Method for evaluating the state of a soot sensor in a motor vehicle

US8635900B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Johannes Ante · Regensburg, DE
• Rudolf Bierl · Regensburg, DE
• Markus Herrmann · Scheidegg, DE
• Andreas Ott · Erfurt, DE
• Torsten Reitmeier · Wackersdorf, DE
• Willibald Reitmeier · Hohenschambach, DE
• Denny Schädlich · Neustadt, DE
• Manfred Weigl · Viehhausen, DE
• Andreas Wildgen · Nittendorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 15, 2010
• Grant date: Jan 28, 2014
• Expiry date: Aug 16, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/40
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for performing on-board functional diagnostics on a soot sensor of a vehicle and/or for detecting further components in the soot in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The soot sensor is electrically connected to an evaluation circuit with is permanently installed in the motor vehicle. In order to specify a method for performing functional diagnostics on a soot sensor and/or for detecting further components in the soot, with which method it is possible to detect a faulty soot sensor and/or further components in the soot in a cost-effective way, the evaluation circuit measures the temperature coefficient of the soot sensor and detects the defectiveness of the soot sensor and/or the presence of further components in the soot on the basis of the temperature coefficient of the soot sensor.