Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

Field of the invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) in a vehicle

Background of the invention

[0002] The Bharat stage 6 (BS6) emission standards are mandated to be implemented for all class of vehicles in India since 2020. In order to meet the mandate for Particulate matter (PM) and NOx emission targets the after-treatment systems of the exhaust gas treatment (EGT) for IC engines now mandatorily use the three Way Catalyst, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction).

[0003] The diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) promotes oxidation of exhaust gas components by oxygen, which is present in ample quantities in diesel exhaust. The oxidation of these components (mainly hydrocarbons and CO) are exothermal reactions, which leads to a temperature increase of the exhaust gas. This exothermal reaction is utilized to increase the temperature of the Exhaust Gas Treatment (EGT) system bringing the system to the optimal temperature for its operation. As per OBD regulations NMHC converting catalysts shall be monitored for the proper conversion capabilities. The precious metal containing catalyst in these DOC make them prone to theft.
[0004] Currently the On Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems in vehicle have methods in place to detect compromised DOC, but they lag in a faster detection sinch these require the vehicle to run on road with the compromised ATS before a theft is detected. Further, thieves themselves have found out ways to work-around the existing systems of on board diagnosis.
[0005] The prior art IN202341009396 discloses an IOT BASED SMART SAFETY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES USING RFID TAG. The Internet of Things (IOT) is used in this work to describe a car anti-theft system that allows users to follow the location of any equipped vehicle in real time from any location. This system's implementation makes use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and Node mcu ESP8266 Microcontrollers to give users a pleasant way to monitor their cars. Then, the accelerometer is used as a sensor. Using a mobile application, this technology enables users to monitor vehicle movement and remotely control (emergency stop through IOT) autos. The hardware prototype of the suggested system and the user application for monitoring and controlling automobiles are both shown in this study.
[0006] There are no specific systems in place for the protection of DOC in vehicle. The present disclosure provides an anti-theft DOC through RF-ID (radio frequency identification) tags that are thermally insulated and provided at strategic locations. The radio signal transmitter/ receiver activates at a set frequency to detect the RFID tags in a particular distance & direction. If RF ID tag doesn’t respond after a set number of consecutive pings, then an alarm is triggered. The proposed system may be powered from the auxiliary battery of the vehicle.

[0007] Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0008] An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0009] Figure 1 depicts a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) (3) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0010] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart for a method to identify an event of theft in a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) in a vehicle.

[0011] Detailed description of the drawings

[0012] The diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) promotes oxidation of exhaust gas components by oxygen, which is present in ample quantities in diesel exhaust. The oxidation of these components (mainly hydrocarbons and CO) are exothermal reactions, which leads to a temperature increase of the exhaust gas. This exothermal reaction is utilized to increase the temperature of the Exhaust Gas Treatment (EGT) system bringing the system to the optimal temperature for its operation.

[0013] State of the art suggests that there are no specific systems in place for the protection of DOC in vehicle. The present disclosure provides an anti-theft DOC through multiple passive RFID (radio frequency identification) tags that are thermally insulated and provided at strategic locations. The radio signal transmitter/ receiver activates at a set frequency to detect the RFID tags in a particular distance & direction. If RFID tag doesn’t respond after a set number of consecutive pings, then an alarm is triggered. The system is powered from the auxiliary battery of the vehicle.

[0014] The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings. Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations, and fragmentary views. In predetermined instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0015] The advantages of the present invention will be apparent with this detailed description, wherein, the best method known to the applicant to implement the invention has also been described. It is however to be noted that numerous alternate embodiments of the present invention are possible and the disclosure of one of them is not to be construed as limiting the others.

[0016] Referring to Figure 1, the same depicts a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) (10) in a vehicle, said DOC (3) comprising at least one Radio frequency Identification (RFID) tag (7), said RFID tag mounted on the DOC(3). The DOC is placed near an exhaust manifold of the EGT system (10). The DOC comprises several components including a ceramic/metallic substrate, a wash coat of a catalytic material such as platinum and rhodium.

[0017] A controller (1) is in communication with the DOC. In an example, said controller, may be an ECU comprising a transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals. In another example, the controller may be a separate component mounted on the chassis (2) of the vehicle, being powered by the vehicle’s battery or an auxiliary battery. It is to be noted that multiple embodiments of the disclosed controller are possible and the same is not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention.

[0018] The controller (1) is configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to at least one RFID tag mounted on the DOC (3). The controller (1) comprises a radio frequency (RF) transmitter (1a) and a RF receiver (1b) adapted to transmit a RF signal to the at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (7) mounted on the DOC (3). The transmitted RF signal is reflected by the RFID tag, this reflected signal is an identification signal, informing about the identity of the DOC (3). The controller identifies the DOC (3) based on the identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag (7). In other words, the controller is configured to identify the DOC (3) based on an identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag (7).

