Ngk Insulators, Inc.

Kazuhito Sakakibara

Koichi Masuda

Shota Kageyama

Kenji Isaka

Tetsuya Ishikawa

A sensor element mainly contains an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte. By applying, across a first electrode formed on a surface of an internal space into which a measurement gas is introduced from an outside and a second electrode formed on an external surface of the element, a predetermined voltage determined based on a potential difference between the first electrode and a reference electrode provided inside the element, oxygen in the internal space can be pumped out. In a case where pump reference processing is performed, a DC voltage having a maximum value of 1.4 to 2.0 V inclusive is applied across the reference and second electrodes for 10 to 1200 seconds inclusive in a state in which the reference and second electrodes are respectively electrically connected to negative and positive terminals of an external DC power supply, and an element temperature is set to 700 to 850&#xb0; C. inclusive.

Method for performing processing on gas sensor

A contact fitting has a supporting portion capable of contacting a surface of a sensor element, and a conducting portion protruding in the same direction as the supporting portion and capable of contacting an electrode on the sensor element. Before the contact fitting is attached to the sensor element, a protrusion height of the conducting portion is 90% to 110% of a protrusion height of the supporting portion, and the protrusion heights and are relatively close to each other. The supporting portion and the conducting portion are elastically deformable and are curved in shape. The supporting portion and the conducting portion are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the contact fitting.

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Toyota, Japan

Kazuhito Sakakibara