Diagnostic system for an engine employing collection of exhaust gases
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for providing a diagnosis for automotive engine malfunctions using collected vehicle emissions data, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a concentration level subset for each individual gas of a group of gases within said vehicle emissions data collected forming a plurality of concentration level subsets;
(b) comparing each of said concentration level subsets with predetermined normative concentration break point value data sets to determine relative correspondence between each of said concentration level subsets and said predetermined normative concentration break point values;
(c) generating relative correspondence data patterns representative of said relative correspondence between each of said concentration level subsets and said predetermined normative concentration break point values; and
(d) comparing said relative correspondence data patterns with a plurality of predetermined relative correspondence data patterns for finding a match, wherein each said predetermined relative correspondence data patterns are each associated with a failure signature code, whereby said failure signature code is used to diagnose said engine malfunctions.
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Abstract
A computer implemented method for providing a diagnosis for automotive engine malfunctions using collected vehicle emissions data. The concentration levels of gases within exhaust emitted from a vehicle engine being determined and compared to a plurality of predetermined concentration level data sets stored in a database to find a matching data set. Each predetermined concentration level data set having corresponding engine diagnosis data for identifying engine malfunction. The engine diagnosis and concentration level data being printed on a testing diagnosis form to be filled out by mechanics upon repair of the malfunctioning engine. Upon return of a previously tested vehicle that has been repaired, the same test is performed on the vehicle and the newly collected concentration level data is compared with the prior failing concentration level data to determine the accuracy of the repair performed. The database within the computer is updated with a new diagnosis and concentration level data set when the repair performed is different than that recommended by the diagnosis or when the new concentration level data set generated is not found within the database. This provides the closed loop learning system in which new failure concentration level data sets and an associated diagnosis are stored for addition to the database.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for providing a diagnosis for automotive engine malfunctions using collected vehicle emissions data, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a concentration level subset for each individual gas of a group of gases within said vehicle emissions data collected forming a plurality of concentration level subsets; (b) comparing each of said concentration level subsets with predetermined normative concentration break point value data sets to determine relative correspondence between each of said concentration level subsets and said predetermined normative concentration break point values; (c) generating relative correspondence data patterns representative of said relative correspondence between each of said concentration level subsets and said predetermined normative concentration break point values; and (d) comparing said relative correspondence data patterns with a plurality of predetermined relative correspondence data patterns for finding a match, wherein each said predetermined relative correspondence data patterns are each associated with a failure signature code, whereby said failure signature code is used to diagnose said engine malfunctions.
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2. A computer implemented method for providing a diagnosis to automotive engine malfunctions comprising the following steps:
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(a) determining automatically an engine type for a vehicle being tested; (b) searching a computer database for predetermined normative gas characteristics associated with said engine type; (c) loading said predetermined normative gas characteristics into a memory location in the computer, said predetermined normative gas characteristics including failure patterns, normative concentration break point values, causes and reasons for abnormal gas concentrations and correlation information; (d) generating vehicle emissions for use in determining the engine malfunction, said vehicle emissions being generated by operating said engine at varying loads, said loads defined by emission testing standards; (e) collecting said vehicle emissions for use in generating a concentration level subset for each individual gas of a group of gases within said vehicle emissions collected; (f) comparing each said concentration level subset with said concentration break point values of said predetermined normative characteristics to determine a relative correspondence between each said concentration level subset and said normative concentration break point values, said relative correspondence being represented as a bitmap pattern; (g) comparing said bitmap pattern of said relative correspondence against a plurality of predetermined relative correspondence bitmap patterns for determining an engine condition associated with each gas, wherein each of said predetermined relative correspondence bitmap patterns is associated with a failure signature code for use in diagnosing said engine malfunction; and (h) diagnosing said engine malfunction using said failure signature codes. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer implemented method of refining diagnosis provided to a vehicle owner for automotive engine malfunctions detected during an emissions test comprising the following steps:
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(a) repeating the emissions test following repair of the engine malfunction for determining whether retested engine emissions collected are within an acceptable concentration range; (b) comparing a first test engine emissions and said retested engine emissions for determining the efficiency of said repair performed; and (c) updating a database within the computer with said repair performed, when said repair performed is different from the diagnosis provided and said retested engine emissions collected are more normative than said first test engine emissions, for replacing the diagnosis provided and generating a new diagnosis for association with the engine malfunction.
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12. A computer implemented system for diagnosing automotive engine malfunctions using collected vehicle emissions data, comprising:
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(a) a means for generating a concentration level subset for each individual gas of a group of gases within said vehicle emissions data collected forming a plurality of concentration level subsets; (b) a means for comparing each of said concentration level subsets with predetermined normative concentration break point values to determine a relative correspondence between each of said concentration level subsets and said normative concentration break point values; and (c) a means for comparing said relative correspondence with a plurality of predetermined relative correspondence data readings for finding a match, wherein each said predetermined relative correspondence data reading is associated with a failure signature code, whereby said failure signature code is used to diagnose said engine malfunctions.
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13. A computer implemented system for diagnosing automotive engine malfunctions comprising:
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(a) a means for automatically determining an engine type for a vehicle being tested; (b) a means for searching a computer database for predetermined normative gas characteristics associated with said engine type; (c) a means for loading said predetermined normative gas characteristics into a memory location in the computer, said predetermined normative gas characteristics including failure patterns, normative concentration break point values, causes and reasons for abnormal gas concentrations and correlation information; (d) a means for generating vehicle emissions for use in determining the engine malfunction, said vehicle emissions being generated by operating said engine at varying loads, said loads defined by emission testing standards; (e) a means for collecting said vehicle emissions for use in generating a concentration level subset for each individual gas of a group of gases within said vehicle emissions collected; (f) a means for comparing each said concentration level subset with said concentration break point values of said predetermined normative characteristics to determine a relative correspondence between each said concentration level subset and said normative concentration break point values, said relative correspondence being represented as a bitmap pattern; (g) a means for comparing said bitmap pattern of said relative correspondence against a plurality of predetermined relative correspondence bitmap patterns for determining an engine condition associated with each gas, wherein each of said plurality of predetermined relative correspondence bitmap patterns is associated with a failure signature code for use in diagnosing said engine malfunction; and (h) a means for diagnosing said engine malfunction using said failure signature codes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification