Sensor isolation plane for planer elements

• US 20090255916A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies Ip Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wallace, David P. SR., Wallace, Linda L., Katterman, James A., Wallace, David P. II
• Granted Patent: US 8,053,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/267
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/03 Electrodes

Abstract

Elimination of sodium contamination at the negative terminal of an electrical stri resistance heater (1, FIGS. 2 and 4) for a gas sensor (3) can be accomplished by providing a grounding plane (-18′) electrically connected to system ground and located between the heater (1) and the sensor (3).

Claims

1. An electrically insulating layer within a substrate,

said layer having impurities comprising positive ions,

an electrical resistance heater on a first side of said layer, said heater having a positive terminal adapted for connection to a dc power supply and a negative terminal adapted for controllable connection to said power supply, and

an ion collector on a second side of said layer, said ion collector electrically connected to ground.

2. An electrically insulating substrate comprising a layer of insulating material,

an electrical resistance heater located adjacent a first major surface of said layer, said heater having a positive terminal adapted for connection to a dc power supply and a negative terminal adapted for controllable connection to said power supply, and

a conductive grounded ion collector adjacent a second major surface of said layer.

3. An integrated heater element with ionic contamination protection comprising:

an electrical resistance heater located on the front side of a first ceramic layer, said heater having a first lead connected to a positive voltage source and a second lead controllably connected to ground; and

a grounded ion collector located on the back side of said first ceramic layer.

4. A combination sensor element and controlled electrical heater for said sensor, said combination comprising:

a sensor element having first and second electrical leads for connection to a dc power source;

a grounded ion collector;

an electrical heater having a positive lead for connection to the dc power source and a negative lead for connection to a heater controller; and

said grounded ion collector located between said heater and said sensor.