Fluid System and Method

Abstract

A method is described of controlling at least one operation in at least part of a lifecycle of a replaceable container which is arranged to be removably seated in a dock in a vehicle and which at least before seating in the dock contains an ancillary fluid for use by the vehicle. A controller communicates with a data carrier carried by the container, determines, on the basis of the communication with the data carrier, data associated with at least one of the container, its contents and the vehicle, and controls carrying out of at least one action in relation to at least one of the container and its contents on the basis of the data associated with at least one of the container, its contents and the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a vehicle comprising a dock and a fluid circulation system;   a container comprising a fluid for circulation in the fluid circulation system, wherein the container is couplable to the dock, and wherein when the container is coupled to the dock the container is in fluid communication with the fluid circulation system; and   a sensor that determines a characteristic of the fluid within the container and is configured to provide the characteristic of the fluid to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data sensor that identifies a type of the fluid based on a characteristic of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the characteristic of the container is at least one of (i) an electrical identifier coupled to the container, (ii) an optical identifier coupled to the container, (iii) a color of the container, or (iv) a shape of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the electrical identifier is a RFID tag. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the optical identifier is a barcode. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the data sensor determines an original property of the fluid within the container based on a characteristic of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the original property of the fluid within the container is at least one of (a) an initial amount of fluid within the container, (b) a temperature of the fluid within the container, (c) a pressure of the fluid within the container, (d) a viscosity of the fluid, (e) a viscosity index of the fluid within the container, (f) a density of the fluid within the container, (g) an electrical resistance of the fluid within the container, (h) a dielectric constant of the fluid within the container, (i) an opacity of the fluid within the container, (j) a chemical composition of the fluid within the container, (k) an origin of the fluid within the container, or (l) an expiration of the fluid within the container. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein dock comprises the data sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the controller compares the characteristic of the fluid with pre-defined characteristics stored in the controller before the characteristic of the fluid is provided to the user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a connection sensor that is configured to determine when the container is coupled to the fluid circulation system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface that provides the characteristic to the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the fluid determined by the sensor is at least one of (a) a current amount of the fluid in the container, (b) a temperature of the fluid in the container, or (c) a period of time remaining before expiration of the fluid within the container. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising,
 collecting data about a fluid within a container, wherein the container is couplable to a fluid circulation system of a vehicle;   based on the data collected, docking the container within the vehicle such that the fluid is used by the fluid circulation system of the vehicle;   determining a characteristic of the fluid within the container when the container is docked within the vehicle; and   based on the determination of the characteristic of the fluid within the contain, providing instructions to a user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein collecting data about the fluid within the container comprises determining a characteristic of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data collected is at least one of (a) an initial amount of fluid within the container, (b) a temperature of the fluid within the container, (c) a pressure of the fluid within the container, (d) a viscosity of the fluid, (e) a viscosity index of the fluid within the container, (f) a density of the fluid within the container, (g) an electrical resistance of the fluid within the container, (h) a dielectric constant of the fluid within the container, (i) an opacity of the fluid within the container, (j) a chemical composition of the fluid within the container, (k) an origin of the fluid within the container, (l) an expiration of the fluid within the container, or (m) a type of fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising comparing the data collected with a set of stored threshold data. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 determining a lifecycle stage of a container, wherein the container is couplable to a fluid circulation system of a vehicle;   based on the determined lifecycle stage, determining a characteristic of a fluid within at least one of the container or the fluid circulation system; and   providing, based on the determination of the characteristic of the fluid, feedback to a user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic of fluid is at least one of a fluid level, a fluid pressure, or a fluid temperature of the fluid within the container, the method further comprising:
 determining that the lifecycle stage is an operation stage; and   based on the determination that the lifecycle stage is the operational stage, determining at least one of the fluid level, the fluid pressure, or the fluid temperature of the fluid within the container.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic of the fluid is an expiration of the fluid within the container, the method further comprising:
 determining that the lifecycle stage is a service stage; and   based on the determination that the lifecycle stage is the service stage, determining a time period left before the expiration of the fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the determination of the lifecycle stage of the container comprises determining that the lifecycle stage is at least one of an operational stage, a service stage, a service stage, an analyzing stage, a collection stage, a recycling stage, or a supply stage.