Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Delphi Technologies IP Limited

Lary Robert Hocken

Charles Scott Nelson

Stephen Wayne Anderson

James Craig Smith

Gregory Thomas Roth

Gregory Paul Gee

Paschal J Romano

Paul Louis Du Bois

Michael Conklin

Benjamin T Purman

Robert J A Van Der Poel

David Paul Prawdzik

A method for determining the temperature of a sensor that comprises a heater is provided. The method includes the steps of applying a voltage to the heater and measuring the voltage applied to the heater and the current through the heater during a first time interval, and removing the applied voltage from the heater and leaving the heater unpowered for a second time interval. The method further includes the steps of calculating the resistance of the heater using the measured voltage and current, and determining the temperature of the sensor from the resistance using a predetermined relationship. The first time interval is selected to be sufficiently short in duration and the second time interval is selected to be sufficiently long so as to not significantly raise the temperature of the heater. The sensor temperature so determined can be used to perform diagnostic functions for a system that includes the sensor.

Temperature measurement method for a heated sensor

A method for verifying the validity of an output of a particulate matter sensor mounted in an engine exhaust system downstream of a diesel particulate filter, the particulate matter sensor including a pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other, includes initiating regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, applying and maintaining a higher than nominal voltage across the electrodes following the step of initiating regeneration of the diesel particulate filter, and measuring an electrical parameter across the electrodes while the higher voltage is applied across the electrodes, where the electrical parameter is indicative of an amount of soot accumulated on the sensor. The reading of accumulated soot is evaluated to determine whether the sensor is indicating that the amount of accumulated soot is within an expected range based on a clean diesel particulate filter and the elevated applied voltage.

Method of verifying particulate matter sensor validity

A particulate matter sensor includes first and second electrodes spaced from each other with a bias resistor connected between the first and second electrodes. The particulate matter sensor allows an open circuit fault condition in the sensor or in the connectors or wiring to the sensor to be detected. A sensing system using the particulate matter sensor and a method for diagnosing faults in a sensing system are also provided.

Self diagnostics of a particulate matter sensor

A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, R. The diagnosis is performed by heating the substrate in the area between the electrodes and using the resistance between the electrodes to determine detecting whether contamination is present on the surface of the sensor. Heat may be maintained on the sensor to attempt to burn off a detected contaminant, and a subsequent resistance reading may be used to determine if the contaminant was successfully burned off.

Method and system for contamination signature detection diagnostics of a particulate matter sensor

A particulate matter sensor includes a first pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween and a second pair of sensing electrodes with a gap therebetween. A method for determining an amount of soot on the particulate matter sensor includes determining the electrical resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the electrical resistance between the second pair of electrodes. The amount of soot deposited on the particulate matter sensor is determined based on the electrical resistance values. The time rate of change of resistance between the first pair of electrodes and the time rate of change of resistance between the second pair of electrodes are determined. The first and second rates of change are compared to each other and to threshold values, and the determination of soot amount may be modified depending on the results of these comparisons.

Particulate matter sensor with two pairs of sensing electrodes and methods of using same

A method of detecting particulate matter on a particulate matter sensor includes the steps of measuring an electrical characteristic associated with the sensor, determining a value corresponding to the impedance across the sensor, and compensating the impedance for the temperature at which it was determined. The method further includes determining an estimate of the total amount of particulate matter accumulated while limiting the effects of large particles captured on the sensor or blown off the sensor. The information produced by the method may be used to provide diagnostic information regarding a particulate control system.

Particulate matter detection method for a particulate matter sensor

A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, R. The diagnosis is performed by heating the substrate in the area between the electrodes and detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected, and then cooling the substrate back down and detecting whether resistance varies with temperature as expected. If resistance varies as expected during both heating and cooling, then a validation is diagnosed that the sensor is in proper operating condition if resistance increases in a manner consistent with evaporation of condensate. If resistance does not vary as expected, then a failure condition is diagnosed.

Method and system for heater signature detection diagnostics of a particulate matter sensor

A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, R. The diagnosis is performed by detecting whether water vapor condensate may be present between the electrodes and if it is, then measuring resistance between the electrodes while subjecting the sensor to conditions sufficient to evaporate any water vapor condensate and diagnosing a validation that the sensor is in proper operating condition if resistance increases in a manner consistent with evaporation of condensate.

Method and system for diagnostics of a particulate matter sensor

An airflow metering device, including a conventional airflow sensing device signally connected to a signal processor is shown, having an input flow signal correlatable to a magnitude of mass air flowing past the airflow sensing device. The signal processor is operable to determine a flow correction factor based upon a direction and magnitude of the mass air flowing past the airflow sensing device. The output of the airflow metering device is an accurate measure of airflow, and comprises the input flow signal of the airflow sensing device adjusted by the flow correction factor determined by the signal processor.

Mass air flow metering device and method

An electric power generating system comprising: a generator including an alternator and regulator, the regulator including a normal field control and a redundant field control with a default field command and a selector for selecting between the normal field control and the redundant field control. Further disclosed, is a method of providing excitation to an alternator, comprising: receiving a field default signal indicative of an inoperative normal field control and a normal field command responsive to the normal field control, indicative of a desired duty cycle command to a field coil of an alternator. The method further includes determining if a supply voltage is greater than a selected value and formulating a default field command; transmitting a field drive responsive to the default field command to a field coil of the alternator if the field default signal is asserted.

Redundant field drive for an electric machine

A generator wake-up system that transitions the voltage regulator from a low power, sleep mode to full voltage regulation mode when the wake-up system detects and confirms a valid frequency of rotation of the generator. The wake-up system includes a control circuit to filter, amplify, and detect the proper threshold of an input waveform; and an assessing device that implements a control algorithm to measure and validate the input waveform.

Voltage regulator wake up control using frequency detection

A voltage regulator for control of a vehicle generator. The voltage regulator is selectably responsive to a voltage representing the generator output voltage at the alternator output terminal, or to an external voltage sensed at a load or source point on the vehicle. The voltage regulator determines the relationship between these two sensed voltages and in response thereto chooses one of the sensed voltages for use in controlling the generator output by controlling the field excitation current input thereto. Certain conditions also cause the voltage regulator to latch in a mode where it is controlled only by one of the alternator output terminal voltage or the external voltage. Manual resetting may be required to discontinue the latched operational mode.

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Davison, MI, United States of America

Lary Robert Hocken