Humidity sensor diagnostic systems and methods

• US 8,315,759 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bauerle, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne, Darnell
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODDEN, JOSHUA E
• Application Number:
  US12/115,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/33, 701/34, 701/213, 123/677, 123/678, 123/679, 123/680
• US Class Current: 701/30.5
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0418 Air humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/222 relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a humidity module and a fault diagnostic module. The humidity module outputs a first humidity value based on a humidity measurement of a humidity sensor of the vehicle and outputs a second humidity value based on humidity data from a data source that is external to the vehicle. The fault diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in the humidity sensor based on the first humidity value and the second humidity value.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprising;

a global positioning system (GPS) that monitors a location of said vehicle; and

a communication module that transmits said location to a data source that is external to the vehicle and that receives humidity data from said data source,

wherein said data source generates said humidity data based on said location;

a humidity module that outputs a first humidity value based on a humidity measurement of a humidity sensor of said vehicle and that outputs a second humidity value based on said humidity data from said data source that is external to said vehicle;

a fault diagnostic module that selectively diagnoses a fault in said humidity sensor based on said first humidity value and said second humidity value; and

a disable module that prevents said fault diagnostic module from diagnosing said fault when said second humidity value is equal to a second predetermined value.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said humidity data corresponds to an estimate of a humidity measurement based on a second location that is determined based on said location.

3. The diagnostic system of claim 1 wherein said fault diagnostic module selectively diagnoses said fault when a difference between said first and second humidity values is greater than a first predetermined value.

4. A method for a vehicle, comprising:

monitoring a location of said vehicle;

transmitting said location to a data source that is external to said vehicle and that generates humidity data based on said location;

receiving said humidity data from said data source that is external to said vehicle and that generates said humidity data based on said location;

providing a first humidity value based on a humidity measurement of a humidity sensor of said vehicle;

providing a second humidity value based on said humidity data from said data source that is external to said vehicle;

selectively diagnosing a fault in said humidity sensor based on said first humidity value and said second humidity value; and

preventing said diagnosis when said second humidity value is equal to a second predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said humidity data corresponds to an estimate of a humidity measurement based on a second location that is determined based on said location.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising diagnosing said fault when a difference between said first and second humidity values is greater than a first predetermined value.

7. A diagnostic system for a vehicle comprising:

a receiver module that receives a signal from a data source that is external to said vehicle, wherein said signal is one of a wifi signal and a television signal, and wherein humidity data is carried with said signal;

a humidity module that outputs a first humidity value based on a humidity measurement of a humidity sensor of said vehicle and that outputs a second humidity value based on said humidity data from said data source that is external to said vehicle;

a fault diagnostic module that selectively diagnoses a fault in said humidity sensor based on said first humidity value and said second humidity value; and

a disable module that prevents said fault diagnostic module from diagnosing said fault when said second humidity value is equal to a second predetermined value.

8. The diagnostic system of claim 7 wherein said fault diagnostic module selectively diagnoses said fault when a difference between said first and second humidity values is greater than a first predetermined value.

9. The diagnostic system of claim 7 wherein said humidity data is carried on a side band of said signal.

10. A diagnostic method for a vehicle comprising:

receiving a signal from a data source that is external to the vehicle,

wherein said signal is one of a wifi signal and a television signal, and

wherein humidity data is carried with said signal;

providing a first humidity value based on a humidity measurement of a humidity sensor of said vehicle;

providing a second humidity value based on said humidity data from said data source that is external to said vehicle;

selectively diagnosing a fault in said humidity sensor based on said first humidity value and said second humidity value; and

preventing said diagnosis when said second humidity value is equal to a second predetermined value.

11. The diagnostic method of claim 10 further comprising selectively diagnosing said fault when a difference between said first and second humidity values is greater than a first predetermined value.

12. The diagnostic method of claim 10 wherein said humidity data is carried on a side band of said signal.