Apparatus, system and method for detecting the presence of genuine serviceable product components

• US 8,673,137 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Filtration Incorporated (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Verdegan, Barry M., Carroll, John T. III, Schneider, Matthew L., Zuroski, Michael T., Whitaker, Nathan A., Walls, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US13/044,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20110220560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/87, 210/90, 210/91, 210/94, 210/96.1, 210/143, 210/739, 210/741, 235/435, 235/439, 340/603, 340/626, 701/29.1, 701/29.4, 701/29.5, 701/29.6, 701/29.7, 701/36, 701/113, 95417-423, 96417-423, 705/318
• US Class Current: 210/91
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/50 Means for dissipating electrostatic charges
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/005 Filters specially adapted for use in internal-combustion engine lubrication or fuel systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2077/06 Arrangements of purifying apparatus for liquid fuel or lubricant filters
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/083 relating to maintenance, e.g. diagnostic device relating to lubrication F01M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/042 by monitoring a single specific parameter not covered by groups G01M15/06 - G01M15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud

Abstract

A process, system, and component configuration are described that discourages customer acceptance/use of will-fit, reconditioned, and counterfeit product components, by determining whether or not a serviceable product component is genuine. If a component is determined to not be genuine, then appropriate action may be taken to warn operators and document such findings. For example, one or more markers are disposed or otherwise put on the subject serviceable product component and serves as a targeted feature, and/or a particular characteristic of the filter itself is identified as the targeted feature. A sensor is used to detect the targeted feature and obtain information unique to the serviceable product component. The targeted feature(s) identifies the particular serviceable component as genuine and forms the basis for determining whether a genuine component has been installed. In some circumstances, a fluid filter product is the component that is the subject detection.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the presence of a genuine product component to be installed as a serviceable product component of an engine comprising:

detecting, with a sensor, information from a serviceable product component to be installed in an engine, the information including an identity code information providing a unique identification of the serviceable product component;

detecting an in-use status information from an in-use status module of the serviceable product component, the in-use status information indicating inappropriate re-use of the serviceable product component;

receiving, with an electronic control module, the information detected from the serviceable product component;

determining with the electronic control module whether the serviceable product component is genuine based on the information received from the sensor, where the determination is made such that;

when the information detected by the sensor is verified by the electronic control module as being from an appropriate targeted feature of the serviceable product component, the serviceable product component is deemed genuine, the appropriate targeted feature including one or more of a marker disposed on or within the serviceable product component and/or a characteristic of the serviceable product component itself;

when the information detected by the sensor is determined by the electronic control module as not being from the appropriate targeted feature, the serviceable product component is deemed as a suspect, and

when no information is detected by the sensor, the electronic control module deems the serviceable product component as a suspect; and

updating the in-use status information of the in-use status module to indicate that the serviceable product component is used when determining that the serviceable product component is genuine,

wherein the in-use status information includes an in-use status flag, and

wherein updating the in-use status information includes setting the in-use status flag to indicate that the serviceable product component is used upon at least one of an ignition key-on event or the in-use status module receiving a signal from the electronic control module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the serviceable product component is a fluid filter.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

sending an interrogation signal from a reader toward the fluid filter, the reader is configured to obtain certain data from the surface acoustic wave sensor, the data corresponds to an appropriate response indicating that the fluid filter is an appropriate filter for use;

determining whether an appropriate response has been received as a result of sending the interrogation signal, such that

when the data is received an appropriate response has been received, and

when the data is not received an inappropriate response or no response indicates that the fluid filter is not appropriate for use; and

providing a warning to indicate that the fluid filter is inappropriate for use, when there is an inappropriate response or no response.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the serviceable product component includes a physical proprietary interface, and the method further comprises detecting the physical proprietary interface, such that when the information detected by the sensor is determined by the electronic control module as not being from the appropriate targeted feature, and when the physical proprietary interface is detected, the serviceable product component is deemed a suspect.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, with an interface module, information from a serviceable product component to be installed in an engine, the interface module including a sensor;

receiving, with an electronic control module, the information detected from the interface module;

determining whether the product component is genuine based on the information received from the interface module, where a determination is such that;

when the information detected by the interface module is verified by the electronic control module as being from an appropriate identity module, the product component is deemed genuine, such that the appropriate identity module is disposed on the product component and has an identity component and a status of use component, which are configured to indicate that the product component is genuine;

when the information detected by the interface module is determined by the electronic control module as being from an invalid identity module, the product component is deemed as a suspect, and

when no information is detected by the interface module, the electronic control module deems the product component as a suspect.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the in-use status module includes at least one of a fuse that burns out when the serviceable product component is used or a material that dissolves or decomposes when the serviceable product component is used, and

wherein updating the in-use status information includes at least one of burning out the fuse, or dissolving or decomposing the material.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising an identity module of the serviceable product component destroying or rendering itself non-useful when the identity module detecting a tampering event of the identity module.

