# US 8,769,937 B2 · Soot sensor monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,937 B2 - Document ID: US8769937B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/362,736 - Filed: 2012-01-31 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-31 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Ognyan N. Yanakiev; David E. Winn; Eric M. Hall; Christopher P. Musienko - Inventors: Ognyan N. Yanakiev; David E. Winn; Eric M. Hall; Christopher P. Musienko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769937B2 ## CPC - F01N 11/00: Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus - F01N 2560/05: the means being a particulate sensor - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A control method for monitoring a soot sensor of an exhaust treatment system is provided. The control method includes: determining when regeneration has completed; comparing soot sensor data to an estimated soot data based on the determining; and generating a message based on the comparing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control method for monitoring a soot sensor of an exhaust treatment system of a vehicle, comprising: determining when regeneration has completed; comparing soot sensor data to an estimated soot data based on the determining, wherein the estimated soot data is based on particulate filter efficiency and an estimated soot generated from an engine of the exhaust treatment system; generating a message based on the comparing; and connecting at least one of a telematics system and a technician tool to the vehicle for retrieving the message. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1 wherein the comparing is performed when the regeneration has completed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating a temperature of the soot sensor and wherein the comparing the soot sensor data to the estimated soot data is based on the evaluating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control method of claim 3 wherein the comparing is performed when the temperature of the soot sensor is below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 5 A control system that monitors a soot sensor of an exhaust treatment system, comprising: a first module implemented by at least one processor and configured to determine when regeneration has completed; a second module implemented by the least one processor and configured to compare soot sensor data to an estimated soot data based on the determining, wherein the estimated soot data is based on particulate filter efficiency and an estimated soot generated from an engine of the exhaust treatment system; and a third module implemented by the at least one processor and configured to generate a message based on the comparing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5, wherein the second module is configured to compare the soot sensor data to the estimated soot data when the regeneration has completed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5, wherein the generated message is a diagnostic code for diagnosing the soot sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5, wherein the third module is further configured to transmit the message to a remote location using a telematics system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5, wherein the message is retrieved by a technician tool connected to a vehicle that includes the exhaust treatment system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5, wherein the message comprises an off-vehicle reporting message. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5 further comprising a fourth module implemented by the at least one processor and configured to evaluate a temperature of the soot sensor, wherein the second module is configured to compare the soot sensor data to the estimated soot data based on the evaluating by the fourth module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control system of claim 11, wherein the second module is configured to compare the soot sensor data to the estimated soot data when the soot sensor temperature is below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 13 An exhaust system of an engine, comprising: a particulate filter; a soot sensor disposed in proximity to the particulate filter; and a control module implemented by at least one processor and configured to: determine when regeneration has completed; compare soot sensor data to an estimated soot data based on the determining, wherein the estimated soot data is based on particulate filter efficiency and an estimated soot generated from an engine of the exhaust system; and generate a message based on the comparing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The exhaust system of claim 13, wherein the control module is configured to compare the soot sensor data to the estimated soot data when the regeneration has completed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The exhaust system of claim 13, wherein the generated message is a diagnostic code for diagnosing the soot sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The exhaust system of claim 13, wherein the control module is further configured to transmit the message to a remote location using a telematics system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The exhaust system of claim 13, wherein the message is retrieved by a technician tool connected to a vehicle that includes the exhaust system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The exhaust system of claim 13, wherein the message comprises an in-vehicle communication reporting message. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The exhaust system of claim 13, wherein the control module is configured to evaluate a temperature of the soot sensor and compare the soot sensor data to the estimated soot data based on the evaluating. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The exhaust system of claim 19, wherein the control module is configured to compare the soot sensor data to the estimated soot data when the temperature of the soot sensor is below a predetermined threshold.