Extended durability sensing system
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorSanjeev Manubhai Naik
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Abstract
The present invention provides a sensing system for monitoring an environment that includes at least two sensors and a control unit in communication with the sensors. At least one of the sensors is active providing an output signal to the control unit indicative of a sensed property, while the other sensor(s) is inactive and protected from the environment. During operation of the sensing system, if it is determined that the performance of the active sensor is abnormal, the inactive sensor is activated. Subsequently, the output signal of the abnormal sensor is ignored and the control unit utilizes an output signal of the previously inactive, but now active, sensor.
Claims28
A sensing system for monitoring an environment, comprising:
- at least two sensors, at least one of the sensors being active and at least one of the sensors being inactive, the inactive sensor being protected from the monitored environment;
- and
- a control unit in communication with the sensors for activating at least one of the inactive sensors when the active sensor is deemed abnormal.
A sensing system for monitoring an exhaust-gas stream of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- at least two sensors disposed in the exhaust-gas stream, at least one of the sensors being active and exposed to the exhaust-gas stream and at least one of sensors being inactive and protected from the exhaust-gas stream;
- and
- a control unit in communication with the sensors for activating at least one of the inactive sensors when the active sensor is deemed abnormal.
A method of maintaining the performance of a sensing system for monitoring an environment, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least two sensors in the sensing system, at least one sensor actively monitoring the environment and at least one sensor being inactively protected from the environment;
- determining when the active sensor is abnormal;
- and
- activating at least one of the inactive sensors upon a determination that the active sensor is abnormal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.