System for monitoring and inspecting vehicle emissions levels for compliance

• US 9,773,355 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BMS-Tek, LLC
• Original Assignee: BMS-Tek, LLC
• Inventors: Mitchell, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MELTON, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US15/165,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20160350983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/102 by monitoring exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for reporting data based on monitored emissions levels. An exemplary system automatically provides emissions level data acquired from an engine operating in a roadway vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. Data is made available for vehicle approval by a roadway inspection authority. For example, NOx emissions may be monitored with a sensor positioned in the engine exhaust flow path. Embodiments of the invention provide solutions to reduce time delays associated with inspections.

Claims

1. A method for confirming emissions level compliance of a roadway vehicle in motion for automated approval by a roadway inspection authority, comprising:

acquiring signals from engine operation of the vehicle with one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, the signals indicative of emissions level while the vehicle is in motion;

providing the signals to a processing module positioned on the vehicle for data accumulation and to generate emissions reporting information, where the signals are tracked to determine whether the emission level has been increasing toward a predetermined emission limit;

receiving at an antenna on the vehicle an identifying radio signal through the radio communications system, unique to the authority or an inspection facility operating on behalf of the authority and being approached by the vehicle, the identifying radio signal including information indicating the facility being approached by the vehicle or the authority to which a compliance report is to be sent and by which designation of one or more sets of protocols or other requirements is determinable, the sets of protocols or other requirements taken from the group consisting of;

(i) a protocol defining how signals are to be processed for confirming emission level compliance for the vehicle while traveling over the roadway,

(ii) a protocol for identifying a vehicle enrolled to automatically send radio communication, and

(iii) a report format for transmitting emissions information; and

transmitting the emissions reporting information through a radio communications system to a network server for acceptance or approval of vehicle compliance with an emission level requirement of an inspection or compliance authority.

2. The method of claim 1 where the predetermined emissions limit is an emissions compliance limit enforced by a political unit.

3. The method of claim 1 including monitoring the difference between an average of measured levels and a first predetermined emissions compliance limit, where the first predetermined emissions compliance limit is lower than an actual NO_X emissions standard which must be met for compliance within a specific political region or unit.

4. The method of claim 3 where, based on monitoring the difference, it is determined whether the measured emissions levels have drifted toward the first predetermined emissions compliance limit.

5. The method of claim 3 where, whenever the difference between the average of measured levels and the first predetermined emissions compliance limit exceeds a first predetermined value, a driver of the vehicle is provided an alert advising the driver of the change in status.

6. The method of claim 5 where the driver is provided the alert with an annunciator and alert information is provided to the owner operator of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 where alert information, responsive to determination that the emissions level has been increasing toward the predetermined emissions limit, is made available to the driver through a visual display or as audio information.

8. A method for confirming emissions level compliance of a roadway vehicle in motion for automated approval by a roadway inspection authority, comprising:

acquiring signals from engine operation of the vehicle with one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, the signals indicative of emissions level while the vehicle is in motion;

providing the signals to a processing module positioned on the vehicle for data accumulation and to generate emissions reporting information;

providing a statistically based test using acquired signal data and an emission compliance limit to determine whether a compliance determination is within error limits or whether a determination of non-compliance is within error limits;

receiving at an antenna on the vehicle an identifying radio signal through the radio communications system, unique to the authority or an inspection facility operating on behalf of the authority and being approached by the vehicle, the identifying radio signal including information indicating the facility being approached by the vehicle or the authority to which a compliance report is to be sent and by which designation of one or more sets of protocols or other requirements is determinable, the sets of protocols or other requirements taken from the group consisting of;

(i) a protocol defining how signals are to be processed for confirming emission level compliance for the vehicle while traveling over the roadway,

(ii) a protocol for identifying a vehicle enrolled to automatically send radio communication, and

(iii) a report format for transmitting emissions information; and

transmitting the emissions reporting information through a radio communications system to a network server for acceptance or approval of vehicle compliance with an emission level requirement of an inspection or compliance authority.

