Catalytic converter system with control and methods for use therewith
AssigneeAdvanced Technology Emission Solutions Inc.
InventorsRobin Crawford, John Douglas
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Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a catalytic converter system that includes a catalytic converter having a plurality of passages to facilitate at least one catalytic reaction in an exhaust gas from a vehicle engine. A temperature sensor generates a temperature signal indicating at least one temperature of the catalytic converter. An electromagnetic field generator that responds to a control signal by generating an electromagnetic field to inductively to heat the catalytic converter. A controller generates the control signal based on temperature signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Claims17
A catalytic converter system comprising:
- a catalytic converter having a plurality of passages to facilitate at least one catalytic reaction in an exhaust gas from a vehicle engine;
- a temperature sensor, coupled to the catalytic converter, that generates a temperature signal indicating at least one temperature of the catalytic converter;
- an electromagnetic field generator that responds to a control signal by generating an electromagnetic field to inductively to heat the catalytic converter;
- and
- a controller, coupled to the temperature sensor and the electromagnetic field generator, that generates the control signal based on the temperature signal and further based on a signal indicating a rotational velocity of the vehicle engine, wherein the controller includes a driving mode prediction generator that predicts a current one of a plurality of driving modes of the vehicle based on vehicle control data, wherein the plurality of driving modes include a stop-and-go traffic mode and wherein the controller adaptively generates the control signal in accordance with the current one of the plurality of driving modes.
A method comprising:
- generating a temperature signal indicating a temperature of a catalytic converter;
- predicting a current one of a plurality of driving modes of a vehicle based on vehicle control data, wherein the plurality of driving modes include a stop-and-go traffic mode:
- generating a control signal based on the temperature signal, a signal indicating a rotational velocity of a vehicle engine, and in accordance with the current one of the plurality of driving modes:
- and
- generating an electromagnetic field to inductively to heat the catalytic converter in response to the control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.