Electrostatic particle sensors

US11105724B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Christian Stahl · Bensheim, DE
• Patrick Eberl-Neumaier · Altfraunhofen, DE
• Sebastian Reiß · Burglengenfeld, DE
• Florian Koller · Metzingen, DE
• Michael Nienhoff · Regensburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 18, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 31, 2021
• Expiry date: Jan 21, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/40
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Various embodiments include a method for checking a sensor for soot particles in exhaust of an engine comprising: generating a sensor current between a first electrode and a second electrode of the sensor, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode define a gap through which the exhaust gas flows between the electrodes, by applying a difference in potential between the electrodes, wherein soot particles accumulate on the electrodes and, after a dwell time dependent on the preloading of the electrodes with soot particles, they move from a first electrode to the respective second electrode generating a flow of current as a measure of the quantity of soot in the stream of exhaust gas; determining whether a peak in the sensor current is measured after the switching off of the internal combustion engine; and if no peak in the sensor current is measured, flagging the particle sensor as faulty.