1. A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust system, the system comprising:
a pressure sensor coupled in the engine exhaust;
a particulate filter coupled in the engine exhaust; and
a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for determining degradation of said exhaust pressure sensor, comprising:
code for determining at least a parameter based on at least two flow conditions;
code for measuring a signal from the exhaust pressure sensor; and
code for determining degradation of the exhaust pressure sensor based at least on said parameter and said signal.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said engine is a diesel engine.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensor is a differential pressure sensor measuring differential pressure across said particulate filter.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said pressure sensor is an absolute pressure sensor coupled downstream of said particulate filter.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said particulate filter is coupled to an oxidation catalyst.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said particulate filter is coupled to a NOx adsorber.
7. A method for monitoring a pressure sensor, the sensor responding to both an amount of exhaust gas flow and accumulation of sort in a particulate filer, the method comprising:
measuring a signal from the pressure sensor at least during two substantially different flow conditions where variation of the amount of exhaust gas flow between said two conditions is greater than a first amount while accumulation of soot is less than a second amount; and
determining degradation of the sensor based on said signal and a reference.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said first amount and second amounts are substantially the same.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said first amount and second amounts are substantially different.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein said response is an expected signal response of the sensor during said condition.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said determining said expected response of the sensor during said condition includes determining said expected response of the sensor during said condition based on said variation of said first parameter.
12. A method for monitoring a pressure sensor in an engine exhaust, the method comprising:
measuring a signal from the pressure sensor during at least a first and second flow condition wherein said first and second flow condition include a high floe and a low flow condition said measuring occurring while soot buildup is less than a selected amount;
determining an expected response of the sensor during said flow conditions; and
determining degradation of the sensor when said signal differs by an amount from said expected response.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said first and second flow condition include an idle and a non-idle condition.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein said sensor measures differential pressure across a particulate filter.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein said engine is a diesel engine.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein said expected response includes an expected response from varying flow conditions on a scale that is faster than a time scale of changes in flow restriction.
17. A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust system, the system comprising:
a pressure sensor coupled in the engine exhaust;
a particulate filter coupled in the engine exhaust; and
a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for determining degradation of said exhaust pressure sensor, comprising:
code for determining an expected sensor response;
code for measuring a signal response from the exhaust pressure sensor during at least a selected engine operating condition; and
code for determining degradation of the exhaust pressure sensor based at least on said expected sensor response and said signal response.
18. The system recited in claim 17 wherein said expected sensor response is determined when the engine is off.
19. The system recited in claim 17 wherein said expected sensor response is determined when the engine is operating.
20. The system recited in claim 12 wherein said code for determining an expected sensor response is enabled when exhaust flow is greater than a threshold value.
21. A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust system, the system comprising:
a particulate filter coupled in the engine exhaust;
a sensor coupled in the engine exhaust; and
a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein, comprising:
code for regenerating said particulate filter based on said sensor; and
code for determining degradation of said sensor based on an operating parameter.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensor is a differential pressure sensor.
23. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor.
24. A system for a vehicle having an engine with an exhaust system, the system comprising:
a sensor coupled in the engine exhaust so that the sensor is exposed to the exhaust;
a particulate filter coupled in the engine exhaust with the sensor; and
a computer storage medium having a computer program encoded therein for determining degradation of said sensor, comprising:
code for determining at least an operating parameter of the sensor based on at least two flow conditions of the exhaust;
code for measuring a signal from the sensor over time; and
code for determining degradation of the sensor over time based at least on said parameter and said signal.
25. The system of claim 24 wherein said sensor determination of degradation commences based on an indication of steady flow conditions.
26. The system of claim 24 wherein said sensor determination of degradation commences based on an indication the exhaust system temperature is above a limit value.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A bi-directional communication system for providing communication between two points on opposite sides of a partition, the system comprising:
a unit adapted for mounting on the partition and including:
a first part for placement on an exterior side of the partition, the first part having a first bore extending therethrough; and
a second part for placement on an interior side of the partition and securely attached to the first part;
audio communication components disposed at least partially within at least one of the first and second parts to permit bi-directional audio communication between the two points on opposite sides of the partition; and
a micro video camera including a lens module having at least one lens disposed therein and a control module in communication with the lens module, the lens module and the control module being disposed within the first part on the exterior side of the partition, the first part having an inner face and an opposing outer face that faces away from the second part, the inner face having a contoured first recessed cavity formed therein and defined by a solid floor that defines a bottom of the cavity for receiving and containing the micro video camera so as to position the micro video camera on the exterior side of the partition, the micro video camera seated within the first recessed cavity such that it is disposed in intimate contact with and against the solid floor of the first recessed cavity so as to contain and hold the micro video camera in a desired location, wherein within the first cavity, the first bore is formed completely through the first part and the lens module is at least partially disposed in the first bore.
2. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the second part includes an inner circular plate and wherein the first part includes an outer circular plate that is mountably secured to the inner circular plate.
3. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the audio communication components include a first speaker and a first microphone contained within the unit and facing in a first direction for audio communication to and from the exterior side of the partition and a second speaker and a second microphone associated with the unit and facing in a second direction for audio communication to and from the interior side of the partition.
4. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the unit includes a third part disposed between the first part and the interior side of the partition, the third part being securely mounted through the partition to the second part on the opposite exterior side of the partition.
5. The bi-directional communication system of claim 4, wherein the control module is at least partially disposed on an interior side of the partition and the third part includes an opening formed therethrough to permit the control module to extend to the interior side of the partition.
6. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein communication between the lens module and the control module is provided through a cable.
7. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lens module comprises a pinhole lens.
8. The bi-directional communication system of claim 7, wherein the pinhole lens comprises a lens with F3.5 and a focal length of about 3.7 mm.
9. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the lens module generates a digital format signal that is delivered to the control module which transforms the digital format signal into an analog signal in a prescribed format.
10. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the lens module is in wireless communication with a receiver that is remote from the unit.
11. The bi-directional communication system of claim 10, wherein the remote receiver includes an output connectable to at least one of a video recorder and a monitor.
12. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the micro video camera comprises a CCD camera.
13. A self-contained talk-through device for providing communication between two points on opposite sides of a partition, the device comprising:
an assembly having a housing adapted for mounting on the partition and including:
a first plate for placement on an exterior side of the partition, the first plate having a first bore extending therethrough, the first plate having a first recessed cavity formed in an inner face thereof and defining a solid floor that defines a bottom of the recessed cavity, wherein the first recessed cavity includes a main recessed section and a recessed elongated channel extending from the main recessed section such that one end of the recessed channel forms an entrance into the main recessed section;
a second plate for placement on an interior side of the partition, wherein an inner face of the second plate includes a control panel that has one or more control features that can be manipulated by a user for operating the system; and
audio communication components disposed at least partially within at least one of the first and second plates to permit bi-directional audio communication between the two points on opposite sides of the partition;
a micro video camera disposed within the first recessed cavity and seated in intimate contact against the floor on the exterior side of the partition such that the floor prevents movement of the micro video camera in a direction away from the partition, the micro video camera including a lens module that is disposed in the first bore and is operatively in communication with the control module so that a data signal generated by the lens module-is delivered to the control module, wherein an inner face of the video camera extends beyond the partition and into an opening formed in the second plate and a cable of the video camera being disposed within the recessed channel; and
a power supply contained within the housing of the assembly;
wherein the audio communication components, the micro video camera, the control module and the power supply are contained within the housing to form the self-contained device.
14. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 13, wherein the first plate comprises an annular plate that has a central cut-out formed therein, the first bore being formed radially outside of the cut-out that receives a grill.
15. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 13, wherein communication between the first component and the control module is established through a cable that is laid within a channel formed in and along the inner face of the first plate such that that the channel opens into the first recessed cavity.
16. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 13, wherein the control module includes a first transceiver that is in communication with a second transceiver disposed within a remote device such that the remote device receives the first signal in a wireless manner.
17. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 13, wherein the data signal comprises a digital format signal.
18. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the first part has a contoured second recessed cavity formed therein for receiving and containing at least one of the audio communication components, wherein within the second cavity, an audio bore is formed completely through the first part and at least a portion of the one audio communication component is disposed in the audio bore.
19. The bi-directional communication system of claim 18, wherein the floor of the first cavity surrounds the first bore and a floor of the second cavity surrounds the audio bore and faces the exterior side of the partition.
20. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the first recessed cavity includes a base portion defining the floor that receives the micro video camera and an elongated channel that is formed in the inner face and extends from the base portion toward and terminating proximate a central cut out formed completely through the first part.
21. The bi-directional communication system of claim 18, wherein the second recessed cavity includes a base portion defining the floor that receives the at least one audio communication component and an elongated channel that is formed in the inner surface and extends from the base portion toward and terminating proximate a central cut out formed completely through the first part.
22. The bi-directional communication system of claim 18, wherein the first bore and the audio bore are formed radially from a central cut out formed completely through the first part.
23. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein the micro video camera includes a base control module in addition to the lens module, both of which are entirely disposed in the first recessed cavity on the exterior side of the partition.
24. The bi-directional communication system of claim 1, wherein an inner face of the second part includes a control panel that has one or more control features that can be manipulated by a user for operating the system.
25. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 11, wherein the first plate has a second recessed cavity formed therein and including a floor for receiving and containing at least one of the audio communication components, wherein within the second cavity, an audio bore is formed completely through the first plate and at least a portion of a microphone belonging to the audio communication components is disposed in the audio bore.
26. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 25, wherein the first recessed cavity includes a base portion defining the floor that receives the micro video camera and a first elongated channel that is formed in the inner face, the second recessed cavity including a base portion that receives at least the microphone and a second elongated channel that is formed in the inner face, with both the first and second elongated channels extending from the base portion toward and terminating proximate a central cut out formed completely through the first plate.
27. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 25, wherein the first bore and the audio bore are formed radially from a central cut out formed completely through the first plate.
28. The self-contained talk-through device of claim 13, wherein the micro video camera includes a base control module in addition to the lens module, both of which are entirely disposed in the first recessed cavity on the exterior side of the partition.