8. A system for detecting the presence of a genuine fluid filter apparatus comprising:

a fluid filter that has a media that filters fluid therethrough, the fluid filter including an in-use status module that has an in-use status information used to indicate inappropriate re-use of the fluid filter;

a targeted feature possessing at least one or more of a unique marker and/or design characteristic, the targeted feature is disposed on or within the fluid filter;

a sensor configured to detect the targeted feature, the sensor is configured to obtain information on the targeted feature and create an output based on the information, the information including an identity code information providing a unique identification of the fluid filter;

an electronic control module configured to receive the output from the sensor, and compare the information to one or more expected values, configured to receive the in-use status information from the in-use status module, and configured to determine whether the fluid filter is genuine based on the comparison and the in-use status information, and when the fluid filter is not genuine, is configured to perform any one or more of the following;

(1) generate and log a fault code, (2) inform of potential function&

consequences of installing a non-genuine fluid filter, and (3) report to a party potential of unauthorized use,

wherein the fluid filter is configured to update the in-use status information of the in-use status module to indicate that the fluid filter is used when the electronic control module determines that the fluid filter is genuine,

wherein the in-use status information includes an in-use status flag, and

wherein updating the in-use status information includes setting the in-use status flag to indicate that the fluid filter is used upon at least one of an ignition key-on event or the in-use status module receiving a signal from the electronic control module.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the design characteristic includes a physical proprietary interface of the fluid filter.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a surface acoustic sensor.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

an identity module disposed on the serviceable product component, the identity module having an identity component storing the identity code information, the identity component including the targeted feature; and

an interface module to allow communication between the identity module and the electronic control module, the interface module including the sensor,

the electronic control module is configured to determine whether the serviceable product component is genuine based on the information detected from the identity component and the status of use component.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the identity code information stored in the identity component of the identity module is unique to only one individual serviceable product component.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the identity code information stored in the identity component of the identity module is unique to a manufactured part to which the serviceable product component is associated.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the in-use status information of the in-use status module includes a counter to record use information with respect to the serviceable product component.

18. A system according to claim 16, comprising the filter apparatus of claim 11;

a reader configured to interrogate the surface acoustic wave sensor and obtain a response outputted from the surface acoustic wave sensor, the response indicates whether the fluid filter is an appropriate filter for use; and

a control unit configured to receive the response from the reader and determine whether the fluid filter is an appropriate filter based on the response.

15. A fluid filter comprising

a filter element having a media that filters fluid therethrough;

and

an identity module disposed on the fluid filter, the identity module having an identity component storing identity code information, the identity component including a targeted feature possessing at least one or more of a unique marker and/or design characteristic, the targeted feature is disposed on or within the filter element, and the targeted feature is configured to identify the fluid filter as a genuine fluid filter product;

an in-use status module provided as part of the fluid filter, the in-use status module providing an in-use status information used to indicate inappropriate re-use of the fluid filter; and

an interface module to allow communication between the identity module and an electronic control module,

wherein the in-use status information includes an in-use status flag and is configured to be updated to indicate that the fluid filter is used when the electronic control module determines that the fluid filter is genuine via the interface module, and

wherein the in-use status information is configured to be updated by setting the in-use status flag to indicate that the fluid filter is used upon at least one of an ignition key-on event or the in-use status module receiving a signal from the electronic control module.

16. The fluid filter of claim 15, further comprising a surface acoustic wave sensor disposed on a portion of the fluid filter, the surface acoustic wave sensor is configured to produce a readable output, the output is configured to indicate whether the fluid filter is an appropriate filter for use.

17. The filter apparatus of claim 16, wherein the surface acoustic wave sensor is configured to detect a chemical species present in the fluid.

19. The filter apparatus of claim 16, wherein the surface acoustic wave sensor is configured to detect at least one of a fluid pressure, a fluid pressure differential, and a fluid temperature.