External zero emissions indicator

摘要

A system for notifying a third party as to whether a vehicle is producing or generating emissions. The system includes an internal combustion engine capable of producing exhaust gases, an exhaust pipe coupled to the internal combustion engine and for allowing passage of the exhaust gases and a sensor positioned within the exhaust pipe and configured to determine a characteristic of the exhaust gases. The system also includes a switch configured to activate and deactive a zero emissions mode, an electronic control unit (ECU) for determining whether emissions are present based on at least one of the characteristic of the exhaust gases or the zero emissions mode and an external light, controlled by the ECU, that is activated when no emissions are present.

主权项

1. A system for notifying a third party as to whether a vehicle is producing or generating emissions, comprising:
an internal combustion engine capable of producing exhaust gases; an exhaust pipe coupled to the internal combustion engine and for allowing passage of the exhaust gases; a sensor positioned within the exhaust pipe and configured to determine a characteristic of the exhaust gases; a switch configured to activate and deactivate a zero emissions mode; an electronic control unit (ECU) for determining whether emissions are present based on at least one of the characteristic of the exhaust gases or the zero emissions mode; and a transmitter coupled to the ECU for continuously transmitting emissions information, vehicle information and location information to a handheld external device.