Vehicle diagnostic tool—determining the efficiency of a catalytic converter
First Claim
1. In a power plant including an engine, a powertrain control module, a catalytic converter, an O2 sensor before the catalytic converter, and an O2 sensor after the catalytic converter, a method of determining the efficiency of the catalytic converter with the aid of instrumentation including a microprocessor;
- the microprocessor being programmed to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “
PID data”
), including O2 sensor PID data, from the powertrain control module;
the microprocessor also being programmed with an algorithm which permits the determination of the efficiency of the catalytic converter;
the method including the steps of;
a.b. acquiring from the powertrain control module for PID data from the O2 sensor before the catalytic converter;
c. acquiring from the powertrain control module for PID data from the O2 sensor after the catalytic converter; and
d. determining the efficiency of the catalytic converter with the algorithm and the PID data from the O2 sensors before and after the catalytic converter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle'"'"'s power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g., Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. In a power plant including an engine, a powertrain control module, a catalytic converter, an O2 sensor before the catalytic converter, and an O2 sensor after the catalytic converter, a method of determining the efficiency of the catalytic converter with the aid of instrumentation including a microprocessor;
- the microprocessor being programmed to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “
PID data”
), including O2 sensor PID data, from the powertrain control module;
the microprocessor also being programmed with an algorithm which permits the determination of the efficiency of the catalytic converter;
the method including the steps of;a. b. acquiring from the powertrain control module for PID data from the O2 sensor before the catalytic converter; c. acquiring from the powertrain control module for PID data from the O2 sensor after the catalytic converter; and d. determining the efficiency of the catalytic converter with the algorithm and the PID data from the O2 sensors before and after the catalytic converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- the microprocessor being programmed to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “
Specification