Robert Boschgmbh

Melexis Technologies Nv

Robert Bosch Gmbh

Claudius Bevot

Bernhard Ledermann

Rolf Reischl

Fabian Baumann

Thomas Steinert

Stefan Kremer

Florian Mezger

Thomas Schulz

Danka Dittmer-Gobeljic

Eberhard Schnaibel

Jens Wagner

Ruediger Fehrmann

Andreas Kneer

Thomas Braun

Benjamin Sillmann

Helge Schichlein

Uwe Lueders

Thomas Classen

Ralf Kraemer

Tobias-Gerhard Zobel

Andreas Gess

Frank Engelke

Volodymyr Sotnikov

Oemer Kaya

Anne-Katrin Mittasch

An evaluation and control unit () for a broadband lambda probe () and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The evaluation and control unit () comprises pins (RE, IPE, APE, MES) connectable to electrical wires () of electrochemical cells () of the broadband lambda probe (), a controller (), a ASIC reference potential source (), wherein the ASIC reference potential source () is operable by means of the controller (), a switch assembly () connected to each of the pins (RE, I PE, APE, MES), wherein the switch assembly () comprises a first transistor (T) and a second transistor (T), wherein the switch reference potential source () is connected to a gate side of the first and second transistors (T, T), wherein the controller () is configured to vary the switch reference potential (V) applied to the gate side of the first and second transistors (T, T), wherein the switch assembly () is configured to allow a limiting current flowing to the drain side of the first transistor (T) from the ASIC reference potential if the potential at the gate side of the first and second transistors (T, T) is at a predetermined voltage between values of an open and closed switch.

Evaluation and control unit for a gas sensor

A method for precise acquisition of a signal of a sensor, by an evaluation and control unit which has a multiplexer at whose inputs there is at least one reference voltage whose voltage value is known, a ground potential of the reference voltage, a measurement signal of the exhaust gas sensor, and a ground potential of the measurement signal. A computer is connected downstream from the multiplexer via a transmission path and via an ADC that converts a voltage between its two inputs into a digital value. The method provides that a plurality of individual measurements are carried out in which switching states of the multiplexer are modified, and digital values are subsequently acquired at the output of the ADC. The computer calculates a measurement value, corrected with regard to offset and gain, from these digital values.

Method for precisely detecting a signal for example of a sensor

A method for operating a control unit for an exhaust gas sensor, in particular for a broadband lambda sensor for an internal combustion engine, in particular, of a motor vehicle, or for another sensor device. The control unit is designed to electrically activate the exhaust gas sensor. The control unit is, in particular, implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The method includes: specifying a measuring sequence and/or a starting point in time, in particular, for an operation of the control unit and/or of the exhaust gas sensor, with the aid of a computing device.

Method and computing device for operating a control unit for an exhaust gas sensor

An evaluation and control unit, designed as an ASIC, for operating a broadband lambda sensor that includes at least one electrical line. The evaluation and control unit includes at least one electrical terminal for electrically connecting to the electrical line of the broadband lambda sensor, and a device for determining a setpoint value of a current flowing into the electrical terminal and for comparing this setpoint value with the current actually flowing into the electrical terminal and for comparing with the aid of comparators the electrical potential being applied to the electrical terminal with predefined limits.

Method for diagnosing exhaust gas sensors

An evaluation and control unit for operating a wideband lambda sensor that has at least two electrical lines, the evaluation and control unit having at least two electrical terminals for electrical connection to the electrical lines of the wideband lambda sensor. Each of the electrical terminals has assigned to it a respective electrical switch via which each terminal is capable of being individually connected to at least one defined electrical potential. Each switch is voltage-resistant against the maximum short-circuit voltage that is to be expected at the respective terminal in case of fault. In addition, a method is described for the line-specific short-circuit diagnosis of the wideband lambda sensor (pinpointing).

A method and a system for operating a vehicle. The vehicle has a predefined at least partially autonomous control mode and is designed to provide an identification indicating the predefined control mode to a vehicle-related component that has information relevant for the predefined control mode and/or one or more control command(s) relevant for the predefined control mode. To make the information and/or the control commands available to the vehicle, the providing takes place only when the vehicle is in the predefined control mode.

Method and system for operating a vehicle

The invention relates to a circuit assembly for operating a probe () for determining the oxygen concentration in a gas mixture, in particular a Lambda probe for determining the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, comprising two electrodes () which act as an outer and an inner pump electrode and form a pump cell, two electrodes which act as a Nernst electrode () and a reference electrode () and form a Nernst cell, and a pump current controller (), which controls a pump current that is applied to the pump cell such that a predeterminable Nernst voltage (U) that can be tapped at the Nernst cell is controlled to a predeterminable value, characterized in that the predeterminable value of the Nernst voltage can be varied.

