Patent · US Expired

Oxygen concentration detecting apparatus

US6009866A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
5References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 1997
Grant dateJan 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 10, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02D41/1456
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An oxygen concentration detecting apparatus precisely and easily performs diagnosis of a limit current type oxygen sensor. The limit current type oxygen sensor has an oxygen concentration detecting element for outputting limit current proportional to the oxygen concentration and a heater for heating the detecting element. A CPU of a microcomputer controls energization of the heater to activate the oxygen sensor. The CPU calculates element resistance based on the voltage applied to the oxygen sensor and the current detected in the sensor. In a sensor diagnosis routine, the CPU determines whether preconditions for the diagnosis have been met. If all the preconditions have been met, the CPU executes the diagnosis. That is, the CPU determines whether the element resistance is within a predetermined range. If it is below the range, the CPU determines that the sensor has high element temperature abnormality. If the element resistance is above the range, the CPU determines that the sensor has low element temperature abnormality.

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