Vehicle Intake Humidity Sensor Calibration Using Weather Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing intake humidity sensor degradation in vehicles are inaccurate due to reliance on other humidity sensors and may not be feasible in all vehicle configurations, especially when not enough sensors are available.

Innovation Solution

A method involving calibration of the intake humidity sensor using weather data from IoT devices, with confidence levels based on the source's reliability, to ensure accurate readings and robustness, particularly during engine shutdown and when the transmission is in park mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple humidity sensors are used to diagnose sensor degradation, then diagnostic accuracy may be improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor degradation diagnosis accuracyVSAvoidnumber of humidity sensors

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces weather devices (IoT devices) as intermediary sources of reference humidity data. Instead of requiring multiple humidity sensors in the vehicle, the system obtains external humidity measurements from weather devices and uses these as a reference to diagnose intake humidity sensor accuracy, eliminating the need for multiple internal sensors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system copies reference humidity data from external weather devices instead of using physical humidity sensors throughout the vehicle. This allows the vehicle to obtain accurate humidity reference values without duplicating sensor hardware, reducing complexity while maintaining diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If humidity sensor degradation is diagnosed using other humidity sensors, then diagnostic capability is provided, but the method is not feasible in all vehicle configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor degradation detection capabilityVSAvoidapplicability to different vehicle configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the diagnostic system universal by using weather devices that are commonly available in the environment rather than vehicle-specific sensors. This approach allows any vehicle regardless of its sensor configuration to perform humidity sensor degradation diagnosis, as the weather device data serves as a universal reference standard

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Weather devices serve as an intermediary reference source that bridges the gap between different vehicle configurations. By obtaining humidity data from this external mediator, the system becomes adaptable to any vehicle regardless of whether it has one, two, or three humidity sensors installed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If sensor readings are compared during engine non-fueling conditions, then diagnostic simplicity is achieved, but diagnostic opportunities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic procedure simplicityVSAvoiddiagnostic frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration of the intake humidity sensor during engine non-fueling conditions when weather device data is reliable. This preliminary calibration establishes a baseline that can then be used during fueling conditions, allowing diagnostics to occur more frequently without requiring the engine to be in non-fueling state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from weather device humidity readings to continuously monitor and diagnose intake humidity sensor accuracy. By comparing ongoing weather device data with sensor readings during various engine conditions, the system can diagnose sensor degradation more frequently while maintaining operational simplicity through automated comparisons

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10180120B2Systems and methods for calibrating vehicle sensing devices

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a vehicle intake humidity sensor positioned in an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle. In one example, a method is provided, comprising in response to shutdown of the engine, and further responsive to conditions being met for calibrating the intake humidity sensor, requesting a humidity estimate from one or more weather devices, and calibrating the intake humidity sensor based on at least a confidence level in the one or more weather devices. In this way, the intake humidity sensor may be regularly calibrated, under conditions where accurate and robust calibration may be achieved, and where regularly calibrating the intake humidity sensor may improve engine operation and increase fuel economy.