Methods and systems are provided for detecting a fuel dispensing nozzle coupled to a fuel tank of a vehicle and providing a visual indication of the presence of the fuel dispensing nozzle to a vehicle operator. In one example, a method may include detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle within the fuel
Methods and systems are provided for detecting a fuel dispensing nozzle coupled to a fuel tank of a vehicle and providing a visual indication of the presence of the fuel dispensing nozzle to a vehicle operator. In one example, a method may include detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle within the fuel tank and illuminating a portion of a fuel tank access region. Further, vehicle operation may be adjusted based on the detection, and one or more alerts may be communicated to the vehicle operator.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for a vehicle, comprising: in response to detecting, with a transmitter and a first receiver of a sensor, a fuel dispensing nozzle within a vehicle fuel tank, illuminating a first portion of a fuel tank access region disposed in the vehicle; and in response to detecting, with the transmi
1. A method for a vehicle, comprising: in response to detecting, with a transmitter and a first receiver of a sensor, a fuel dispensing nozzle within a vehicle fuel tank, illuminating a first portion of a fuel tank access region disposed in the vehicle; and in response to detecting, with the transmitter and a second receiver of the sensor, a fuel tank access panel in an open position, illuminating a second portion of the fuel tank access region. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle within the vehicle fuel tank, inhibiting engine start irrespective of operator input. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the first portion includes delivering a first wavelength of light from a light source, the light source located within the fuel tank access region adjacent to the first portion, to a photoluminescent portion of the first portion, the wavelength configured to excite the photoluminescent portion and cause the photoluminescent portion to output at least one emission wavelength in the visible spectrum; and wherein illuminating the second portion includes delivering the first wavelength of light to a second photoluminescent portion of the second portion. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the first portion includes actuating a LED actuator, the LED actuator operating a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged within the first portion to output at least one wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, and wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged in a ring around a fuel tank inlet. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the fuel access region is an area around a perimeter of a fuel tank inlet, the fuel tank inlet receiving the fuel dispensing nozzle; and wherein the second portion of the fuel access region is a second area around a perimeter of the fuel tank access panel. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting absence of the fuel dispensing nozzle within the fuel tank, operating the vehicle based on operator input. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is an infra-red beam transmitter; and wherein the transmitter includes a beam splitter. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first receiver is positioned in an optical path of a first beam produced by the transmitter; and wherein the second receiver is positioned in a second optical path of a second beam produced by the transmitter when a fuel door is in a closed position, the second beam delivered at a right angle from the first beam via the beam splitter. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle within the fuel tank and during an engine ON condition, stopping an engine of the vehicle. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle inserted within the fuel tank, detecting a fuel tank level with a fuel level sensor within the fuel tank,determining fuel flow into the fuel tank based on indications from a fuel flow sensor disposed in a fuel dispensing pump external to the vehicle, andsending a message to the fuel dispensing pump to stop fuel flow responsive to detecting no increase in the fuel tank level while continuous fuel flow from the fuel dispensing pump is indicated. 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing a message indicating the fuel dispensing nozzle is attached to a vehicle operator via a display. 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle within the fuel tank and detecting a presence of an operator within the vehicle based on a driver seat sensor, providing a message to a vehicle operator, via a vehicle display, to stay by the fuel dispensing nozzle. 13. A method for a vehicle, comprising: detecting a fuel dispensing nozzle coupled to a fuel tank inlet of a vehicle fuel tank while detecting a position of a fuel tank access panel via a sensor sub-system, the sensor sub-system including a transmitter, a first receiver, and a second receiver;adjusting illumination of a first portion of a fuel tank access region while adjusting illumination of a second portion of the fuel tank access region based on the detections; andadjusting vehicle operation based on the detection of the fuel dispensing nozzle. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle via the transmitter and the first receiver, the transmitter and the first receiver positioned on opposite sides of the fuel tank inlet, and detecting the position of the fuel tank access panel via the transmitter and the second receiver, the second receiver positioned on an inner surface of the fuel tank access panel; wherein detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle includes sensing, at the first receiver, absence of a first portion of an infrared beam transmitted by the transmitter; and wherein detecting the position of the fuel tank access panel includes detecting an open position of the fuel tank access panel by sensing, at the second receiver, absence of a second portion of the infrared beam transmitted by the transmitter, the second portion of the infrared beam transmitted at right angles to the first portion via a beam splitter. 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, responsive to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle coupled to the fuel tank and while the fuel dispensing nozzle is coupled to the fuel tank, stopping a vehicle engine and maintaining the engine in a stopped state irrespective of operator input; and responsive to not detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle, operating the vehicle engine based on the operator input. 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising illuminating the first portion in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle; and illuminating the second portion in response to detecting the open position of the fuel tank access panel; wherein the first portion is an area immediately surrounding a perimeter of the fuel tank inlet, and wherein the second portion is an area surrounding a perimeter of the fuel tank access panel. 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle and while the fuel dispensing nozzle is coupled to the fuel tank inlet, illuminating a third portion of the fuel tank access region based on a fuel level indication from a fuel level sensor coupled to the fuel tank. 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle and detecting a presence of a vehicle operator inside the vehicle, displaying a message, via a vehicle display, to stay by the fuel dispensing nozzle, and transmitting the message to a mobile phone coupled via a wireless connection. 19. A vehicle system, comprising: a fuel tank including a fuel tank inlet for receiving a fuel dispensing nozzle;a fuel tank access region including a fuel tank access panel shielding the fuel tank inlet;a sensor sub-system including a transmitter, a first receiver, and a second receiver;a lighting sub-system including a light source, a first portion of the fuel tank access region including a photoluminescent portion, and a second portion of the fuel tank access region including a second photoluminescent portion; anda controller including instructions stored in non-transitory memory for: detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle coupled to the fuel tank via the fuel tank inlet based on indications from the first receiver while detecting an open position of the fuel tank access panel based on indications from the second receiver;illuminating the first portion in response to detecting the fuel dispensing nozzle; andilluminating the second portion in response to detecting the open position of the fuel tank access panel. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the transmitter and the first receiver are each positioned on opposite sides of the fuel tank inlet such that a portion of a light beam transmitted by the transmitter travels along a diameter of the fuel tank inlet before reaching the first receiver; and wherein the second receiver is positioned on an inner surface of the fuel tank access panel such that when the fuel tank access panel is in a closed position, a second portion of the light beam from the transmitter is sensed by the second receiver, the second portion of the light beam delivered at right angles from the first portion of the light beam.
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