Cabin air filter element monitoring and analysis system and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10828986-B2
Application number	US-201916241962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2019
Priority date	Jan 7, 2019
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A filter element status analysis and notification system which includes a primary control unit, a filter element which filters cabin air of a vehicle and a sensor module provided on the filter element. The sensor module including a plurality of sensors, which sensors include at least a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. The control system being operable to detect various filter element parameters and determine potential for microbial growth. The system then providing an alert to the user regarding the determined microbial growth potential.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A filter element status analysis and notification system, the system comprising:
a primary control unit, the primary control unit including a first wireless communication mechanism, processing circuitry, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium containing one or more sets of computer instructions configured to instruct the processing circuitry to perform a plurality of tasks;
a filter element configured to filter an airstream provided to a cabin of a vehicle;
a sensor module provided on and contacting the filter element, the sensor module further comprising:
a plurality of sensors, the sensors including at least a temperature sensor and at least one humidity sensor, each of the plurality of sensors configured to collect data regarding one or more associated filter element parameters; and
a second wireless communication mechanism being configured to transmit each of the one or more associated filter parameters to the first communication mechanism of the primary control unit;

wherein one or more sets of computer instructions include instructions for the processing circuitry to perform the following tasks:
receive the one or more associated filter parameters from the sensor module;
retrieve a reference database; the reference database containing information regarding temperature and humidity values corresponding to one or more ranges associated with an increased microbial growth potential;
compare the one or more associated filter parameters from the sensor module to the one or more ranges associated with an increased microbial growth potential as provided in the reference database,
determine whether any of the one or more associated filter parameters fall within a pre-determined alert range within the reference database;
generate an alert when any of the one or more associated filter parameters fall within the pre-determined alert range, the pre-determined alert range relating to at least temperature and humidity levels corresponding to the ranges corresponding with increased mold growth potential; and
broadcast the alert to a user of the vehicle;

the system further comprising:
a secondary control unit, the secondary control unit further including a display, the display being configured to display the alert;

wherein the primary control unit is operatively connected to the secondary control unit utilizing wireless communication, and wherein the secondary control unit is configured to act as an intermediary and being configured so as to receive the associated filter parameters and forward the associated filter parameters to the primary control unit.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the secondary control unit is a smart device, the smart device including
a first wireless communication system, the first wireless communication system providing network connectivity between the smart device and the primary control unit, and

wherein the secondary control unit also including
a secondary wireless communication system, the second wireless communication system including short-range wireless connectivity, and
wherein the second wireless communication mechanism of the sensor module also includes short-range wireless connectivity,
wherein the secondary control unit and the sensor module communicate utilizing short-range wireless connectivity.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the sensor module includes
a local non-transitory computer-readable medium,
wherein the sensor module is configured to take a plurality of sensor measurements relating to the one or more associated filter parameters for each of the plurality of sensors, and
wherein the sensor module records the one or more sensor measurements and an associated measurement time and records each of the one or more sensor measurements on the local non-transitory computer-readable medium.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the sensor module further comprises:
one or more pressure sensors, the one or more pressure sensors configured to determine a pressure differential.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein
the sensor module is configured to enter a power saving mode after a plurality of sequential zero differential pressure readings between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor,
wherein in power saving mode the sensor module is configured to take sensor readings at time intervals being preferably longer than sixty seconds.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the one or more sets of computer instructions include instructions for the processing circuitry to perform the following tasks:
generating a historical report showing the one or more associated filter parameters as recorded in a historical database; and
displaying the report to a user of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the sensor module includes
a local non-transitory computer-readable medium and local processing circuitry,
wherein the sensor module is configured to take a plurality of sensor measurements relating to the one or more associated filter parameters at intermittent periods and stores the

sensor measurements for a delayed and intermittent transmission to the primary control unit.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein
the sensor measurements are preferably taken at time intervals being at least sixty seconds apart.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein
the delayed and intermittent transmissions occur at time intervals being preferably at least sixty seconds apart.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein
between each of the delayed and intermittent transmissions the sensor module enters a power saving mode.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the primary control unit is a smart device, the smart device including
a first wireless communication system,
the first wireless communication system providing network connectivity,

wherein the smart device is configured to retrieve the reference database from a network location, the smart device also including
a second wireless communication system,
the second wireless communication system including short-range wireless connectivity, and
wherein the second wireless communication mechanism of the sensor module also includes short-range wireless connectivity,
wherein the primary control unit and the sensor module communicate utilizing short-range wireless connectivity.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the filter element includes
a filter media provided having a plurality of pleats,

wherein the sensor module is sized so as to fit between one of the plurality of pleats.

13. A filter element status analysis and notification system, the system comprising:
a primary control unit, the primary control unit including a first wireless communication mechanism, processing circuitry, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium containing one or more sets of computer instructions configured to instruct the processing circuitry to perform a plurality of tasks;
a filter element configured to filter an airstream provided to a cabin of a vehicle;
a sensor module having a sensor module housing arranged on and contacting the filter element, the sensor module further comprising:
a plurality of sensors including at least a temperature sensor and at least one humidity sensor, each of the plurality of sensors configured to collect data regarding one or more associated filter element parameters;
one or more pressure sensors, the one or more pressure sensors configured to determine a pressure differential; and
a second wireless communication mechanism being configured to transmit each of the one or m

Assignees

• Mann & Hummel Gmbh

Inventors

• Faraji Shaghayegh
• Scope Andreas
• Heinzmann Matthias

Classifications

• B60Q5/005 Primary

  automatically actuated · CPC title

• B60K35/80 Primary

  Arrangements for controlling instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title