Particulate matter sensor with an insulating air gap
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly for a particulate matter sensor in a gas environment, the electrode assembly comprising:
- an insulating tube which has an outer surface and defines an interior cavity with an interior surface;
a conductor disposed within the interior cavity of the insulating tube, the conductor electrically coupled to an electrode at a first end of the insulating tube and comprising a contact portion at a second end of the insulating tube for connection to an external conductor; and
a positioning structure coupled to the conductor, the positioning structure to mechanically support the conductor at a distance from the interior surface of the insulating tube to at least partially define an air dielectric gap at approximately a heater location corresponding to a heater, wherein the positioning structure has an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the insulating tube and has an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the conductor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode assembly for a particulate matter sensor in a gas environment. The electrode assembly includes an insulating tube, a conductor, and a positioning structure. The insulating tube has an outer surface and defines an interior cavity with an interior surface. The conductor is disposed within the interior cavity of the insulating tube. The conductor is electrically coupled to an electrode at a first end of the insulating tube and includes a contact portion at a second end of the insulating tube for connection to an external conductor. The positioning structure is coupled to the conductor. The positioning structure mechanically supports the conductor at a distance from the interior surface of the insulating tube to at least partially define an air dielectric gap at approximately a heater location corresponding to a heater. The positioning structure has an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the insulating tube and has an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the conductor.
48 Citations
46 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly for a particulate matter sensor in a gas environment, the electrode assembly comprising:
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an insulating tube which has an outer surface and defines an interior cavity with an interior surface; a conductor disposed within the interior cavity of the insulating tube, the conductor electrically coupled to an electrode at a first end of the insulating tube and comprising a contact portion at a second end of the insulating tube for connection to an external conductor; and a positioning structure coupled to the conductor, the positioning structure to mechanically support the conductor at a distance from the interior surface of the insulating tube to at least partially define an air dielectric gap at approximately a heater location corresponding to a heater, wherein the positioning structure has an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the insulating tube and has an inner diameter approximately equal to an outer diameter of the conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for detecting particulate matter, the system comprising:
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a sensor assembly to detect the particulate matter in a gas environment, the sensor assembly comprising; a pair of insulating tubes; a conductor disposed within an interior cavity of each insulating tube, each conductor electrically coupled to an electrode at a first end of the corresponding insulating tube and comprising a contact portion at a second end of the corresponding insulating tube for connection to an external conductor, wherein at least a portion of each conductor is offset from the interior surface of the insulating tube by an air dielectric gap at approximately a heater location corresponding to a heater; and a positioning structure coupled to each conductor, the positioning structure to mechanically support the corresponding conductor at a distance from the interior surface of the corresponding insulating tube to at least partially define the air dielectric gap around the corresponding conductor; and an electronic controller to determine an amount of the particulate matter within the gas environment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electrode assembly for a sensor, the electrode assembly comprising:
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an insulating tube which has an outer surface and defines an interior cavity with an interior surface; a conductive pin disposed within the interior cavity of the insulating tube, the conductive pin comprising; an electrode portion at a first end of the insulating tube; a contact portion at a second end of the insulating tube for connection to an external conductor; and an intermediate portion, between the electrode portion and the contact portion, the intermediate portion having dimensions smaller than the interior cavity of the insulating tube to at least partially define an air dielectric gap between the intermediate portion and the interior surface of the insulating tube. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An electrode assembly for a sensor, the electrode assembly comprising:
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a insulating tube which has an outer surface and defines an interior cavity with an interior surface; a conductive wire disposed within the interior cavity of the insulating tube, the conductive wire electrically coupled to an electrode at a first end of the insulating tube and comprising a contact portion at a second end of the insulating tube for connection to an external conductor; and mechanical plugs coupled to the conductive wire within the insulating tube, the mechanical plugs to mechanically support an intermediate portion of the conductive wire at a distance from the interior surface of the insulating tube to at least partially define an air dielectric gap between the conductive wire and the interior surface of the insulating tube. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for making an electrode assembly for a particulate matter sensor, the method comprising:
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disposing a conductive pin within an interior cavity of an insulating tube, the conductive pin comprising; an electrode portion coupled to an electrode at a first end of the insulating tube; a contact portion at a second end of the insulating tube for connection to an external conductor; and an intermediate portion, between the electrode portion and the contact portion, the intermediate portion having dimensions smaller than the interior cavity of the insulating tube to at least partially define an air dielectric gap between the intermediate portion and an interior surface of the insulating tube; and disposing a heater outside of the insulating tube at approximately a location of the air dielectric gap, the heater to apply heat to burn off particulate matter from the insulating tube. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for making an electrode assembly for a particulate matter sensor, the method comprising:
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disposing a conductive wire within an interior cavity of an insulating tube, the conductive wire electrically coupled to an electrode at a first end of the insulating tube and comprising a contact portion at a second end of the insulating tube for connection to an external conductor; disposing mechanical plugs coupled to the conductive wire within the insulating tube, the mechanical plugs to mechanically support an intermediate portion of the conductive wire at a distance from an interior surface of the insulating tube to at least partially define an air dielectric gap between the conductive wire and the interior surface of the insulating tube; and disposing a heater outside of the insulating tube at approximately a location of the air dielectric gap, the heater to apply heat to burn off particulate matter from the insulating tube. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification