HUMIDITY SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090254245A1
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Bauerle, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/34
• 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 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 humidity data from a data source that is external to said vehicle; and

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

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1 further comprising:

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

a communication module that transmits said vehicle location to said data source and that receives said humidity data from said data source.

3. The diagnostic system of claim 2 wherein said humidity data corresponds to an estimate of said humidity based on said vehicle location.

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

5. The diagnostic system of claim 1 further comprising a receiver module that receives a predetermined type of signal,

wherein said humidity data is carried with said signal.

6. The diagnostic system of claim 5 wherein said signal is transmitted over a predetermined range and said vehicle is located within said range.

7. The diagnostic system of claim 5 wherein said type of said signal is one of radio, cellular, wifi, and television.

8. 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.

9. The diagnostic system of claim 1 further comprising 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.

10. A method comprising:

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

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

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

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

monitoring location of said vehicle; and

transmitting said vehicle location to said data source.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said humidity data corresponds to an estimate of said humidity based on said vehicle location.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said humidity data corresponds to an estimate of said humidity based on a second location that is determined based on said vehicle location.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a predetermined type of signal,

wherein said humidity data is carried with said signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said signal is transmitted over a predetermined range and said vehicle is located within said range.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said type of said signal is one of radio, cellular, wifi, and television.

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

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising preventing said diagnosis when said second humidity value is equal to a second predetermined value.