Engine Air Filter Diagnostics via Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current engine air filter monitoring methods are indirect and do not accurately detect leakage, missing, or partial blockages, leading to inefficient engine operation and potential misidentification of blockage causes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a controller to receive sensor data from an air cleaner assembly, determining air filter life remaining, and triggering alerts for leakage, snow intrusion, or blockage based on thresholds and vehicle conditions such as temperature, weather, and image data, to provide precise diagnostics and notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If indirect monitoring methods (miles driven) are used to determine air filter replacement, then the monitoring system is simple, but the diagnostic accuracy is insufficient and cannot detect leakage, missing filters, or partial blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect mechanical monitoring (mileage counters) with direct sensor-based electronic monitoring. Sensors detect mass air flow rate, air temperature, and air pressure to calculate air filter life remaining and detect leakage, missing filters, or blockages, substituting mechanical estimation with electronic measurement for improved diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that processes sensor data and determines air filter status. The controller receives data from multiple sensors, calculates air filter life remaining, and triggers alerts based on determined conditions, serving as a mediator between raw sensor data and diagnostic conclusions.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors and diagnostic conditions are implemented, then the diagnostic accuracy and ability to differentiate blockage causes improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostic process into distinct conditions: leakage detection (first condition), snow intrusion detection (second and third conditions), and other blockage detection. Each condition is evaluated separately with specific criteria, allowing reliable differentiation of blockage causes while organizing system complexity into manageable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors changes in multiple parameters (mass air flow rate, air temperature, air pressure) to determine air filter status. By tracking parameter changes over time and comparing them against threshold values, the system achieves reliable detection of various fault conditions while using standardized parameter monitoring approaches.
3Loss of time
If air filter status is monitored continuously with multiple conditions, then the timeliness of maintenance notification improves, but the use of energy and data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of air filter status by continuously receiving sensor data and evaluating diagnostic conditions at regular intervals. The controller periodically determines whether alert conditions are met and triggers notifications accordingly, balancing timely maintenance detection with energy-efficient periodic operation rather than continuous active processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for diagnosing an air filter status includes receiving, by a controller, sensor data indicative of a mass air flow rate, an air temperature and an air pressure of an air cleaner assembly including an air filter, determining an air filter life remaining from the sensor data, and receiving data indicative of a vehicle condition. The method also includes determining when a first condition is satisfied and when true, triggering an air filter leakage alert. When the first condition is not satisfied, the controller determines when a second condition is satisfied. When the second condition is satisfied, the controller determines when a third condition is satisfied, and when the third condition is satisfied, triggers an air filter snow intrusion alert. When the second condition is satisfied and the third condition is not satisfied the controller triggers an air filter blockage alert.