Vehicle emissions test systems and methods

• US 9,664,596 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Connolly, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Toan
• Application Number:
  US14/186,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20150241307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/108 using optical methods

Abstract

A system may include an imaging device configured to acquire at least one image of a vehicle that emits exhaust, and an emissions test unit configured to receive the image(s) of the vehicle. The emissions test unit may include at least one processor configured to detect exhaust data from the image(s) and determine a vehicle emissions test result through an analysis of the exhaust data.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an imaging device, the imaging device configured to acquire at least one image of a vehicle that emits exhaust;

an emissions test unit configured to receive, from the imaging device, the at least one image of the vehicle that emits exhaust, wherein the emissions test unit includes at least one processor configured to detect exhaust data from the at least one image and determine a vehicle emissions test result through an analysis of the exhaust data, wherein the imaging device and the emissions test unit are part of a handheld, portable smart device; and

an emissions database that stores a plurality of emissions control parameter levels including one or both of known exhaust colors or known exhaust densities associated with various levels of emissions, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to compare the exhaust data with the plurality of emissions control parameter levels and match the exhaust data with a particular one of the plurality of emissions control parameter levels.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to account for environmental conditions when determining the vehicle emissions test result.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide a recommendation based on the vehicle emissions test result, wherein the recommendation relates to one or more of a future vehicle emissions test, continued operation of the vehicle, a modification to the vehicle, or maintenance of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device and the emissions test unit are contained within a common housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is remote from the emissions test unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is configured to acquire the at least one image as a digital image.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the emissions control parameter levels include the known exhaust colors and the known exhaust densities associated with various levels of emissions.

8. A method comprising:

acquiring at least one image of a vehicle that emits exhaust with an imaging device;

receiving, at an emissions test unit, the at least one image of the vehicle that emits exhaust, wherein the imaging device and the emissions test unit are part of a handheld, portable smart device; and

using at least one processor of the emissions test unit to;

detect exhaust data from the at least one image;

perform an analysis of the exhaust data;

determine a vehicle emissions test result based on the analysis of the exhaust data;

compare the exhaust data with a plurality of emissions control parameter levels including one or both of known exhaust colors or known exhaust densities associated with various levels of emissions stored in an emissions database accessible by the at least one processor; and

match the exhaust data with a particular one of the plurality of emissions control parameter levels.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the at least one processor to account for environmental conditions when determining the vehicle emissions test result.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using the at least one processor to provide a recommendation based on the vehicle emissions test result, wherein the recommendation relates to one or more of a future vehicle emissions test, continued operation of the vehicle, a modification to the vehicle, or maintenance of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one image is a digital image.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the emissions control parameter levels include the known exhaust colors and the known exhaust densities associated with various levels of emissions.

13. A system comprising:

an imaging device configured to acquire at least one image of a vehicle that emits exhaust; and

an emissions test unit configured to receive the at least one image of the vehicle, wherein the imaging device and the emissions test unit are part of a handheld, portable smart device, wherein the emissions test unit includes;

(i) an exhaust detection module configured to detect exhaust data from the at least one image;

(ii) a test analysis module configured to determine a vehicle emissions test result through an analysis of the exhaust data;

(iii) an emissions database that stores a plurality of emissions control parameter levels including one or both of known exhaust colors or known exhaust densities associated with various levels of emissions; and

(iv) a comparison module configured to compare the exhaust data with the plurality of emissions control parameter levels stored in the emissions database and match the exhaust data with a particular one of the plurality of emissions control parameter levels,

wherein the test analysis module is configured to determine the vehicle emissions test result through the match.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the emissions test unit further comprises an environmental modification module configured to modify one or more of the exhaust data, the plurality of emissions control parameter levels, or the vehicle emissions test result based on environmental conditions of a location of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the emissions test unit further comprises a recommendation module configured to provide a recommendation based on the vehicle emissions test result, wherein the recommendation relates to one or more of a future vehicle emissions test, continued operation of the vehicle, a modification to the vehicle, or maintenance of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the imaging device and the emissions test unit are contained within a common housing.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the imaging device is remote from the emissions test unit.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the emissions control parameter levels include the known exhaust colors and the known exhaust densities associated with various levels of emissions.