Oil monitoring system
First Claim
1. An oil quality monitoring system, comprising:
- a sensing element that generates oil measurement data associated with oil quality of a monitored oil sample, the sensing element comprising;
a housing, anda plurality of chambers within the housing, the plurality of chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber including a first bead that responds to a first property of the monitored oil sample, the second chamber including a second bead that responds to a second property of the monitored oil sample; and
a monitoring device coupled to the sensing element, the monitoring device comprising an application specific integrated circuit that differentially analyzes the oil measurement data from the plurality of chambers, and wherein the oil monitoring device displays an indicia of oil quality of the monitored oil sample in a user interface based on the differential analysis of the oil measurement data, the differential analysis including comparing a difference between oil measurement data from the first and second chambers.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention provides for a sensing element comprising a non-conductive housing with three chambers for detecting oil conductivity, additive depletion and oxidation, and water contamination, respectively. Through the monitoring of an array of oil sensors, an early warning of oil degradation due to oxidation is provided. The monitoring system further detects excess soot, water and other contaminants in the oil. The oil sensor array and related monitoring system decrease the likelihood of catastrophic engine failure through the early detection and warning of a decrease in oil quality thereby reducing vehicle owner outlays for servicing and disposal fees while further aiding in the satisfaction of environmental protection regulations.
52 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An oil quality monitoring system, comprising:
-
a sensing element that generates oil measurement data associated with oil quality of a monitored oil sample, the sensing element comprising; a housing, and a plurality of chambers within the housing, the plurality of chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber including a first bead that responds to a first property of the monitored oil sample, the second chamber including a second bead that responds to a second property of the monitored oil sample; and a monitoring device coupled to the sensing element, the monitoring device comprising an application specific integrated circuit that differentially analyzes the oil measurement data from the plurality of chambers, and wherein the oil monitoring device displays an indicia of oil quality of the monitored oil sample in a user interface based on the differential analysis of the oil measurement data, the differential analysis including comparing a difference between oil measurement data from the first and second chambers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An oil quality monitoring system, comprising:
-
an array of sensing elements that generate oil measurement data associated with oil quality of a monitored oil sample, each of the sensing elements in the array of sensing elements comprising; a housing, and a plurality of chambers within the housing; and a monitoring device coupled to the array of sensing elements, the monitoring device comprising a software module stored in memory and executable by a processor to differentially analyze the oil measurement data generated by the array of sensing elements and wherein the oil monitoring device displays an indicia of oil quality of the monitored oil sample in a user interface based on the differential analysis of the oil measurement data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification