Patent ID: 8266890

Claim:
A method of using an Electronic Control Module (ECM) in an Internal Combustion Engine for estimating a soot level within an exhaust gas particulate filter having an input and an output comprising: generating within the ECM a first soot load estimate within the exhaust gas particulate filter at a first time based upon a first pressure change from the input to the output of the exhaust gas particulate filter; generating a second soot load estimate within the exhaust gas particulate filter at a second time based upon a second pressure change from the input to the output of the exhaust gas particulate filter; calculating within the ECM a restriction sensitivity of the exhaust gas particulate filter utilizing a first restriction amount within the exhaust gas particulate filter at the first time, a second restriction amount at the second time, and the first and second soot load estimates within the exhaust gas particulate filter at the first and second times; and selecting within the ECM a model based soot load estimate for the exhaust gas particulate filter when the restriction sensitivity falls below a predetermined threshold.