Lambda sensor with electric heater
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for determining the concentration of gas components in exhaust gas from a motor vehicle, comprisinga sensor element;
- an electric heater thermally coupled to said sensor element;
a voltage source supplying power to said electric heater; and
a control unit controlling supply of power to said heater;
whereinsaid voltage source includes at least a first voltage source and a second voltage source, said control unit controlling which one of said first and second voltage sources is applied to said heater at each instant; and
one of said first and second voltage sources being directly connected from an alternator/generator.
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Abstract
A novel apparatus, for determining the concentration of gas components in exhaust gas from a motor vehicle, features a lambda sensor element, an electric heater thermally coupled to the sensor element, a control unit regulating application of voltage to the heater, and at least two voltage sources which can be alternatively applied to the heater, as commanded by the control unit.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the concentration of gas components in exhaust gas from a motor vehicle, comprising
a sensor element; -
an electric heater thermally coupled to said sensor element; a voltage source supplying power to said electric heater; and
a control unit controlling supply of power to said heater;wherein said voltage source includes at least a first voltage source and a second voltage source, said control unit controlling which one of said first and second voltage sources is applied to said heater at each instant; and
one of said first and second voltage sources being directly connected from an alternator/generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an exhaust gas sensor having an associated heater in a motor vehicle equipped with a combustion engine and first and second voltage sources, said first source having a nominal voltage higher than that of said second source,
comprising the steps of applying said first voltage source to said heater for a limited period of time after starting said combustion engine; - and one of said first and second voltage sources being directly connected from an alternator/generator.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification