System and method for performing engine material temperature sensor diagnostics
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsIgor Anilovich, Daniel A. Bialas, Morena Bruno, John W. Siekkinen
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Abstract
A diagnostic system for performing engine material temperature sensor diagnostics includes a coolant flow sensor configured to provide an indication of coolant flow within a coolant system; an engine state sensor configured to provide an indication of an operational state of an internal combustion engine; and a diagnostic module in communication with the coolant flow sensor and engine state sensor. The diagnostic module is configured to use the indication of coolant flow and the indication of an operational state of the internal combustion engine to estimate an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine.
Claims15
A vehicle system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine configured to selectively assume one of a plurality of operational states;
- a coolant system provided with the internal combustion engine and having a variable coolant flow;
- a temperature sensor provided with the internal combustion engine and configured to monitor a material temperature of a portion of the engine;
- and
- a computer implemented diagnostic module in communication with the internal combustion engine, with the temperature sensor, and with the coolant system, the diagnostic module configured to:
- receive an indication of the monitored material temperature;
- monitor the coolant flow of the coolant system;
- monitor the operational state of the internal combustion engine;
- and
- estimate an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine from the monitored coolant flow and operational state of the internal combustion engine;
- compare the estimated amount of accumulated energy to a first threshold;
- compare the indication of monitored material temperature to a second threshold;
- and
- determine that the temperature sensor is rational if the indication of monitored material temperature exceeds the second threshold before the estimated amount of accumulated energy exceeds the first threshold.
A diagnostic system comprising:
- a coolant flow sensor configured to provide an indication of coolant flow within a coolant system;
- an engine state sensor configured to provide an indication of an operational state of an internal combustion engine;
- and
- a computer implemented diagnostic module in communication with the coolant flow sensor and engine state sensor, the diagnostic module configured to:
- estimate an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine using the indication of coolant flow and the indication of an operational state of the internal combustion engine;
- receive an indication of a temperature of a portion of the internal combustion engine from an engine material temperature sensor;
- compare the estimated amount of accumulated energy to a first threshold;
- compare the indication of a temperature to a second threshold;
- and
- determine that a sensor reading is rational if the indication of a temperature exceeds the second threshold before the estimated amount of accumulated energy exceeds the first threshold.
A method of performing diagnostics on an engine material temperature sensor associated with an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- monitoring an operational state of the internal combustion engine;
- monitoring the flow of coolant in a coolant system associated with the internal combustion engine;
- monitoring a temperature signal from the engine material temperature sensor;
- estimating, via a processor, an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine from the monitored operating state of the internal combustion engine and the monitored flow of coolant in the coolant system;
- assessing the rationality of the temperature signal using the estimated amount of accumulated energy the assessing including:
- comparing the estimated amount of accumulated energy to a first threshold;
- comparing the temperature signal to a second threshold;
- and
- determining that the temperature signal is rational if the temperature signal exceeds the second threshold before the estimated amount of accumulated energy exceeds the first threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.