check engine light from illuminating every time the fuel cap  16  is not fully seated within the fuel injection port  18 . 
         [0019]    An alternative embodiment of a system  10  for warning a driver that a fuel cap may not be fully seated in a fuel injection port of a vehicle having an interference member  12 , a sensor  20 , and a processor  22  where the sensor  20  communicates with the processor  22  and a power slide door  30  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The sensor  20  is positioned in the space between the fuel injection port  18  and a closed fuel door  14 . The sensor  20  detects the position of the fuel door  14 . The interference member  12  prevents the fuel door  14  from closing if the fuel cap  16  is not fully seated on the fuel injection port  18 . More specifically, the contact surface  12   a  is displaced a predetermined distance from the inner surface  14   a  of the fuel door  14 . The predetermined distance equal to the distance from the inner surface  14   a  of the fuel door  14  and the outer surface of the fuel cap  16  when the fuel door  14  is closed and the fuel cap  16  is fully seated within the fuel injection port  18 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0020]    With reference again to  FIG. 8 , the fuel cap  16  is not fully seated within the fuel injection port  18 , as indicated by the exposed threaded outer surface of a male member of the cap adapted to threadedly engage the fuel injection port  18 . The contact surface  12   a  of the fuel cap  12  engages the inner surface  14   a  of the fuel door  14 , so as to displace the fuel door from a closed position. 
         [0021]    The sensor  20  detects and communicates the position of the fuel door  14  to the processor  22 . If the vehicle ignition (not shown) is turned on and the fuel door  14  is open, the processor  22  sends a detectable signal  32  to the driver that the fuel door  14  is ajar and to check the fuel cap  16 . Additionally, the sensor  20  communicates the position of the fuel door  14  directly to the power slide door  30  regardless of whether the vehicle ignition switch  28  is on or off. If the sensor  20  detects that the fuel door  14  is open, then the sensor  20  renders the power slide door  30  inoperable. 
         [0022]    The sensor  20  detects the position of the fuel door  14 , and communicates the position of the fuel door  14  to the processor  22 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the sensor  20  positioned in the space between the fuel injection port  18  and a closed fuel door  14 . However, the sensor  20  can be positioned at other locations in the vehicle. The sensor  20  is one known and used in the art such as a piezoelectric sensor, electromagnetic sensor, or a strain gauge. Accordingly, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the sensor  20  will be placed in accordance with the sensor&#39;s  20  capabilities and requirements. 
         [0023]    The processor  22  is capable of controlling other vehicle outputs. For example, if the vehicle ignition switch  28  is turned on, the processor  22  sends a textual display  32  warning that fuel door  14  is open and that the fuel cap  16  may be loose to the driver. Additionally, the processor  22  can disable the operation of a power slide door  30  if the fuel door  14  is open, regardless of whether the ignition switch  24  is on. The processor  22  is one known and used in the art. 
         [0024]    The detectable signal  32  can be a textual display appearing on an instrument panel of a vehicle, or a text message appearing on a screen a navigation system as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . The detectable signal  32  can also be a prerecorded message to the driver, that verbally warns the driver that the fuel door  14  is open and to check the fuel cap  16 . 
         [0025]    A method of preventing the a vehicle check engine light from activating due to gasoline fumes escaping from a loose fuel cap  16  while the vehicle engine is operating using a sensor  20  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The methodology disclosed comprising preventing a fuel door  14  from closing by having an interference member  12  come into contact with a fuel cap  16  when the fuel cap  16  is not properly seated in the fuel injection port  18 ; detecting the position of the fuel door  14  with a sensor  20 ; and warning a driver that the fuel door  14  is open and to check the fuel cap  16  if the vehicle ignition switch  28  is on. The methodology begins at bubble  100  and progresses to decision block  104  where the sensor  20  determines if the fuel door  14  is open. If the fuel door  14  is closed, then the methodology ends at bubble  112 . If the sensor  20  detects that the fuel door  14  is open, the methodology proceeds to block  108  where the processor  22  having received a signal from the sensor  20  that the fuel door  14  is open, determines if the ignition switch  28  is on. If the ignition switch  28  is on, the methodology proceeds to block  110  where a detectable signal  32  is delivered to the driver warning the driver that the fuel door  14  is ajar and that the fuel cap  16  may be loose. Additionally, the methodology may also proceed to block  106  if the sensor  20  determines that the fuel door  14  is open. In such cases, the sensor  20  directly controls a vehicle function such as disabling the operation of a power slide door  30 . 
         [0026]    An embodiment of an interference member  12  that prevents a fuel door  14  from closing if the fuel cap  16  is not fully seated in a fuel injection port is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the interference member  12  is attached to the interior of a fuel door  14  installed in a fuel injection port housing assembly. The fuel injection port housing assembly having an interference member  12 , a fuel door  14 , fuel cap  16 , and fuel injection port  18 . The fuel door  14  is hinged  34  pivotably onto the body of the vehicle such that the fuel door  14  is flush with the vehicle body when closed. The fuel door  14  has an inner and exterior surface, and the interference member  12  has a contact surface  12   a . The interference member  12  is shaped like a pad and is fixed to the interior surface of the fuel door  14 . The fuel injection port  18  has a male portion for receiving a fuel cap  16 . The fuel cap  16  when fully seated onto the fuel injection port  18  allows for the fuel door  14  fixed with the interference member  12  to close. However, the interference member  12  protrudes from the interior surface of the fuel door  14  such that the interference member  12  will come into contact with the exposed surface of the fuel cap  16 . More specifically, the contact surface  12   a  is displaced a predetermined distance from the inner surface  14   a  of the fuel door  14 . The predetermined distance equal to the distance from the inner surface  14   a  of the fuel door  14  and the outer surface of the fuel cap  16  when the fuel door  14  is closed and the fuel cap  16  is fully seated within the fuel injection port  18 . Thus, when the fuel cap  16  is not fully seated in the fuel injection port  18 , the interference member  12  prevents the fuel door  52  from closing. 
         [0027]    An alternative embodiment of an interference member  12  is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, the interference member  12  is a protrusion on the exterior of a fuel cap  16  in a vehicle fuel injection port housing assembly. The vehicle fuel injection port housing assembly having an interference member  12 , a fuel door  14 , fuel cap  16 , and fuel injection port  18 . The fuel door is hinged  34  pivotably onto the body of the vehicle such that the fuel door  14  is flush with the vehicle body when closed. The fuel door  14  has an interior and exterior surface. The fuel injection port  18  having a male portion for receiving a fuel cap  16 . The fuel cap  16  has an interference member  12  protruding from the exterior surface of the fuel cap  16 . The fuel cap  16  when properly seated onto the fuel injection port  18  allows for the fuel door  14  to close. The interference member  12  will come into contact with the fuel door  14 , when the fuel cap  16  is not properly seated in the fuel injection port  18 , thus preventing the fuel door  14  from closing. 
         [0028]    The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is, therefore, to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.