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 theft proof Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system for 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 Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) systems 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] These three way catalysts, DOC, DPF, GPF & SCR have precious metal coatings (for instance Pt, Pd, Rh, etc) on them. These have a very high black market value and therefore are more prone to be stolen. Vehicles which have easily accessible Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) systems such as passenger cars, commercial vehicles, gensets & off-highway vehicles are at a higher risk of theft.
[0004] Typically, in the state of the art, the vehicle has to be turned on to be able to detect a theft in one or any of these components of the Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system.
[0005] Currently the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems in vehicle have methods in place to detect compromised EGT system, but they lag in a faster detection since these require the vehicle to run on road with the compromised EGT before a theft is detected. Further, thieves themselves have found out ways to work around the existing systems of on-board diagnosis.

[0006] 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.

[0007] There are no specific systems in place for the protection of Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system in vehicle. The present disclosure provides an anti-theft Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system for a vehicle through multiple passive 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 system is powered from the auxiliary battery of the vehicle.
[0008] Further, every component of the EGT system has a useful life and due to misuse/ damage it might also be shortened. For instance, 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.
[0009] 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. The present disclosure in addition to detect theft addresses the above problem by automating the process & eliminating human error.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0010] Figure 1 depicts an Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0011] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart for a method to identify in an Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Detailed description of the drawings

[0013] The components of the EGT generally include a catalytic convertor, a diesel particulate filter, a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) unit, a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank, an exhaust recirculation unit and an oxidation catalyst. The catalytic convertor contains precious metals such as platinum, rhodium to catalyze the reaction to convert carbon monoxide/hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to less harmful gases such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapor. The SCR is used in diesel engines to reduce NOx emissions. The DEF stores urea-based solution used in the SCR unit to reduce NOx emissions. The EGR recirculates the exhaust air and oxidation catalyst convert the unburnt hydrocarbons and CO to less armful gases like water carbon dioxide.

[0014] Referring to Figure 1, the same depicts an Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system (10) for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The Exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system (10) of the vehicle is responsible to reduce harmful emissions from exhaust gases.

[0015] The EGT system (10) comprises a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) (3) comprising at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (7) and a selective catalyst reduction unit (SCR) (5) comprising at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. 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. The DOC (3) comprises several components including a ceramic/metallic substrate, a wash coat of a catalytic material such as platinum and rhodium. The DOC is placed near an exhaust manifold of the EGT system (10).
[0016] The EGT system (10) comprises a diesel particulate filter (DPF) (4) comprising at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The DPF(4) is used to remove soot from the exhaust gas. Typically, the DPF (4) is in communication with a monitoring unit which in an example 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.
[0017] The EGT system (10) comprises a selective catalyst reduction unit (SCR) (5) comprising at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Exhaust gas discharged from a vehicle’s engine may flow into a housing of the SCR (5) through an exhaust pipe. The exhaust gas may be mixed with the reducing agent by the reducing agent injection module or the dosing module inside the housing. Nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas may be removed by the catalytic reduction module. The dosing module may be disposed in front of the catalytic reduction unit. The dosing module may inject a reducing agent into the housing to reduce nitrogen oxides included in the exhaust gas. Said SCR (5) comprises a dosing module, a catalytic reduction module and a housing. Exhaust gas discharged from a vehicle’s engine may flow into a housing of the SCR through an exhaust pipe. The exhaust gas may be mixed with the reducing agent by the reducing agent injection module or the dosing module inside the housing. Nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas may be removed by the catalytic reduction module. The dosing module may be disposed in front of the catalytic reduction unit. The dosing module may inject a reducing agent into the housing to reduce nitrogen oxides included in the exhaust gas. In an example, said at least one RFID tag (7) mounted on at least one of the dosing modules, the catalytic reduction module and the housing. In an example, the RFID tag may be present on all or at least one of the components comprised in the SCR (5).

[0018] The EGT system is characterized by a controller (1) comprising 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 at least one of the DPF, the DOC and the SCR as explained above. The controller is further adapted to receive an identification signal from the at least one RFID tag.
[0019] According to an embodiment, the controller (1) may be an ECU monitoring all or at least one of the EGT components (DOC, DPF, SCR). In an example, the controller may be the ECU comprising a software block to monitor at least one parameter of the DPF (4) as explained above.
[0020] According to an embodiment, 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.

[0021] Further, the controller may also detect an event of replacement of any one of the DPF (4), DOC (3) and the SCR (5) with any one of a second DPF (or new DPF), a second DOC (or new DOC) and a second SCR (or new SCR). In an example, the controller may monitor the EGT system, such as the ECU comprising the software block to learn at least one parameter of the DPF as explained above. The controller 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. The controller identifies the DPF based on the identification signal received from the at least one RFID tag.
[0022] This identification signal will be unique to every DPF (4). Once the DPF is replaced with a second DPF or a new DPF, a new RFID tag (7) 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. Similarly, the controller may also be configured to identify the event of replacement of SCR and DOC with the second SCR (or any new SCR or any new SCR component thereof) and the second DOC respectively.
[0023] There may be a situation where a theft has occurred in the EGT system, for instance if any or all of the DOC, SPF, SCR go missing. 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 mounted on the DOC, the SPF and the DPF. Once an identification signal is not detected the controller activates the alarm in communication with the controller.
[0024] 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. In another example, the alarm may be an audio alarm or a visual alarm or an audio-visual alarm mounted on the vehicle or inside the vehicle, separately from the signaling system.
[0025] The disclosed controller (1) can be powered by a battery of the vehicle. Further the disclosed EGT system will be able to detect the theft without starting the vehicle.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A controller (1) for an exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system (10) in a vehicle, the EGT system comprising:
-a Diesel particulate filter (DPF) (4),
-a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) (3), and
-a selective catalyst reduction unit (SCR)(5),

the controller (1) comprising a radio frequency (RF) transmitter (1a) and a RF receiver (1b) is configured to:
-transmit a RF signal to the at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag(7), said RFID mounted on at least one of the DPF(4), the DOC(3) and the SCR(5) ; and
-receive an identification signal from the at least one RFID tag (7).

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

3. The controller (1) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein , said controller detects an event of replacement of any of the DPF(4), DOC (3) and the SCR (5) with any one of a second DPF, a second DOC and a second SCR.

4. An exhaust gas treatment (EGT) system (10) in a vehicle, the EGT comprising:
-a Diesel particulate filter (DPF)(4),
-a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC)(3),
-a selective catalyst reduction unit (SCR)(5),
-at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag(7) mounted at least one of the DPF, the DOC and the SCR, and
-a controller (1) comprising a radio frequency (RF) transmitter (1a) and a RF receiver (1b) configured to transmit a RF signal to the at least one Radio frequency identification (RFID) and receive an identification signal from the at least one RFID tag (7).

5. The EGT system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein, the at least one RFID tag is mounted on at least one of the DPF (4), the DOC (3) and the SCR (5).
6. The EGT system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein, said controller is in further communication with an alarm(6).