Catalytic converter function detection
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting the function of a catalytic converter in a vehicle, comprising:
- determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operating condition;
determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its formal operating temperature;
receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the step of determining a first indication comprises;
measuring a speed of the vehicle;
measuring an acceleration of the vehicle;
measuring a slope of the road;
measuring a mass of the vehicle;
measuring at least one ambient condition;
calculating, using the speed, the acceleration, the slope, the mass, and the at least one ambient condition, a specific power; and
comparing the specific power to a predetermined limit.
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Abstract
A method and system detects the function of a catalytic converter in a vehicle using data received from an open path emissions sensor. The factors considered include whether the vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operating condition, whether the vehicle is operating in a cold start mode, and the hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle as measured by the open path sensor.
142 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the function of a catalytic converter in a vehicle, comprising:
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determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operating condition;
determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its formal operating temperature;
receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the step of determining a first indication comprises;
measuring a speed of the vehicle;
measuring an acceleration of the vehicle;
measuring a slope of the road;
measuring a mass of the vehicle;
measuring at least one ambient condition;
calculating, using the speed, the acceleration, the slope, the mass, and the at least one ambient condition, a specific power; and
comparing the specific power to a predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of detecting the function of a catalytic converter in a vehicle, comprising:
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determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operating condition;
determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the step of determining a second indication comprises;
measuring, using the emissions sensor, an amount of 1,3-butadiene in the exhaust stream; and
determining whether the amount exceeds a predetermined threshold.
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7. A method of detecting the function of a catalytic converter in a vehicle, comprising:
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determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operating condition;
determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the step of determining a third indication comprises;
measuring, using the emissions sensor, an amount of ethylene in the exhaust stream;
measuring, using the emissions sensor, an amount of acetylene in the exhaust stream;
calculating a ratio of the amount of ethylene and the amount of acetylene; and
comparing the ratio to a predetermined threshold.
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8. A method of detecting the function of a catalytic converter in a vehicle, comprising:
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determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operating condition;
determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the step of determining a third indication comprises;
measuring, using the emissions sensor, an amount of total hydrocarbons in the exhaust stream;
measuring, using the emissions sensor, an amount of methane in the exhaust stream;
calculating a ratio of the amount of total hydrocarbons and the total methane; and
comparing the ratio to a predetermined threshold.
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9. A method of detecting the function of a catalytic converter in a vehicle, comprising:
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determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operating condition;
determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the step of determining a third indication comprises;
measuring, using the emissions sensor, an amount of benzene in the exhaust stream;
measuring, using the emissions sensor an amount of toluene in the exhaust stream;
calculating a ratio of the amount of benzene and the amount of toluene; and
comparing the ratio to a predetermined threshold; and
wherein the steps of calculating and comparing are not required if the first indication is indicative of an open loop operating condition.
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10. A system for determining whether a moving vehicle has a properly functioning catalytic converter, comprising:
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an open path emissions sensor capable of measuring a plurality of measured hydrocarbons and other emissions from an exhaust stream of a moving vehicle;
a processor in communication with the emissions sensor; and
a memory in communication with the processor;
wherein the memory contains computer program instructions that instruct the processor to perform the steps of;
determining a first indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating in a closed loop operating condition;
determining whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
receiving data collected by the emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
determining whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the memory contains computer program instructions that further instruct the processor to perform the steps of;
measuring a speed of the vehicle;
measuring an acceleration of the vehicle;
measuring a slope of a road;
measuring a mass of the vehicle;
measuring at least one ambient condition;
calculating, using the speed, the acceleration, the slope, the mass, and the at least one ambient condition, a specific power; and
comparing the specific power to a predetermined limit.
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11. A catalytic converter function detection system, comprising:
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a means of determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operation condition;
a means for determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
a means for receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
a means for determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the means for determining a first indication comprises;
a means for measuring a speed of the vehicle;
a means for measuring an acceleration of the vehicle;
a means for measuring a slope of the road;
a means for measuring a mass of the vehicle;
a means for measuring at least one ambient condition;
a means for calculating, using the speed, the acceleration, the slope, the mass, and the at least one ambient condition, a specific power; and
a means for comparing the specific power to a predetermined limit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A catalytic converter function detection system, comprising:
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a means of determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operation condition;
a means for determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
a means for receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
a means for determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the means for determining a second indication comprises;
a means for measuring an amount of 1,3-butadiene in the exhaust stream; and
a means for determining whether the amount exceeds a predetermined threshold.
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16. A catalytic converter function detection system, comprising:
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a means of determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operation condition;
a means for determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
a means for receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
a means for determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the means for determining a third indication comprises;
a means for measuring an amount of ethylene in the exhaust stream;
a means for measuring and amount of acetylene in the exhaust stream;
a means for calculating a ratio of the amount of ethylene and the amount of acetylene; and
a means for comparing the ratio to a predetermined threshold.
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17. A catalytic converter function detection system, comprising:
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a means of determining a first indication corresponding to whether a vehicle moving on a road is operating in a closed loop operation condition;
a means for determining a second indication corresponding to whether the vehicle is operating at a temperature that is substantially at least equal to its normal operating temperature;
a means for receiving data collected by an open path emissions sensor, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of measured hydrocarbon and other tailpipe emissions concentrations in an exhaust stream of the vehicle; and
a means for determining a third indication corresponding to whether the data is indicative of a properly functioning catalytic converter;
wherein the means for determining a third indication comprises;
a means for measuring an amount of total hydrocarbons in the exhaust stream;
a means for measuring an amount of methane in the exhaust stream;
a means for calculating a ratio of the amount of total hydrocarbons and the total methane; and
a means for comparing the ratio to a predetermined threshold.
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Specification