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 a diesel particulate filter 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] Every component of the EGT system has a useful life and due to misuse/ damage it might also be shortened. In case of the diesel particulate filter (DPF) once it is loaded 100% with ash or it gets damaged due to any complication it needs to be replaced. A problem during replacement of these DPFs that the original equipment manufacturers face is that the service center must run the appropriate service protocols via tester tool to update ECU about the component replacement. Often, due to lack of awareness/ training/ negligence at service center this is not followed.
[0004] The protocol to be run, reverts any DPF specific learned parameters stored in the ECU, the same must be relearned with new DPF. If not updated the system will run with wrong parameters and might lead to further issues and unintended failures. Further, being a component of the EGT these DPFs are also prone to theft.

[0005] The present disclosure addresses the above problem by automating the process & eliminating human error. The proposed DPF would also make the user aware in case of a theft.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0006] Figure 1 depicts a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0007] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart for a method to identify an event of a replacement of a Diesel particulate filter of a vehicle.

[0008] Detailed description of the drawings

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] The state of the art suggests that when a user comes to service station to have DPF replaced, the service technician must connect a tester tool to update a software block in the electric control unit (ECU) that monitors the particulate filter. The tester toll updates this software block upon addition of a new DPF. This protocol reverts any DPF specific learned parameters stored in the ECU with respect to older DPF. The same must be relearned with new DPF. If not updated the system will run with wrong parameters and might lead to further issues.

[0012] The present disclosure introduces a passive RF ID tag (thermally insulated) on the DPF. The radio signal transmitter/ receiver activates the tag and reads the unique identification number. When the system detects that the ID is not the same as previously stored value, the system then understands updates that the DPF has been replaced. The logic can then perform the service protocol for further running. Further, being a component of the EGT these DPFs are also prone to theft. The present disclosure also proposes a DPF that prevents theft or makes the user aware in the event of theft of the DPS.

[0013] Referring to Figure 1, the same depicts a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) (4) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) (10) in a vehicle. Said DPF comprises at least one Radio frequency Identification Tag (RFID) (7) mounted on the DPF 94).

[0014] A controller (1)is in communication with the DPF (4). The DPF comprises at least one RFID tag (7). Said controller (1) comprises a radiofrequency (RF) trans-receiver. In an example, said controller, may be an ECU comprising a software block to monitor at least one parameter of the DPF (4). The at least one parameter(s) in an example may be not limited to exhaust gas temperature, soot load level, pressure drop across the filter, oxygen concentration or any other parameter upon which the functionality of DPF depends. The controller (1) learns at least one parameter of the DPF (4) with the said RFID tag (7).

[0015] The controller (1) is configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to the at least one RFID tag (7) mounted on the DPF (4). The transmitted RF signal is reflected by the RFID tag, this reflected signal is an identification signal, informing about the identity of the DPF (4). 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 mounted on the DPF (4). In an example, the controller may be mounted on he chassis (2) of the vehicle and be powered by an auxiliary battery.
[0016] The controller (1) identifies the DPF based on the identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag (7). This identification signal will be unique to every DPF. Once the DPF is replaced with a second DPF or a new DPF, a new RFID tag will be mounted on it which will reflect a new identification signal. The controller is configured to identify an event of replacement of said DPF with a new DPF and re-learn the at least one parameter of the new DPF .

[0017] 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 (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 activates the alarm(6) in communication with the controller.

[0018] 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 flash lights. 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.

[0019] In an example, when the DPF(4) is replaced by new DPF, the controller identifies this replacement based on the identification signal received from the new DPF and resets itself to re-learn the parameters for the new DPF. In another example, the controller can also detect the event of theft and activate the alarm in communication with it.

[0020] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart for a method to identify an event of a replacement of a Diesel particulate filter of a vehicle.

[0021] The method may be implemented by an embodiment as disclosed in Figure 1, wherein, a controller is in communication with the DPF. The DPF comprises at least one RFID tag. Said controller comprises a radiofrequency (RF) trans-receiver. In an example, said controller, may be an ECU comprising a software block to monitor at least one parameter of the DPF. The at least one parameter(s) in an example may be not limited to exhaust gas temperature, soot load level, pressure drop across the filter, oxygen concentration or any other parameter upon which the functionality of DPF depends. The controller learns at least one parameter of the DPF with the said RFID tag.
[0022] The method step (100) to identify an event of a replacement of a Diesel particulate filter of a vehicle includes the step (101) of transmitting by the controller, a radio frequency (RF) signal to at least one RFID tag mounted on the DPF. This is followed by the step (102) of identifying, by the controller, the DPF based on an identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag, The method step (103) includes identifying an event of replacement of said DPF with a second DPF, by the controller. This is followed by the step (104) of re-learning the at least one parameter of the second DPF, by the controller.
[0023] 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.
[0024] The method (100) further includes the step (105) of detecting by the controller, an event of theft of the DPF upon a failure to receive the identification signal from the at least one RFID tag and activating by the controller, an alarm in communication with the controller. 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.
[0025] In an example, when the DPF is replaced by new DPF, the controller identifies this replacement based on the identification signal received from the new DPF and resets itself to re-learn the parameters for the new DPF. In another example, the controller can also detect the event of theft and activate the alarm in communication with it.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)(4) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) in a vehicle, said DPF comprising at least one Radio frequency Identification Tag (RFID) (7), said at least one RFID tag mounted on the DPF (4).

2. A controller(1) in communication with a DPF, said DPF comprising at least one RFID tag, said controller comprising a radiofrequency (RF) trans-receiver, said controller configured to learn at least one parameter of the DPF(4) with the said RFID tag;
characterized by,
the controller(1) configured to:
-transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to the at least one RFID tag(7) mounted on the DPF(4);
-identify the DPF based on an identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag;
-identify an event of replacement of said DPF(4) with a new DPF; and
-re-learn the at least one parameter of the new DPF .

3. The controller(1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein, said 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); and
-activate the alarm (6) in communication with the controller (1).

4. A method(100) to identify an event of a replacement of a Diesel particulate filter of a vehicle, the DPF in communication with a controller, the method comprising the steps of:

-learning, by the controller, at least one parameter of the DPF comprising at least one RFID tag mounted on the DPF ,

the method characterized by:

-transmitting by the controller, a radio frequency (RF) signal to at least one RFID tag mounted on the DPF (101),
-identifying, by the controller, the DPF based on an identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag (102);
-identifying an event of replacement of said DPF with a second DPF, by the controller (103); and
-re-learning the at least one parameter of the second DPF, by the controller (104).

5. The method(100) as claimed in Claim 4, wherein, the method comprises the steps of:
-detecting by the controller, an event of theft of the DPF upon a failure to receive the identification signal from the at least one RFID tag (105); and
-activating by the controller, an alarm in communication with the controller.