Method and apparatus for monitoring an oxygen sensor

• US 20070083307A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Kochie, Robert, Pasztor, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/244,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083307A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/34
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1495 Detection of abnormalities in the air/fuel ratio feedback system

Abstract

A method of monitoring an oxygen sensor. The method includes collecting a set of data points from the oxygen sensor and identifying a number of parameters based on the set of data points collected. In turn, these parameters may be used to calculate a reaction time of the oxygen sensor. Also, a diagnostic tool for implementing the method.

Claims

1. A diagnostic tool, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a set of data points collected by an oxygen sensor at a set of times; and

a processor operably connected to the interface and configured

to identify a first data point and a second data point in the set of data points based on defined parameters, and

to determine a time difference between a first time at which the first data point was collected and a second time at which the second data point was collected.

2. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a display operably connected to the processor and configured to display a numerical value that corresponds to the time difference.

3. The diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to display a numerical value that indicates how many times the oxygen sensor detects a transition between an oxygen-rich and an oxygen-lean environment over a specified time period.

4. The diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to display instructions for performing an operation using the diagnostic tool.

5. The diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to indicate whether the sensor is sensing an oxygen-lean environment.

6. The diagnostic tool of claim 2, wherein the display is further configured to include a graph of values of the set of data points versus the set of times.

7. The diagnostic tool of claim 6, wherein the display is further configured to display the graph in a static mode.

8. The diagnostic tool of claim 7, wherein the display is further configured to highlight the first data point in the graph when the graph is displayed in the static mode.

9. The diagnostic tool of claim 6, wherein the display is configured to display the graph using voltage levels as the values of the set of data points.

10. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory operably connected to the processor and configured to store the set of data points.

11. The diagnostic tool of claim 1, further comprising:

a cable interface operably connected to the processor and configured to provide a connection between the diagnostic tool and a cable configured to be operably connected to the cable interface and to the oxygen sensor.

12. A method of monitoring an oxygen sensor, the method comprising:

connecting a diagnostic tool to an oxygen sensor to collect a set of data points therefrom; and

identifying, within the diagnostic tool and based on the set of data points, parameters for calculating a reaction time of the oxygen sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying the parameters on a display of the diagnostic tool.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the diagnostic tool, a numerical value that indicates how many times the oxygen sensor detects a transition between an oxygen-rich environment and a oxygen-lean over a specified time period.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying, on a display of the diagnostic tool, instructions for performing an operation using the diagnostic tool.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifying step comprises:

arranging data points in the set of data points in chronological order;

locating, from an end of the chronological order, a first data point having a value above a first specified value;

searching the set of data points in reverse chronological order, starting with the first data point, until a second data point having a value below a second specified value is identified;

searching the set of data points in chronological order, starting with the second data point, until a third data point having a value above the first specified value is identified; and

determining a time interval between collection by the oxygen sensor of the second data point and the third data point.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying values of the set of data points in chronological order in a graph.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

highlighting the second data point in the graph when the graph is in a static mode.

19. A diagnostic tool, comprising:

connecting means for connecting a diagnostic tool to an oxygen sensor to collect a set of signals therefrom; and

identifying means for identifying, within the diagnostic tool and based on the set of signals, parameters for calculating a reaction time of the oxygen sensor, wherein the identifying means is operably connected to the connecting means.

20. The diagnostic tool of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying means for displaying the parameters, wherein the displaying means is operably connected to the identifying means.