Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

David John Kubinski

Michiel Jacques Van Nieuwstadt

Devesh Upadhyay

Richard E Soltis

Dave Charles Weber

Jacobus Hendrik Visser

In Kwang Yoo

Yi Ding

Henry Holloway

Diana D Brehob

Chuan He

Michael Hopka

Bret Alan Zimmerman

Michael Howard Parsons

Ray Willey

Gopichandra Surnilla

Xiaogang Zhang

Joseph Lyle Thomas

Jianwen James Yi

Daniel A Makled

Michael Mcquillen

Garth Michael Meyer

Garry Anthony Zawacki

David Bilby

Xiao Wu

Nathan Kempema

Jaco Visser

Conner Sharpe

Mehrdad Shahabi

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle. In one example, a method may include acquiring measurements from at least one exhaust emission sensor of the vehicle, the exhaust emission sensor positioned to measure one of NO, NH, and Olevels in exhaust gas of the vehicle. The measurements may be input into a machine learning model trained to output a predicted real-time amount of at least one exhaust gas constituent in the exhaust gas and operations of an emissions aftertreatment system may be assessed and adjusted based on the predicted real-time amount of the at least one exhaust gas constituent.

System and methods for estimating emissions

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an ammonia (NH) sensor output using readings of a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor, the NOx sensor having a sensitivity factor to NH. In one example, a method may include determining and updating a gain value of the NHsensor during zero NOx conditions to be used to calculate a corrected NHsensor output value, and determining and updating an offset value of the NHsensor during zero NHconditions to be used to zero the NHsensor during zero NOx conditions.

System and methods for adjusting NHsensor drift

Methods and systems are provided for detecting a missing exhaust catalyst based on water adsorption and related exothermic temperature rise by the catalyst. In one example, a method may include indicating an exhaust catalyst missing in response to an estimated exhaust temperature profile being different from an expected exhaust temperature profile. The estimated exhaust temperature profile may be based on exhaust temperature upstream and downstream of the catalyst.

Methods and systems for exhaust catalyst diagnostics

Methods are described for increasing the sensitivity of particulate matter detection in an exhaust system of a vehicle. An example particulate matter sensor assembly comprises a pair of planar interdigitated electrode structures held at a voltage bias with respect to each other. An alternate embodiment may comprise a planar interdigitated electrode pair, and a conducting plate assembly again held at a voltage bias with respect to the planar interdigitated electrode pair. The bias may overlay an additional electric field drive, which improves the capture of soot particles on the sensor assembly surface thereby increasing sensitivity of particulate matter sensors.

Methods and systems for increasing particulate matter deposition in an exhaust particulate matter sensor

Particulate matter (PM) sensors and diagnostics performed using the PM sensors are disclosed. The PM sensors and diagnostics may be used in exhaust systems, such as vehicle exhaust systems, to detect soot. In at least one embodiment, an electrostatic particulate matter (PM) sensor is provided including first and second spaced apart electrodes forming a bulk gap therebetween having a bulk distance and a localized gap therebetween having a localized distance less than the bulk distance. A controller may be configured to control a voltage between the electrodes to induce an electrostatic discharge at the localized gap at a lower voltage than at the bulk gap. Various diagnostics may be performed using the disclosed PM sensors, including a wiring/continuity diagnostic, a soot detection plausibility diagnostic, and/or an installation diagnostic.

Electrostatic PM sensor electrode diagnostics

Methods and systems are provided for controlling exhaust catalyst temperature during an engine cold-start by water injection. In one example, a method may include during the engine cold-start, injecting water into an intake of an engine based on the exhaust catalyst temperature and accumulating water molecules within an exhaust catalyst to generate heat within the exhaust catalyst. In this way, by generating and storing heat within the exhaust catalyst, the exhaust catalyst may be heated up rapidly, thus reducing catalyst light-off time.

Method and system for engine exhaust catalyst operations

Systems and methods are described for sensing particulate matter in an exhaust system of a vehicle. An example system comprises a first outer tube with a plurality of intake apertures on an upstream surface, a second inner tube with a plurality of intake apertures on a downstream surface, and a particulate matter sensor placed within the second inner tube. The second inner tube may be positioned within the first outer tube such that a central axis of the second inner tube is parallel to a central axis of the first outer tube.

System for sensing particulate matter

Methods are disclosed for determining an oxidation state of a catalyst using RF signals. The method may include introducing radio-frequency signals into a resonant chamber including a catalyst, modulating an air-fuel ratio of an engine upstream of the catalyst to generate a sequence of uniform pulses and at least one altered pulse that differs from the uniform pulses, and comparing a frequency response of two or more resonant modes of the radio-frequency signals during the sequence to determine an oxidation state of the catalyst. The method may further include adjusting the air-fuel ratio based on the comparing step. Two or more altered pulses may be inserted into the air-fuel ratio sequence. The altered pulse may have a pulse width and/or amplitude that differs from the uniform pulses. The methods may be used to adjust an air-fuel ratio to correct or impart a bias.

Radio frequency control of air-fuel ratio

A method of operating a gas sensor is disclosed, wherein the sensor includes a pumping electrode configuration and a measuring electrode configuration, and wherein the method includes operating the sensor in a first mode in which a first, lower pumping potential sufficient to electrochemically remove an interfering compound from the sensor without electrochemically removing the analyte from the sensor is applied across the pumping electrode configuration and a measuring potential sufficient to electrochemically remove the analyte from the sensor is applied across the measuring electrode configuration; and operating the sensor in a second mode in which a second, higher pumping potential sufficient to electrochemically remove the analyte from the sensor is applied to the pumping electrode configuration.

System and method for updating a baseline output of a gas sensor

Various systems and methods are described for controlling operation of a motor vehicle based on a sensor. One example method comprises receiving sensed parameter data from the sensor, receiving calibration data from the sensor, and adjusting a vehicle operating parameter in response to the sensed parameter data and the calibration data.

Smart vehicle sensor

Various systems and methods for detecting exhaust reductant injector degradation based on an exhaust NOsensor are disclosed. In one example, degradation of the reductant injector is indicated when an actual NOsensor output differs from an expected NOsensor output by more than a threshold amount under engine off conditions.

Method and system for reductant injector degradation

Various systems and method for detecting exhaust NOsensor degradation are disclosed. In one example, degradation of the NOsensor is indicated responsive to reductant injection in an exhaust passage under engine off conditions. For example, degradation of the NOsensor is indicated when an actual NOsensor output differs from an expected NOsensor output by more than a threshold amount.

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A catalyst supported on a substrate includes a heater embedded in a sub-region of the substrate to heat a local region of the catalyst. The amount of ammonia stored on the catalyst may be determined and controlled through conductivity measurements in the locally heated portion of the system described.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

David John Kubinski