Capacitance-based catalytic converter protection systems and configurations
First Claim
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1. A catalytic converter protection system, comprising:
- a controller and a catalytic converter in a vehicle;
a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to the controller and located in proximity to the converter;
a shorting element coupled to the converter; and
a resistor electrically coupled to the element and controller,wherein the controller monitors capacitance between the electrodes to detect movement external to the vehicle near the converter, and the continuity between the element and the resistor.
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Abstract
A proximity-based catalytic converter protection system for a vehicle that includes a controller, and a catalytic converter, both located in the vehicle. The protection system further includes a pair of electrodes that are electrically coupled to the controller and located in proximity to the converter. The controller monitors capacitance between the electrodes to detect movement external to the vehicle near the converter. The controller may activate an alarm element upon detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes that exceeds a predetermined threshold.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A catalytic converter protection system, comprising:
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a controller and a catalytic converter in a vehicle; a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to the controller and located in proximity to the converter; a shorting element coupled to the converter; and a resistor electrically coupled to the element and controller, wherein the controller monitors capacitance between the electrodes to detect movement external to the vehicle near the converter, and the continuity between the element and the resistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A catalytic converter protection system, comprising:
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a controller; a plurality of catalytic converters in a vehicle, each having a shorting element; a pair of electrodes electrically coupled to the controller and located near each converter; and a resistor electrically coupled to each element and the controller, wherein the controller monitors capacitance between the electrodes to detect movement external to the vehicle near each of the converters, and continuity between each element and resistor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A catalytic converter protection system, comprising:
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a controller; a catalytic converter having a housing; a pair of electrodes coupled to the controller and located near the converter; a shorting element having two terminals coupled to the housing; and a connector with an internal resistor that is electrically coupled to the controller and the terminals, wherein the controller monitors capacitance between the electrodes to detect movement external to the vehicle near the converter, and resistance of the internal resistor to detect continuity between the connector and the shorting element. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification