VEHICLE LOCATION BASED PARTICULATE MATTER FILTER REGENERATION

• US 20100109911A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Vosz, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,035,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.200
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2900/102 Travelling distance
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/0232 removing incombustible material from a particle filter, e.g. ash
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/002 of filter regeneration, e.g. detection of clogging
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A regeneration control system for a vehicle comprises a regeneration control module and a disabling module. The regeneration control module selectively initiates a regeneration of a particulate matter filter of the vehicle. The disabling module selectively disables the regeneration control module based on a location of the vehicle provided by a global positioning system (GPS).

Claims

1. A regeneration control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a regeneration control module that selectively initiates a regeneration of a particulate matter filter of said vehicle; and

a disabling module that selectively disables said regeneration control module based on a location of said vehicle provided by a global positioning system (GPS).

2. The regeneration control system of claim 1 further comprising a location identification module that identifies expected parking locations for said vehicle and that selectively outputs a parking indicator based on said vehicle location and at least one of said expected parking locations,

wherein said disabling module disables said regeneration control module when said parking indicator is output.

3. The regeneration control system of claim 2 wherein said location identification module outputs said parking indicator when said vehicle location is less than a predetermined distance from one of said parking locations.

4. The regeneration control system of claim 2 wherein said location identification module identifies one of said expected parking locations based on a desired location input by a driver of said vehicle.

5. The regeneration control system of claim 2 wherein said location identification module identifies said expected parking locations based on stored vehicle locations at or near which at least one of said vehicle was parked and an engine of said vehicle was shut down.

6. The regeneration control system of claim 1 further comprising an off-road identification module that selectively outputs an off-road indicator based on said vehicle location and a database of roadways,

wherein said disabling module disables said regeneration control module when said off-road indicator is output.

7. The regeneration control system of claim 6 wherein said off-road identification module outputs said off-road indicator when said vehicle location is greater than a predetermined distance from a nearest one of said roadways.

8. The regeneration control system of claim 1 further comprising an overriding module that overrides said disabling module and enables said regeneration control module when particulate matter loading of said particulate matter filter is greater than a predetermined loading amount.

9. The regeneration control system of claim 8 wherein said regeneration control module initiates said regeneration when said particulate matter loading is greater than said predetermined loading amount.

10. The regeneration control system of claim 1 wherein said disabling module also disables said regeneration control module when a fuel level of said vehicle is less than a predetermined fuel level.

11. A method for a vehicle, comprising:

selectively initiating regeneration of a particulate matter filter of said vehicle using a regeneration control module; and

selectively disabling said regeneration control module based on a location of said vehicle provided by a global positioning system (GPS).

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

identifying expected parking locations for said vehicle; and

selectively outputting a parking indicator based on said vehicle location and at least one of said expected parking locations,

wherein said selectively disabling comprises disabling said regeneration control module when said parking indicator is output.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said selectively outputting said parking indicator comprises outputting said parking indicator when said vehicle location is less than a predetermined distance from one of said parking locations.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said identifying said expected parking locations comprises identifying one of said expected parking locations based on a desired location input by a driver of said vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said identifying said expected parking locations comprises identifying said expected parking locations based on stored vehicle locations at or near which at least one of said vehicle was parked and an engine of said vehicle was shut down.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising selectively outputting an off-road indicator based on said location of said vehicle and a database of roadways,

wherein said selectively disabling comprises disabling said regeneration control module when said off-road indicator is output.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said selectively outputting said off-road indicator comprises outputting said off-road indicator when said vehicle location is greater than a predetermined distance from a nearest one of said roadways.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising overriding said selectively disabling and enabling said regeneration control module when particulate matter loading of said particulate matter filter is greater than a predetermined loading amount.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising initiating said regeneration when said particulate matter loading is greater than said predetermined loading amount.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising disabling said regeneration control module when a fuel level of said vehicle is less than a predetermined fuel level.