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:
Oct. 14, 1980
Filed:
Mar. 19, 1979
Michael J Esper, Redford Township, Wayne County, MI (US);
Wells L Green, Garden City, MI (US);
Stanley R Merchant, Garden City, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved sensor having a ceramic element that undergoes a change in an electrical characteristic in response to a change in the partial pressure of oxygen in a mixture of gases to which the ceramic element is exposed. Sensors of this type are used to detect the air/fuel ratio of mixtures supplied to internal combustion engines. Prior art sensors are characterized by little change in their respective electrical characteristics at low operating temperatures. A charge transfer material, platinum or platinum/rhodium is applied to the ceramic element to facilitate or make possible the electron transfers required for sensor operation at low temperatures. Platinum/rhodium alloy is the currently preferred charge transfer material. This alloy, which preferably is 90% platinum and 10% rhodium, reduces the minimum temperature of operation for the sensor as taught herein, and it also substantially eliminates vaporization loss of the charge transfer material.