The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 24, 1979
Filed:
Oct. 05, 1977
Michael J Cermak, Southfield, MI (US);
Stanley R Merchant, Garden City, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A pair of ceramic chips, formed of similar metal oxide ceramic materials which are semiconductors at elevated temperature, are connected electrically in series and are arranged for exposure to the hot gaseous combustion by-products produced by an internal combustion engine. The chips are positioned in the exhaust gas conduit by a ceramic insulator having a plurality of longitudinal passages extending therethrough. A plurality of electrical terminal members are received within the rear of the longitudinal passages. Electrical leads extend from the chips to the terminal members through the plurality of passages and support the chips while providing electrical communication between the chips and the electrical terminals. The electrical terminals are adapted for communication to electronic and/or electrical utilization means. One of the pair of chips is processed to exhibit a rapid change in an electrical property responsive to differences in the exhaust gas chemistry and differences in exhaust gas temperature. The other of the chips is processed to exhibit a rapid change in an electrical property responsive to differences in exhaust gas temperature only. The preferred material is titania. For temperatures in the range of from about 700.degree. F. to about 1500.degree. F., the application of a reference voltage across the series connected chips will produce a substantially temperature independent voltage variation across either chip in response to changes in exhaust gas chemistry and which is relatively insensitive to changes in the exhaust gas temperature.