Air Filter Wear Level Estimation and Replacement Timing Prediction Method
AssigneesNissan North America, Inc., RENAULT s.a.s.
InventorsVikram Krishnamurthy, Kusha Nezafati, Cameron Hansen, Robert Haran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is disclosed for use in inspecting a vehicle's air filter. The system includes a receptacle defining an enclosed interior space that is configured to receive the air filter, and a light source that is positioned within the receptacle. The receptacle includes an upper wall with an aperture that is arranged in generally parallel relation to the air filter, and the light source is configured to support the air filter such that the light source backlights the air filter to facilitate capture of an image of the air filter through the aperture in the upper wall of the receptacle.
Claims20
An inspection system for an air filter in a vehicle, comprising:
- a receptacle including an upper wall and defining an enclosed interior space configured to receive the air filter, wherein the upper wall includes an aperture and is arranged in generally parallel relation to the air filter;
- and
- a light source positioned within the receptacle, the light source being configured to support the air filter such that the light source backlights the air filter to facilitate capture of an image of the air filter through the aperture in the upper wall of the receptacle.
A method of measuring and predicting air filter wear in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- backlighting a used air filter within a receptacle;
- capturing an image of the used air filter through an aperture in the receptacle;
- and
- comparing the image of the used air filter to an image of a corresponding unused air filter using a comparison algorithm or a similarity metric.
A method of predicting air filter wear in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- transmitting operational data from the vehicle to an Internet-hosted service;
- calculating an estimated wear value for a used air filter in the vehicle using the operational data;
- capturing an image of the used air filter;
- comparing the image of the used air filter to a standardized image of a corresponding unused air filter to generate an actual wear value;
- comparing the estimated wear value to the actual wear value;
- updating the estimated wear value based on the actual wear value;
- and
- calculating an estimated time of replacement for the used air filter using the operational data transmitted from the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.