9. A method for confirming emissions level compliance of a roadway vehicle in motion for automated approval by a roadway inspection authority, comprising:

acquiring signals from engine operation of the vehicle with one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, the signals indicative of emissions level while the vehicle is in motion;

providing the signals to a processing module positioned on the vehicle for (i) detecting and providing alert information to a driver or owner operator of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is trending toward an out of compliance condition, (ii) data accumulation and (iii) to generate emissions reporting information;

receiving at an antenna on the vehicle an identifying radio signal through the radio communications system, unique to the authority or an inspection facility operating on behalf of the authority and being approached by the vehicle, the identifying radio signal including information indicating the facility being approached by the vehicle or the authority to which a compliance report is to be sent and by which designation of one or more sets of protocols or other requirements is determinable, the sets of protocols or other requirements taken from the group consisting of;

(i) a protocol defining how signals are to be processed for confirming emission level compliance for the vehicle while traveling over the roadway,

(ii) a protocol for identifying a vehicle enrolled to automatically send radio communication,

(iii) a report format for transmitting emissions information; and

transmitting the emissions reporting information through a radio communications system to a network server for acceptance or approval of vehicle compliance with an emission level requirement of an inspection or compliance authority.

10. The method of claim 9 where timely and early warnings are provided to indicate when a vehicle pollution control system fails to meet requirements or has begun to drift from optimal performance or equipment parameters are outside a prescribed range so that timely repairs can be effected.

11. A method for confirming emissions level compliance of a roadway vehicle in motion for automated approval by a roadway inspection authority, comprising:

acquiring signals from engine operation of the vehicle with one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, the signals indicative of emissions level while the vehicle is in motion;

providing the signals to a processing module positioned on the vehicle (i) for data accumulation, including periodically storing values of signals while the engine is running and (ii) for periodically processing acquired signal values to calculate running averages, maximum values, minimum values or variances over multiple time periods and (iii) to generate emissions reporting information;

receiving at an antenna on the vehicle an identifying radio signal through the radio communications system, unique to the authority or an inspection facility operating on behalf of the authority and being approached by the vehicle, the identifying radio signal including information indicating the facility being approached by the vehicle or the authority to which a compliance report is to be sent and by which designation of one or more sets of protocols or other requirements is determinable, the sets of protocols or other requirements taken from the group consisting of;

(i) a protocol defining how signals are to be processed for confirming emission level compliance for the vehicle while traveling over the roadway, and

(ii) a protocol for identifying a vehicle enrolled to automatically send radiocommunication,

(iii) a report format for transmitting emissions information; and

transmitting the emissions reporting information through a radio communications system to a network server for acceptance or approval of vehicle compliance with an emission level requirement of an inspection or compliance authority.

12. The method of claim 11 providing for interrogation by the authority or the inspection facility to remotely determine vehicle compliance with a NOx emissions standard by monitoring for requests received at the antenna on the vehicle through the radio communications system.

13. The method of claim 12 further including providing a response to a request by sending through the radio communications system vehicle identification information and a result of a statistically based test using acquired sensor data.

14. A method for confirming emissions level compliance of a roadway vehicle in motion for automated approval by a roadway inspection authority or an inspection facility operating on behalf of the authority and being approached by the vehicle, comprising:

acquiring signals from engine operation of the vehicle with one or more sensors mounted on the vehicle, the signals indicative of emissions levels while the vehicle is in motion;

providing the signals to a processing module positioned on the vehicle for data accumulation and to generate emissions reporting information, including providing multiple types of compliance reports to suit varying requirements among multiple authorities or political units, where selection of a compliance report is based on an identifier for the authority or the inspection facility;

receiving at an antenna on the vehicle an identifying radio signal through the radio communications system, the signal comprising the identifier, unique to the authority or the inspection facility, the identifying radio signal including information indicating the facility being approached by the vehicle or the authority to which a compliance report is to be sent and by which designation of one or more sets of protocols or other requirements is determinable, the sets of protocols or other requirements taken from the group consisting of;

(i) a protocol defining how signals are to be processed for confirming emission level compliance for the vehicle while traveling over the roadway,

(ii) a protocol for identifying a vehicle enrolled to automatically send radio communication, and

(iii) a report format for transmitting emissions information; and

transmitting the emissions reporting information through a radio communications system to a network server for acceptance or approval of vehicle compliance with an emission level requirement of an inspection or compliance authority.

15. The method of claim 14 where a requirement is that a compliance report be based only on signal data acquired within a limited period of time to generate a maximum or minimum value, an average or a variance.

16. The method of claim 15 including monitoring for interrogation requests received at the antenna and where the limited period of time is a thirty minute period preceding a request.