Vehicular running loss detecting system

• US 6,230,087 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Envirotest Corp. (Opus Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Envirotest Systems Corporation (Stone Rivet, Inc.)
• Inventors: Didomenico, John, Rendahl, Craig S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/502,223
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/35, 250/338.5, 250/339.01, 250/347, 250/348, 702/23, 702/24
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3513 Open path with an instrumental source
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3504 for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis

Abstract

A system and method for detecting running loss emissions is provided. A remote sensing device is used to detect vehicular exhaust emissions. The detected emissions are analyzed to determine a characteristic profile. The characteristic profile is processed to determine whether the profile is suspect or invalid. Invalid and suspect profiles are further analyzed to determine if running losses (e.g., leaky gas cap vapors, blow by emissions, etc.) are present. Profiles labeled as containing running losses may be further processed to generate statistical information, deliver notification to vehicle owners, or other actions.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing exhaust emissions, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting exhaust emissions, using a remote emissions detecting system to capture exhaust emissions data from a moving vehicle, and processing the exhaust emissions data to provide a characteristic profile;

determining whether the characteristic profile is invalid or suspect by comparing the characteristic profile to predetermined values to determine if the characteristic profile exceeds or lags the predetermined values; and

determining whether an invalid or suspect characteristic profile correlates to at least one predetermined criterion which indicates the presence of running losses by comparing one or more characteristics of the invalid or suspect characteristic profile to one or more characteristics of a stored emission pattern signature representing running loss.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

flagging the characteristic profile according to the result of the step of determining if there is an indication of the presence of running loss.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether an invalid or suspect characteristic profile correlates to at least one predetermined criterion which indicates the presence of running losses by comparing the invalid or suspect characteristic profile to the stored emission pattern signature further comprises:

accessing a database of one or more stored emission pattern signatures representing running loss.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

using the flagged characteristic profile indicating the presence of running loss, to take other action.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of using the flagged characteristic profile to take other action further comprises:

causing a notification to issue, wherein the notification comprises a request to remedy the running loss.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of using the flagged characteristic profile to take other action further comprises:

compiling data regarding the attributes of vehicles exhibiting running loss.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of compiling data regarding the attributes of vehicles exhibiting running loss further comprises:

compiling data regarding at least one of the make, model, and year of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

removing the portion of characteristic profile indicative of running loss to create a corrected characteristic profile for the vehicle exhaust plume.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

processing a characteristic profile of a vehicle exhibiting running loss to determine a concentration of at least one exhaust emission constituent selected from the group consisting of;

CO, CO₂, and NO_x, where x is an interger.

10. A system for analyzing exhaust emissions, the system comprising:

a remote detector system to detect exhaust emissions data from a moving vehicle, and process the exhaust emissions data and create a characteristic profile;

a first decision module to determine whether the emission signature profile indicates that the detected exhaust emissions are invalid or suspect by comparing the characteristic profile to predetermined values to determine if the characteristic profile exceeds or lags the predetermined values; and

a second decision module to determine whether the any invalid or suspect emission signature profile indicates the presence of running loss by comparing one or more characteristics of the invalid or suspect characteristic profile to one or more characteristics of a stored emission pattern signature representing running loss.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

flagging module to label the emission signature profile according to the result of the determination made by the second decision module.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a storage repository comprising the stored emission pattern signatures representing running loss.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a notification module which causes a notification to issue based on the determination of the second decision module, wherein the notification comprises a request to remedy the running loss.

15. An electronic storage medium as claimed in claim 12 further comprising:

flagging code that causes a processor to flag the emission signature profiles according to the result of the determination of the emission signature profile'"'"'s correlation to a predetermined criteria.

14. An electronic storage medium having code embodied therein for causing a processing system to analyze detected exhaust emissions, the medium comprising:

analyzing code that causes a processor to analyze the detected exhaust emissions to create an emission signature profile;

decision code that causes a processor to determine whether the emission signature profile indicates that the detected emissions are invalid or suspect by comparing the characteristic profile to predetermined values to determine if the characteristic profile exceeds or lags the predetermined values; and

correlation code that causes a processor to determine whether any invalid or suspect signature profiles correlate to a predetermined criteria indicative of the presence of running loss by comparing one or more characteristics of the invalid or suspect characteristic profile to one or more characteristics of a stored emission pattern signature representing running loss.

16. An electronic storage medium as claimed in claim 14 further comprising notification code that causes a processor to issue a notification based on the result of the determination of the emission signature profile'"'"'s correlation to a predetermined criteria.