Carbon nanotube sensor and apparatus and method for detecting change time of engine oil for automobile using the same
a technology of carbon nanotubes and sensors, applied in the direction of resistance/reactance/impedence, fluid resistance measurement, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of excessive fuel consumption, excessive repair cost, and reduced li
Inactive Publication Date: 2008-06-19
LEE MIN HO
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Benefits of technology
The present invention provides a sensor using carbon nanotubes to detect variation in the permittivity and electric conductivity of automobile engine oil, and to determine the time to change the oil. The sensor includes electrodes and a detection film made of carbon nanotubes capable of detecting changes in the oil. The sensor can measure the degradation of the oil and indicate the time to change it. The sensor can be manufactured using a lithography step and a method of coating, exposing, and etching a photoresist on a substrate. The sensor can be installed in the engine oil chamber and can be powered by a battery. The sensor can be used in an apparatus for determining the time to change automobile engine oil, which includes a power source unit, a degradation detection unit, a drive unit, a small signal amplification unit, an oil-condition determination unit, and a display unit. The sensor can be formed with a comb-tooth pattern and the sensitivity can vary according to the deposition area of the carbon nanotubes. The power source unit can convert DC power into the required power. The display unit can include an LED or a liquid crystal display.
Problems solved by technology
In the case where the time to change engine oil is missed or the operation of an automobile continues without changing the oil, the durability of lubricated parts in an engine requiring lubrication is lowered, the lifespan is reduced, the payment of excessive repair cost are incurred, and the excessive consumption of fuel, attributable to decreased engine output, and environmental problems, attributable to the increase of exhaust gas, also result.
As described above, the conventional method of determining the time to change engine oil is disadvantageous in that it is inconvenient for a driver to personally calculate the driven distance and to personally check the extent of the degradation of the engine oil.
Furthermore, the extent of the degradation of the engine oil is determined through the driver's subjective observation and is thus inaccurate.
Accordingly, a disadvantage occurs in that waste and environmental pollution result from unnecessary engine oil changes, and the wear of respective lubricated parts within an engine results from excessively late changes, so that the durability thereof is lowered.
Furthermore, a disadvantage occurs in that the extent of the degradation of the engine oil varies according to the driver's driving habits, so that the actual change time differs from that recommended in a maintenance guide book, therefore it is difficult to determine the change time.
However, in the former case, the time to change the respective consumable supplies provided in an automobile is based on an accumulated driving distance, so that, for the respective consumable supplies, and particularly for engine oil, considerable difference in the extent of the degradation thereof occurs due to variation in drivers' driving habits, unnecessary idling, or other reasons.
Accordingly, the former case is disadvantageous in that it is inaccurate, so that the engine oil is not changed at the proper time, therefore economic waste is incurred and the durability of the engine is lowered.
Furthermore, the latter case is disadvantageous in that the time to change the oil cannot be detected if a near infrared ray radiating or receiving element is damaged, normal determination of the change time cannot be performed in the state in which the amount of oil is low, the change time cannot be accurately detected because the degree of transparency of oil is different for each manufacturing company, which thereby decreases the reliability of detection.
Furthermore, since the degradation of engine oil occurs due to variation according to numerous physical and chemical aspects, the method of determining the time to change the engine oil simply by measuring variation in viscosity or color is limited.
Meanwhile, although a method of using output voltage, Alternating Current (AC) impedance, and viscosity is employed by foreign companies, the commercialization of resulting products has been delayed because the method seems to have some problems.
However, until now, measuring apparatuses using electric conductivity or permittivity have a cylinder or parallel plate form that is voluminous, therefore are disadvantageous because they are not compact and mass-produced.
Method used
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[0055]Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.
[0056]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric conductivity sensor using carbon nanotubes according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 1.
[0057]Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric conductivity sensor using carbon nanotubes according to the present invention includes electrodes 13 to which power is applied, a detection film 12 which is connected to both the electrodes and is formed of carbon nanotubes capable of detecting variation in electric conductivity, and a substrate 13 on which the electrodes 13 and the detection film 12 are mounted.
[0058]In this case, the substrate 11 of the sensor is made of glass or silicon.
[0059]The carbon nanotubes, which are deposited and grown on the substrate 11 or are formed using a screen printing method, function as the detection film 12, and the detection film 12 is c...
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Abstract
A system and method for determining the time to change the oil of an automobile engine including a power source unit for converting power into necessary power and supplies power at the startup time. A degradation detection unit is installed in an engine oil chamber and is formed using carbon nanotubes as a sensor capable of detecting degradation of the engine oil. A small signal amplification unit amplifies the signals detected from the oil conditions and amplifies the minute signal output from the degradation detection unit. The oil-condition determination unit compares value, corresponding to the degraded state of the engine oil, with a set reference value, to determine the time to change the engine oil. The display unit displaying the oil-condition in text form as information about the time to change oil.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for determining the time to change automobile engine oil and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for determining the time to change automobile engine oil, which measure variation in permittivity or electric conductivity of engine oil using a sensor having carbon nanotubes and determine and indicate the time to change the engine oil.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Generally, engine oil, which is loaded in an automobile, performs a lubricating function of maintaining the smooth reciprocating motion of a piston, which is performed in response to an explosion in an engine, a sealing function of preventing pressure from leaking, a cleaning function of adsorbing particles in the cylinder and preventing the inner wall of a cylinder from being damaged, and a cooling function of conducting heat away from the cylinder and the piston.[0005]W...
Claims
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IPC IPC(8): G01R27/08G01N27/416
CPCG01N27/07G01R27/22G01N33/2888G01N27/10
InventorLEE, MIN HONA, DAE SUK
OwnerLEE MIN HO