Method for controlling an oxygen concentration sensor for sensing an oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine
US4721084A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 1986 |
| Grant date | Jan 26, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 18, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02D41/1494
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method for controlling an oxygen concentration sensor for sensing an oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, which sensor includes an oxygen pump element and a heater element, comprises steps for controlling a pump current and a heat current control in response to a result of a detection of engine load. When the engine is operating in a predetermined high load range, the supply of the pump current to the oxygen pump element is stopped, and the heat current to the heater element is reduced when the engine operation in the high load range has continued for more than a predetermined time period. The heater current to the heater element is stopped when the engine load is in a first predetermined load range, and when the engine operation in a second load range which is lighter than the first load range has continued for a predetermined time period.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.