# US 9,518,498 B1 · Regulation of a diesel exhaust after-treatment system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,498 B1 - Document ID: US9518498B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/837,338 - Filed: 2015-08-27 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-27 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Vincent J Tylutki; Igor Anilovich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518498B1 ## CPC - F01N 11/00: Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus - F01N 3/021: by means of filters - F01N 9/002: {of filter regeneration} - F01N 2550/04: Filtering activity of particulate filters - F01N 2560/05: the means being a particulate sensor - F01N 2560/07: the means being an exhaust gas flow rate or velocity meter or sensor, intake flow meters only when exclusively used to determine exhaust gas parameters - F01N 2560/14: having more than one sensor of one kind - F01N 2900/0406: using a model with a division of the catalyst or filter in several cells - F01N 2900/0416: using the state of a sensor, e.g. of an exhaust gas sensor - F01N 2900/1606: Particle filter loading or soot amount - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - 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 method is disclosed for regulating an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in fluid communication with a diesel engine. The method includes detecting operation of the diesel engine during which the engine generates a flow rate of particulate matter (PM) directed into the DPF. The method also includes detecting a flow rate of PM exiting the DPF in response to the flow rate of PM directed into the DPF. The method additionally includes tracking the detected flow rate alongside a predicted PM flow rate for monitoring and comparison thereof. The method also includes pausing in time the tracking of the predicted flow rate, if the detected flow rate has experienced a decline. Furthermore, the method includes resuming tracking the predicted flow rate when the detected flow rate returns to a value before the decline and using such value to regulate operation of the AT system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of regulating an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in fluid communication, via an exhaust system, with a diesel engine, the method comprising: detecting, via a controller, operation of the diesel engine during which the diesel engine generates a flow rate of particulate matter directed via the exhaust system into the DPF; detecting, via a particulate matter (PM) sensor, a flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF in response to the flow rate of particulate matter directed into the DPF; communicating, to the controller via the PM sensor, a signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF; tracking, via the controller, the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF alongside a predicted particulate matter flow rate; pausing in time said tracking of the predicted particulate matter flow rate, when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF has experienced a decline; resuming said tracking the predicted particulate matter flow rate when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF returns to a value before the decline; and regulating, via the controller, operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF when the detected flow rate returns to the value before the decline. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing, via the controller, the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF with a particulate matter flow rate threshold and regulating operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF, when the predicted particulate matter flow rate corresponding in time to the detected flow rate is less than the particulate matter flow rate threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising setting a signal indicative of the DPF having failed when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF is greater than the particulate matter flow rate threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the signal indicative of the DPF having failed is one of a malfunction indicator light (MIL) and an electronic code configured to be retrieved by an authorized access. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the predicted particulate matter flow rate is a function of time the engine operates at specified conditions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the predicted particulate matter flow rate continually increases up to the flow rate threshold as a function of the time the engine operates at specified conditions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the particulate matter flow rate threshold corresponds to a signal communicated by the PM sensor in a 10-14 micro-ampere (μA) band. ### Claim 8 A system for regulating an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in fluid communication with a diesel engine, the system comprising: an exhaust system providing fluid communication between the diesel engine and the DPF; a particulate matter (PM) sensor positioned downstream of the DPF and configured to detect a flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF and communicate a signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF; a device configured to inject diesel fuel into the exhaust system; and a controller configured to: detect operation of the diesel engine during which the engine generates a flow rate of particulate matter directed via the exhaust system into the DPF; receive from the PM sensor the signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF in response to the flow rate of particulate matter directed into the DPF; track the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF alongside a predicted particulate matter flow rate; pause in time tracking of the predicted particulate matter flow rate, when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF has experienced a decline; resume tracking the predicted particulate matter flow rate when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF returns to a value before the decline; and regulate operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF when the detected flow rate returns to the value before the decline. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is additionally configured to: compare the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF with a particulate matter flow rate threshold; and regulate operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF, when the predicted particulate matter flow rate corresponding in time to the detected flow rate is less than the particulate matter flow rate threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is additionally configured to set a signal indicative of the DPF having failed when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF is greater than the particulate matter flow rate threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the signal indicative of the DPF having failed is one of a malfunction indicator light (MIL) and an electronic code configured to be retrieved by an authorized access. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the predicted particulate matter flow rate is a function of time the engine operates at specified conditions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the predicted particulate matter flow rate continually increases up to the flow rate threshold as a function of the time the engine operates at specified conditions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the particulate matter flow rate threshold corresponds to a signal communicated by the PM sensor in a 10-14 micro-ampere (μA) band. ### Claim 15 A vehicle comprising: a diesel engine configured to propel the vehicle; an after-treatment (AT) system having a diesel particulate filter (DPF); an exhaust system providing fluid communication between the diesel engine and the DPF; a particulate matter (PM) sensor positioned downstream of the DPF and configured to detect a flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF and communicate a signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF; a device configured to inject diesel fuel into the exhaust system; and a controller configured to: detect operation of the diesel engine during which the engine generates a flow rate of particulate matter directed via the exhaust system into the DPF; receive from the PM sensor the signal indicative of the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF in response to the flow rate of particulate matter directed into the DPF; track the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF alongside a predicted particulate matter flow rate; pause in time tracking of the predicted particulate matter flow rate, when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF has experienced a decline; resume tracking the predicted particulate matter flow rate when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF returns to a value before the decline; and regulate operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF when the detected flow rate returns to the value before the decline. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the controller is additionally configured to: compare the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF with a particulate matter flow rate threshold; and regulate operation of the AT system using the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF, when the predicted particulate matter flow rate corresponding in time to the detected flow rate is less than the particulate matter flow rate threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the controller is additionally configured to set a signal indicative of the DPF having failed when the detected flow rate of particulate matter exiting the DPF is greater than the particulate matter flow rate threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the signal indicative of the DPF having failed is one of a malfunction indicator light (MIL) and an electronic code configured to be retrieved by an authorized access. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the predicted particulate matter flow rate is a function of time the engine operates at specified conditions and continually increases up to the flow rate threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the particulate matter flow rate threshold corresponds to a signal communicated by the PM sensor in a 10-14 micro-ampere (μA) band.