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:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 19, 1996
Wojciech Cianciara, Gruenthal, DE;
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
Abstract
A process for monitoring the functioning of an exhaust gas sensor disposed in a mixture-regulating circuit of an internal combustion engine includes outputting either a rich voltage representing a rich mixture composition or a lean voltage representing a lean mixture composition as a function of a composition of a mixture to be supplied to the engine, and using a behavior of the voltages during engine operation as a criterion for evaluating the functioning of the exhaust gas sensor. The temperature of an exhaust gas sensor is ascertained and compared with a temperature threshold value. If the temperature threshold value is exceeded, monitoring is performed to determine if that status is maintained for a predetermined period of time or number of cycles. A value occurring for a rich voltage or a lean voltage is detected and compared with a diagnostic value if the conditions are met. It is concluded that the exhaust gas sensor is superannuated, if the diagnostic threshold is not attained.