Portable oxygen sensor analyzer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An oxygen sensor analyzer for use in testing the performance of an oxygen sensor comprising a portion of a vehicle emission system having an on-board computer, the oxygen sensor analyzer comprising:
- (a) an electronic circuit having an oxygen sensor input for receiving an oxygen sensor signal from the oxygen sensor with the oxygen sensor disconnected from the on-board computer, a simulate output for connection to the on-board computer in place of the oxygen sensor, and logic means operative for driving the simulate output in;
(i) a closed-loop mode wherein the simulate output directly follows the oxygen sensor input; and
(ii) a simulate mode wherein the simulate output, being isolated from the oxygen sensor input, is driven in an arbitrary manner for forcing the engine to run one or both of lean by driving the simulate output to simulate a rich indication from the oxygen sensor, and rich by driving the simulate output to simulate a lean indication from the oxygen sensor; and
a display for indicating the oxygen sensor signal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, inexpensive, and easy to operate vehicle oxygen sensor analyzer shows, in real time, on an ultra-bright LED display, the dynamic operation of the oxygen sensor, simulates sensor signals into the computer, while monitoring the oxygen sensor to confirm correct computer operation, and performs a quick, simple and accurate test on the oxygen sensor to prove that it will pass emissions tests for oxygen sensors of the type typically required under emissions control regulations.
13 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. An oxygen sensor analyzer for use in testing the performance of an oxygen sensor comprising a portion of a vehicle emission system having an on-board computer, the oxygen sensor analyzer comprising:
-
(a) an electronic circuit having an oxygen sensor input for receiving an oxygen sensor signal from the oxygen sensor with the oxygen sensor disconnected from the on-board computer, a simulate output for connection to the on-board computer in place of the oxygen sensor, and logic means operative for driving the simulate output in; (i) a closed-loop mode wherein the simulate output directly follows the oxygen sensor input; and (ii) a simulate mode wherein the simulate output, being isolated from the oxygen sensor input, is driven in an arbitrary manner for forcing the engine to run one or both of lean by driving the simulate output to simulate a rich indication from the oxygen sensor, and rich by driving the simulate output to simulate a lean indication from the oxygen sensor; and a display for indicating the oxygen sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A portable oxygen sensor analyzer for use in testing the performance of an oxygen sensor comprising a portion of a vehicle emission system having an on-board computer, the oxygen sensor analyzer comprising:
-
(a) an electronic circuit having an oxygen sensor input for receiving an oxygen sensor signal from the oxygen sensor, with the oxygen sensor disconnected from the on-board computer, over a voltage range of from approximately 0 V representing a most lean operating condition of the engine to approximately 1 V representing a most rich operating condition of the engine, a simulate output for connection to the on-board computer in place of the oxygen sensor, and logic means operative for driving the simulate output in; (i) a closed-loop mode wherein the simulate output directly follows the oxygen sensor input; (ii) a simulate mode wherein the simulate output, being isolated from the oxygen sensor input, is driven in an arbitrary manner for forcing the engine to run one or both of lean by driving the simulate output to simulate a rich indication from the oxygen sensor, and rich by driving the simulate output to simulate a lean indication from the oxygen sensor; (iii) a test mode wherein the simulate output, being isolated from the oxygen sensor input, is driven in a predetermined manner that includes forcing the engine to run lean by driving the simulate output to simulate a rich indication from the oxygen sensor, the logic means being further operative for signaling a ready condition after the engine reaches a stable lean operating condition as signaled by the oxygen sensor input remaining for a predetermined period of time below a first predetermined value representing a lean operating condition of the engine, and subsequently monitoring the oxygen sensor input to measure time-response thereof between conditions of the engine running lean as signaled by the oxygen sensor input passing the first predetermined value and running rich as signaled by the oxygen sensor reaching a second predetermined value being higher than the first predetermined value; and (b) a display for continuously indicating the oxygen sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
Specification