Circuit assembly for operating a gas probe

A method for checking fault detection of a control device of an internal combustion engine for malfunction of a connected broadband lambda probe, including checking with a fault simulator between the lambda probe and the control device; to simulate faults of the broadband lambda probe, the fault simulator modifies electrical signals between the broadband lambda probe and the control device. A Nernst voltage of the lambda probe and a pump current of the control device are delivered to the fault simulator; the fault simulator delivers a pump current to the lambda probe and a Nernst voltage to the control device; to simulate faults of the lambda probe, the fault simulator modifies the Nernst voltage to the control device as to the Nernst voltage outputted from the lambda probe. Also described is a related fault simulator. The method and fault simulator monitor the fault detection of control devices for lambda probes.

Fault simulator for checking the diagnosis implemented in a control device for a lambda sensor in an internal combustion engine

A control and evaluation unit for the operation and evaluation of at least one sensor, in particular for the operation and evaluation of at least one lambda probe of an internal combustion engine, signal inputs being disposed for the reception of analog measured signals of the at least one sensor, received analog measured signals being digitized by way of an analog/digital converter, a signal transfer unit, by way of which digitized signals are transferred to a calculation unit, being disposed, and provision being made in particular that the signal inputs are switchable by way of a multiplexer.

Universal control and evaluation unit particularly for operation of a lambda probe

In a method for operating a heatable exhaust-gas sensor, which supplies at least one measuring signal and in which a sensor heater is operated using a pulse-width modulated operating voltage, the detection of the at least one measuring signal has priority over the supply of the pulse-width modulated operating voltage for sensor heater, and at least during a predefined time window in which the measuring signal is detected, the supply of the pulse-width modulated operating voltage for the sensor heater is suppressed using a blocking signal.

Method and devices for operating a heatable exhaust-gas sensor

A method for determining a polarization of a pump cell and/or a Nernst cell of a lambda probe for the diagnosis of the broadband lambda probe. A voltage or current pulse is applied to the pump/Nernst cell in a first method task, and, in a second method task, a voltage at the pump cell and/or the Nernst cell, or a variable that is related to the polarization or its time characteristic is determined and used as a measure of the polarization, and the function of the broadband lambda probe is monitored via the ascertained polarization. The determination of the polarization may be performed as a voltage measurement performed once or multiple times, or by determining the effect of the polarization in an associated controller, such as a pump current controller of an engine control unit. The variable associated with the polarization may be the reaction of the pump current control.

Method for monitoring a broadband lambda probe

In a method for suppressing interference in a controlled variable in a control circuit, in which the actuating variable is the useful signal, the controlled variable is detected continuously, at two successive sampling instants in each case, the values of the controlled variable are subtracted, and if the absolute amount of the difference deviates by a predefinable setpoint value, at least one control parameter is modified, in such a way that the response of the actuating variable to the interference is minimized.

Method for suppressing interference

Methods for detecting the type of lambda probes having at least two electrodes disposed on and/or in a solid electrolyte, of which at least one electrode is separated from a gas mixture by a diffusion barrier, and a pump current Ip being applied to at least one of the electrodes. Either the internal resistance of the lambda probe between the electrodes is determined and the type of probe is inferred on the basis of this resistance, or currents are impressed between the electrodes and the type of probe is inferred based on the voltages or resistance ratios thereby resulting.

Method for detecting the type of lambda probes

The invention relates to a device for checking the operability of a sensor element () for determining the concentration of gas components in a gas mixture, particularly of the concentration of gas components in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engine, having an external pump electrode (APE) and an internal pump and Nernst electrode (IPE), a measurement resistor (Rm) and a balancing resistor (Rtrim) connected parallel thereto being provided upstream of the external pump electrode (APE), and a pump current (Ip) being impressible into the external pump electrode by means of a pump current source, and a measuring voltage (Um) incident across the measuring resistor (Rm) via a measuring and analysis device () being detectable, characterized in that an activatable switch means (S) is disposed in series to the measuring resistor (Rm), which can be switched at a high impedance for a predetermined amount of time, during which the voltage across the measuring resistor is detected and analyzed in the measuring and analysis device, and that an error output occurs upon a predetermined voltage threshold value being exceeded.

Device for checking the operability of a sensor element

A method for operating an exhaust gas probe, in particular a lambda probe, in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, where at least one heating element for achieving the operating temperature in the exhaust gas probe and determination of the temperature of the exhaust gas probe is performed by measuring the internal resistance. Measurement of the internal resistance occurs by the superimposition of discrete bipolar test pulses that include a pulse and a counter pulse, and by acquisition of the Nernst voltage.

Growing community of inventors

Stuttgart, Germany

Claudius Bevot