Resistance-based catalytic converter protection systems and configurations
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsEric L. Reed, Don D. Price, John R. Van Wiemeersch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A catalytic converter protection system that includes a controller, a catalytic converter having a housing, and a shorting element that has two terminals and is coupled to the housing. The system also includes a connector having an internal resistor. The connector is electrically coupled to the controller and the two terminals. The controller monitors resistance of the internal resistor to determine continuity between the connector and the shorting element. The controller may activate an alarm element with a loss in continuity between the terminals and the shorting element.
Claims20
A catalytic converter protection system, comprising:
- a controller;
- a catalytic converter having a housing;
- a shorting element that has two terminals and is coupled to the housing;
- and
- a connector having an internal resistor, the connector electrically coupled to the controller and the two terminals,
- wherein the controller monitors resistance of the internal resistor to determine continuity between the connector and the shorting element.
A catalytic converter protection system, comprising:
- a vehicle alarm system having a controller;
- a catalytic converter having a housing;
- a shorting element that has two terminals and is coupled to the housing;
- and
- a connector having an embedded resistor, the connector electrically coupled to the controller and the two terminals,
- wherein the controller determines continuity of the alarm system and the continuity between the connector and the shorting element.
A catalytic converter protection system, comprising:
- a controller;
- a catalytic converter having a housing;
- a shorting element that has two terminals and is coupled to the housing;
- and
- a connector having a resistor with a pre-set resistance, and that is connected to the controller and the terminals,
- wherein the controller determines continuity between the connector and the shorting element by measuring a resistance of the resistor and comparing it to the pre-set resistance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.