APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID DEPOSITS AND ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS
FIG5 is a flow chart diagram of a method for mitigating diagnostic faults in an engine system according to one embodiment 
Referring to FIG5, a method 400 for mitigating diagnostic faults of diagnostics susceptible to DEF deposits includes monitoring diagnostics susceptible to DEF deposit formation at 405. Susceptible diagnostics can be any of various diagnostic signals that may be sensitive to DEF deposit changes. For example, in one implementation, the susceptible diagnostics include a SCR NOx conversion efficiency diagnostic (based partially on SCR inlet and outlet NOx sensor signals) and DPF outlet high pressure diagnostic (based partially on DPF filter outlet pressure sensor signals).
flow chart diagram
455
DEF injection rate at
420
may be present at
430
action
440
at
415
predetermined time threshold at
400
method
465
DEF injection rates at
405
action
425
At
435
regeneration request at
460
DEF decomposition tube at
410
at
450
request at
['1. An apparatus (300) for mitigating on-board diagnostic, OBD, faults generated by an OBD system of an internal combustion engine, ICE, system (10) having a selective catalytic reduction system (230) with a diesel exhaust fluid, DEF, decomposition tube (239),  characterized in that  the apparatus comprises: a fault mitigation module (320) configured to monitor at least one OBD signal of the OBD system and issue a request (325) for regenerating the DEF decomposition tube (239) when a value of the at least one OBD signal (352) reaches a predetermined regeneration threshold (353) corresponding with the at least one OBD signal (352), the regeneration threshold (353) being reachable prior to an OBD fault threshold (354) corresponding with the at least one OBD signal (352); and a regeneration module (340) configured to regenerate the DEF decomposition tube (239) according to the issued request (325); characterized in that  the at least one OBD signal comprises at least one of a first OBD signal corresponding with a NO x  conversion efficiency of the selective catalytic reduction system and a second OBD signal corresponding with a particulate matter filter outlet high pressure.', '12. A method for mitigating on-board diagnostic, OBD, faults in an internal combustion engine, ICE, system (10) having a selective catalytic reduction system (230) with a diesel exhaust fluid, DEF, decomposition tube (239), the method comprising monitoring a plurality of OBD signals and setting a diagnostic fault when one of the plurality of OBD signals (239) reaches a corresponding fault threshold (354),  characterized in that  the method further comprises: monitoring at least one OBD signal (352) of the plurality of OBD signals (352) that is susceptible to solid DEF deposits within the decomposition tube (239), the at least one OBD signal comprising at least one of a first OBD signal corresponding with a NO x  conversion efficiency of the selective catalytic reduction system and a second OBD signal corresponding with a particulate matter filter outlet high pressure; requesting regeneration of the DEF decomposition tube (239) when the at least one OBD signal (352) susceptible to solid DEF deposits within the decomposition tube (239) reaches a corresponding regeneration threshold (353), the regeneration threshold (353) being reachable before the fault threshold (354) corresponding with the at least one susceptible OBD signal (352); regenerating the DEF decomposition tube (239) according to the regeneration request (325), and suspending monitoring of the at least one susceptible OBD signal (352) during regeneration of the DEF decomposition tube (239).']