Filter identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148081-B2
Application number	US-202016796649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2020
Priority date	Feb 20, 2020
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A filter identification system is disclosed. The filter identification system may include an identification component disposed in a filter mount configured to hold a set of filters that includes a first filter and a second filter. The identification component may include a sensor system that may include a first sensor configured to provide a first output signal corresponding to a state of the first sensor, and a second sensor configured to provide a second output signal corresponding to a state of the second sensor. The sensor system may be configured to provide a single output signal that is based on the first output signal and the second output signal and indicates a combined state of the first sensor and the second sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter identification system, comprising:
an identification component disposed in a filter mount configured to hold a set of filters that includes a first filter and a second filter,
the identification component including a sensor system that includes:
a first sensor configured to provide a first output signal corresponding to a state of the first sensor; and
a second sensor configured to provide a second output signal corresponding to a state of the second sensor,
the sensor system configured to provide a single output signal that is based on the first output signal and the second output signal and indicates a combined state of the first sensor and the second sensor.

2. The filter identification system of claim 1 , wherein the identification component has a first prong and a second prong that extend into the filter mount, and
wherein the first sensor is included in the first prong and the second sensor is included in the second prong.

3. The filter identification system of claim 1 , wherein the first filter is a primary fuel filter and the second filter is a secondary fuel filter.

4. The filter identification system of claim 3 , wherein the filter mount is configured for a modular low-pressure fuel system.

5. The filter identification system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader and the second sensor is a second RFID reader.

6. The filter identification system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a first Hall-effect switch and the second sensor is a second Hall-effect switch.

7. The filter identification system of claim 6 , wherein the first Hall-effect switch and the second Hall-effect switch are connected in series.

8. The filter identification system of claim 6 , wherein the second output signal is to be received by the first Hall-effect switch such that the first output signal is dependent upon the second output signal, and
wherein the single output signal corresponds to the first output signal.

9. The filter identification system of claim 6 , wherein the single output signal is to be a first voltage indicating a logical true output when the first Hall-effect switch and the second Hall-effect switch are within a threshold proximity of magnets, or a second voltage indicating a logical false output when at least one of the first Hall-effect switch or the second Hall-effect switch is not within the threshold proximity of a magnet.

10. The filter identification system of claim 9 , wherein the single output signal is to be the first voltage when the first output signal and the second output signal are the first voltage, and
wherein the single output signal is to be the second voltage when at least one of the first output signal or the second output signal is the second voltage.

11. A filter identification module, comprising:
an identification component that includes a sensor system,
the sensor system including:
a first sensor configured to provide a first output signal corresponding to a state of the first sensor; and
a second sensor configured to provide a second output signal corresponding to a state of the second sensor,
the sensor system configured to provide a single output signal that is based on the first output signal and the second output signal and indicates a combined state of the first sensor and the second sensor; and

a controller configured to identify a first filter within a threshold proximity of the first sensor and a second filter within the threshold proximity of the second sensor based on the single output signal.

12. The filter identification module of claim 11 , wherein the identification component has a first prong and a second prong that extend from a base and that are configured to extend into a filter mount, and
wherein the first sensor is included in the first prong and the second sensor is included in the second prong.

13. The filter identification module of claim 11 , wherein the first sensor is a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader and the second sensor is a second RFID reader.

14. The filter identification module of claim 11 , wherein the first sensor is a first Hall-effect switch and the second sensor is a second Hall-effect switch.

15. The filter identification module of claim 14 , wherein the state of the first Hall-effect switch indicates detection of a magnetic field when the first Hall-effect switch is within the threshold proximity of a first magnet of the first filter, and
wherein the state of the second Hall-effect switch indicates detection of a magnetic field when the second Hall-effect switch is within the threshold proximity of a second magnet of the second filter.

16. The filter identification module of claim 14 , wherein the combined state of the first Hall-effect switch and the second Hall-effect switch indicates whether the first Hall-effect switch and the second Hall-effect switch have detected magnetic fields.

17. The filter identification module of claim 14 , wherein the second output signal is to be received by the first Hall-effect switch such that the first output signal is dependent upon the second output signal, and
wherein the single output signal corresponds to the first output signal.

18. A method, comprising:
causing an input voltage to be supplied to an identification component that includes a sensor system including a first sensor configured to provide a first output signal corresponding to a state of the first sensor and a second sensor configured to provide a second output signal corresponding to a state of the second sensor,
the identification component disposed in a filter mount configured to hold a set of filters that includes a first filter and a second filter; and

receiving, from the identification component, a single output voltage that is based on the first output signal and the second output signal and that indicates a combined state of the first sensor and the second sensor.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
identifying the first filter and the second filter, when the first filter is within a threshold proximity of the first sensor and the second filter is within the threshold proximity of the second sensor, based on the single output voltage.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first filter includes a first detectable element configured to affect the state of the first sensor and the second filter includes a second detectable element configured to affect the state of the second sensor.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Mckinley Michael T
• Tian Ye
• Roozenboom Stephan D

Classifications

• H03K17/97

  using a magnetic movable element · CPC title

• F02M37/32 Primary

  characterised by filters or filter arrangements · CPC title

• F02B77/08

  Safety, indicating, or supervising devices (thermal insulation F02B77/11; monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00) · CPC title

• B01D35/143 Primary

  Filter condition indicators · CPC title

• B01D46/009

  Identification of filter type or position thereof, e.g. by transponders or bar codes · CPC title