Fueling system and method

Abstract

A fuel storage system includes a fuel tank, a fueling receptacle in fluid communication with the tank, and a coil adjacent the fueling receptacle. The system also includes a controller configured to determine information about a state of fuel in the tank, and to cause a modulated current to be driven into the coil to generate an electromagnetic field. The modulated current represents the information about the state of fuel in the tank.

1 . A fuel storage system comprising:
 a fuel tank;   a fueling receptacle in fluid communication with the tank;   a coil adjacent the fueling receptacle; and   a controller configured to determine information about a state of fuel in the tank and to cause a modulated current to be driven into the coil to generate an electromagnetic field, the modulated current representing the information about the state of fuel in the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the fueling receptacle concentrates the electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the state comprises a pressure in the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a pressure sensor configured to sense the pressure in the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the state comprises a temperature in the tank. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature in the tank. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic field is capable of inducing a current flow in another coil. 
     
     
         8 . An automotive fuel storage system comprising:
 a tank;   a fueling port in fluid communication with the tank;   a coil wrapped around the fueling port;   a sensor configured to sense a condition of fuel in the tank; and   a controller configured to drive a modulated current into the coil based on the condition of the fuel to generate an electromagnetic field.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the fueling port concentrates the electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the condition comprises a pressure of the fuel in the tank. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the condition comprises a temperature of the fuel in the tank. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the electromagnetic field is capable of inducing a current flow in another coil. 
     
     
         15 . A method for refueling an automotive vehicle comprising:
 while receiving fuel into a fueling receptacle in fluid communication with a tank, (i) determining information about a state of fuel in the tank and (ii) driving a modulated current into a coil surrounding the fueling receptacle based on the information to generate an electromagnetic field.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein determining information about a state of fuel in a tank includes sensing the state of fuel in the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the state comprise a temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the state comprises a pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the coil surrounds the fueling receptacle.