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. 21, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 14, 1996
Yuichi Shimasaki, Wako, JP;
Hiroshi Ohno, Wako, JP;
Tetsu Teshirogi, Wako, JP;
Hiroaki Kato, Wako, JP;
Akihisa Saito, Wako, JP;
Takashi Komatsuda, Wako, JP;
Hideo Furumoto, Wako, JP;
Takuya Aoki, Wako, JP;
Takayoshi Nakayama, Haga-machi, JP;
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A system for detecting the ambient temperature of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, where an oxygen sensor (O.sub.2 sensor) is installed for detecting oxygen content in exhaust gases generated by the engine. The oxygen sensor has a detection element and a heater for heating the detection element when supplied with current. The exhaust system is further provided with a catalytic converter which similarly has a heater for heating the catalyst for promoting the activation thereof. The electric resistance of the sensor heater is detected and based on the detected resistance, the ambient temperature of the exhaust system is detected or estimated in accordance with characteristics preestablished with respect to the electric resistance of the heater. With the arrangement, it becomes possible to detect the ambient temperature of the exhaust system without using a temperature sensor. The detected ambient temperature is used for controlling the current supply to the heater of the catalytic converter.