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:
Aug. 01, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2005
Takuya Saito, Aichi, JP;
Takeshi Kawai, Aichi, JP;
Satoshi Teramoto, Aichi, JP;
NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A control apparatus for a gas sensor, wherein a microcomputer, which is connected to an oxygen sensorincluding a detection elementand a heater, detects the cooling water temperature Tw of the engine. The control apparatus determines that condensation water within the exhaust pipe is being generated when the cooling water temperature Tw is equal to or lower than 0° C. When equal to or lower than 0° C., the microcomputersupplies to the heaterelectrical power for maintaining the temperature of the detection elementwithin the range of 100° C. to a splash-water-cracking generation temperature (e.g., about 300° C.) at or above which cracking can occur in a laminated-type oxygen sensor elementdue to splash of condensation water. Electrical power is supplied to the heatersuch that a pulse signal Sh is output from the microcomputer, and the heateris pulse-driven by use of a heater electrification control circuit