Device and method for diagnosing an exhaust gas sensor
First Claim
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1. A device for diagnosing an exhaust gas sensor, comprising:
- a first connection for connecting to a first electrode of a first cell of the exhaust gas sensor;
a second connection for connecting to a second electrode of a second cell of the exhaust gas sensor,a third connection for connecting to a node of a second electrode of the first cell and a first electrode of the second cell of the exhaust gas sensor,a first power source which is coupled to the first connection, in order to generate a first current and impress the first current into the first cell, a second power source which is coupled to the second connection, in order to generate a second current and impress the second current into the second cell, anda diagnostic means for detecting a break in a line at at least one connection selected from the group consisting of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, said diagnostic means designed to control the first and second power sources and to take measurements in all of the following cases;
(a) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a positive sign and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a positive skin while detecting voltages at the first and second connections,(b) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a negative sign while detecting voltages at the first and second connections,(c) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and a smaller absolute value than the second current and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a negative skin while detecting voltages at the first and second connections, and(d) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and a smaller absolute value than the second current and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a positive skin while detecting voltages at the first and second connections;
said diagnostic means designed to detect a line break at the third connection when performing the case (c) and detecting that the voltages at the first and second connections are each below a predefined negative threshold value; and
said diagnostic means designed to detect a line break at the third connection when performing the case (d) and detecting that the voltages at the first and second connections are each above a predefined positive threshold value.
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Abstract
A device for diagnosing an exhaust gas sensor, in particular a linear oxygen probe, for an internal combustion engine. A diagnostic unit is configured to control a first and a second current source in a coordinated manner in order to generate a first and a second current. Each of the currents has a predefined polarity sign, and is designed to determine the first and/or second and/or third voltages applied at a first and/or second and/or third terminal when first and second currents flow and put the amounts of the voltages in relation to the coordinated currents such that line interruptions and/or short circuits can be detected at the first and/or second and/or third terminal.
16 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device for diagnosing an exhaust gas sensor, comprising:
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a first connection for connecting to a first electrode of a first cell of the exhaust gas sensor; a second connection for connecting to a second electrode of a second cell of the exhaust gas sensor, a third connection for connecting to a node of a second electrode of the first cell and a first electrode of the second cell of the exhaust gas sensor, a first power source which is coupled to the first connection, in order to generate a first current and impress the first current into the first cell, a second power source which is coupled to the second connection, in order to generate a second current and impress the second current into the second cell, and a diagnostic means for detecting a break in a line at at least one connection selected from the group consisting of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, said diagnostic means designed to control the first and second power sources and to take measurements in all of the following cases; (a) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a positive sign and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a positive skin while detecting voltages at the first and second connections, (b) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a negative sign while detecting voltages at the first and second connections, (c) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and a smaller absolute value than the second current and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a negative skin while detecting voltages at the first and second connections, and (d) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and a smaller absolute value than the second current and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a positive skin while detecting voltages at the first and second connections; said diagnostic means designed to detect a line break at the third connection when performing the case (c) and detecting that the voltages at the first and second connections are each below a predefined negative threshold value; and said diagnostic means designed to detect a line break at the third connection when performing the case (d) and detecting that the voltages at the first and second connections are each above a predefined positive threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for diagnosing an exhaust gas sensor, which comprises:
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providing a device that includes; a first connection for connecting to a first electrode of a first cell of the exhaust gas sensor, a second connection for connecting to a second electrode of a second cell of the exhaust gas sensor, a third connection for connecting to a node of a second electrode of the first cell and a first electrode of the second cell of the exhaust gas sensor, a first power source which is coupled to the first connection in order to generate a first current and to impress the first current into the first cell, a second power source which is coupled to the second connection in order to generate a second current and impress the second current into the second cell, and a diagnostic means for detecting a line break at at least one connection selected from the group consisting of the first connection, the second connection, and the third connection, wherein the diagnostic means is designed to control the first and second power sources and to take measurements in all of the following cases; (a) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a positive sign and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a positive skin while detecting voltages at the first and second connections, (b) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a negative sign while detecting voltages at the first and second connections, (c) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and a smaller absolute value than the second current and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a negative sign while detecting voltages at the first and second connections, and (d) to control the first power source to generate the first current with a negative sign and a smaller absolute value than the second current and to control the second power source to generate the second current with a positive sign while detecting voltages at the first and second connections; said diagnostic means designed to detect a line break at the third connection when performing the case (c) and detecting that the voltages at the first and second connections are each below a predefined negative threshold value; and said diagnostic means designed to detect a line break at the third connection when performing the case (d) and detecting that the voltages at the first and second connections are each above a predefined positive threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeVitesco Technologies GmbH (Continental AG)
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Original AssigneeContinental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
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InventorsFriedhof, Frank, Wagner, Ekkehart-Peter, Barnikow, Stefan
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Primary Examiner(s)Williams, Hezron E
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Assistant Examiner(s)Shabman, Mark A
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Application NumberUS13/503,507Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,769 DaysField of Search73/10.6, 73/232US Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesF02D 2041/2089 detecting open circuitsF02D 2041/2093 detecting short circuitsF02D 41/1454 the characteristics being a...F02D 41/1456 with sensor output signal b...F02D 41/1477 characterised by the regula...F02D 41/1495 Detection of abnormalities ...F02D 41/222 relating to the failure of ...G01N 27/4175 Calibrating or checking the...G01N 27/419 Measuring voltages or curre...
