Fault detecting apparatus designed to detect different types of faults of gas sensor
First Claim
1. A fault detecting apparatus for a gas concentration sensor which has a sensor element including a solid electrolyte body, a plurality of electrodes affixed to the solid electrolyte body, and a gas chamber to which a gas to be measured is introduced and at least one of the electrode is exposed and works to produce an electrical signal between two of the electrodes as a function of an amount of oxygen ions traveling through the solid electrolyte body, comprising:
- a storage device which stores therein fault detectable conditions in which preselected different types of faults of the gas concentration sensor are allowed to be detected, respectively; and
a fault detecting circuit working to detect a selected one of the faults stored in said storage device, when one of the fault detectable conditions is encountered during operation of the gas concentration sensor, said fault detecting circuit initiating detection of a corresponding one of the faults based on an output of the gas concentration sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fault detecting apparatus for a gas concentration sensor is provided. The apparatus includes a storage device and a fault detecting circuit. The storage device stores therein fault detectable conditions in which preselected different types of faults of the gas concentration sensor are allowed to be detected, respectively. The fault detecting circuit works to detect a selected one of the faults stored in said storage device. When one of the fault detectable conditions is encountered during operation of the gas concentration sensor, the fault detecting circuit initiates detection of a corresponding one of the faults based on an output of the gas concentration sensor, thereby enabling the fault detecting circuit to identify the type of one of the faults to be detected correctly.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A fault detecting apparatus for a gas concentration sensor which has a sensor element including a solid electrolyte body, a plurality of electrodes affixed to the solid electrolyte body, and a gas chamber to which a gas to be measured is introduced and at least one of the electrode is exposed and works to produce an electrical signal between two of the electrodes as a function of an amount of oxygen ions traveling through the solid electrolyte body, comprising:
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a storage device which stores therein fault detectable conditions in which preselected different types of faults of the gas concentration sensor are allowed to be detected, respectively; and
a fault detecting circuit working to detect a selected one of the faults stored in said storage device, when one of the fault detectable conditions is encountered during operation of the gas concentration sensor, said fault detecting circuit initiating detection of a corresponding one of the faults based on an output of the gas concentration sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fault detecting apparatus for a gas concentration sensor which has a sensor element including a first chamber into which a gas to be measured is introduced, a second chamber leading to the first chamber, a first cell which works to pump oxygen into and out of the first chamber selectively to keep a concentration of oxygen at a given level within the first chamber and produces an electrical signal as a function of the concentration of oxygen, and a second cell which works to produce an electrical signal as a function of a concentration of a specified component of the gas flowing from the first chamber into the second chamber, comprising:
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a storage device which stores therein fault detectable conditions in which preselected different types of faults of the gas concentration sensor are allowed to be detected, respectively; and
a fault detecting circuit working to detect a selected one of the faults stored in said storage device, when one of the fault detectable conditions is encountered during operation of the gas concentration sensor, said fault detecting circuit initiating detection of a corresponding one of the faults based on outputs of the first and second cells. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification