Patent · US Expired

Air/fuel ratio detector

US4578172A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 13, 1984
Grant dateMar 25, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N27/4065
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An air/fuel ratio detector capable of producing an unambiguous output for both fuel-rich and fuel-lean regions. A solid-electrolyte oxygen-concentration-difference-actuated electrochemical cell sensor element is provided having a porous electrode formed on both sides of an oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte. A solid-electrolyte oxygen pump element is also provided with a porous electrode formed on both sides of an oxygen-ion-conductive solid electrolyte. An oxygen reference element has a metal oxide semiconductor layer formed on one side of a substrate made of an air-impermeable member. The electrochemical cell sensor element and the pump element are disposed facing one another with a small gap therebetween. An air compartment open to the atmosphere is formed between that side of the pump element opposite the side facing the small gap and the side of the reference element opposite the side having the metal oxide semiconductor layer. The air/fuel ratio is detected both by a change in the electrical properties of the oxygen reference element and by output signal provided by at least one of the electromotive force of the electrochemical cell sensor element and a pump current flow…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.