Patent · US Active

Sensor and sensing method

US8658013B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
8References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 1, 2005
Grant dateFeb 25, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/50
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A sensor includes an oxygen pump cell; an oxygen pump chamber; an emf cell; a reference chamber providing a fluid connection to the reference gas; gas channels in fluid communication with the pump and emf electrodes, the reference gas comprising reformate produced by a fuel reformer fueled by an air-fuel gas mixture having an air-fuel ratio; a reformer electronic control module; a sensor electronic control module; a heater; a temperature sensor disposed in communication with the heater and the sensor control module for maintaining the sensor at a desired operating temperature; a closed loop controlled operation amplifier in electrical communication with the sensor, whereby the oxygen pump cell provides sufficient oxygen ions to oxidize an incoming diffusion-limiting fuel flux to the emf cell and maintain a constant emf at the emf cell, and wherein a current value represents an equivalent to the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel gas mixture.

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