[0019] There may be a situation where a theft has occurred in the DOC (3). The present disclosure enables a user of the vehicle to identify the theft. In order to implement this theft detection functionality, the controller is in communication with an alarm (6) and is configured to detect an event of theft upon a failure to receive the identification signal from the at least one RFID tag (7). Once an identification signal is not detected the controller (1) activates the alarm (6) in communication with the controller (1). It is further to be understood that the ‘theft’ in the context of this application may include an event of the DOC (3) (or any DOC component thereof) missing from the vehicle. The same context is not to be construed as limiting the scope of this application.

[0020] In an example, the alarm (6) may be integrated in a signaling system of the vehicle. Typically, the signaling system includes the horn, the headlights and flashlights of the vehicle. In another example, the alarm may be an audio alarm or a visual alarm or an audio-visual alarm present mounted on the vehicle or inside the vehicle, separately from the signaling system. It is further to be understood that the ‘theft’ in the context of this application may include an event of the DOC (3) (or any DOC component thereof) missing from the vehicle. The same context is not to be construed as limiting the scope of this application.

[0021] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart for a method to identify an event of theft of a diesel oxidation catalyst for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) in a vehicle.

[0022] The method (100) may be implemented by an embodiment as disclosed in Figure 1, wherein, a controller is in communication with the DOC. The disclosed DOC comprises at least one Radio frequency Identification (RFID) tag, said at least one RFID tag mounted on the DOC. In an example, the RFID tag may be present on all or at least one of the components comprised in the DOC. A controller is in communication with the DOC. In an example, said controller, may be an ECU comprising a transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals. In another example, the controller may be a separate component mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, being powered by the vehicle’s battery or an auxiliary battery.
[0023] The method step (100) to identify a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) includes the first step (101) of transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to the at least one RFID tag mounted on at least one DOC by the controller. This is followed by step (102) of identifying the DOC based on an identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag.

[0024] There may be a situation where a theft has occurred in the DPF. The present disclosure enables a user of the vehicle to identify the theft. In order to implement this theft detection functionality, the controller is in communication with an alarm and is configured to detect an event of theft upon a failure to receive the identification signal from the at least one RFID tag. Once an identification signal is not detected the controller activates the alarm in communication with the controller. It is further to be understood that the ‘theft’ in the context of this application may include an event of the DOC (or any DOC component thereof) missing from the vehicle. The same context is not to be construed as limiting the scope of this application.

[0025] In an example, the alarm may be integrated in a signaling system of the vehicle. Typically, the signaling system includes the horn, the headlights and flashlights. In another example, the alarm may be an audio alarm or a visual alarm or an audio-visual alarm present mounted on the vehicle or inside the vehicle, separately from the signaling system.

[0026] The method (100) comprises the further step (103) of detecting by the controller, an event of theft in the DOC upon a failure to receive the identification signal from the at least one RFID tag and the step (104) of activating by the controller, an alarm in communication with the controller.

[0027] In an example, the controller the controller transmits an RF signal to the at least one RFID tag mounted on the DOC. Each of the at least one RFID tag sends the unique identification signal to the controller. Not receiving any (or all) of the identification signal indicates an event of a missing DOC (or DOC component). In such a situation, the controller activates the alarm in communication with it and alerts the user.

, Claims:We Claim:
1. A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) (3) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) in a vehicle, said DOC (3)comprising at least one Radio frequency Identification (RFID) tag (7), said RFID tag mounted on the DOC.

2. A controller (1) is in communication with a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), said controller (1) is configured to:
-transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to the RFID tag(7) mounted on the DOC (3); and
-identify the DOC (3) based on a identification signal received from the RFID tag (7).

3. The controller as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said controller (1) is in communication with an alarm(6) and is configured to:
- detect an event of theft of the DOC (3) upon a failure to receive the identification signal from the at least one RFID tag (7); and
-activate the alarm(6) in communication with the controller.

4. A method (100) to identify a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) (3) in an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system of a vehicle, said DOC comprising at least one RFID tag mounted on the DOC, the method characterized by the steps of:

-transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to the RFID tag mounted on the DOC, by a controller in communication with the DOC (101) ; and

- identifying the DOC based on an identification signal received from the RFID tag (102).

5. The method (100) as claimed in Claim 4, wherein, the method further comprising the steps of:
-detecting by the controller, an event of theft of the DOC upon a failure to receive the identification signal from the at least one RFID tag (103); and
-activating by the controller, an alarm in communication with the controller (104).