Oxygen concentration detecting apparatus

• Main Authors: SAGISAKA; YASUO, YAMASHITA; YUKIHIRO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.01.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; LIGHTING; MEASURING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PHYSICS; TESTING; WEAPONS

An oxygen concentration detecting apparatus precisely and easily performs diagnosis of a limit current type oxygen sensor. The limit current type oxygen sensor has an oxygen concentration detecting element for outputting limit current proportional to the oxygen concentration and a heater for heating the detecting element. A CPU of a microcomputer controls energization of the heater to activate the oxygen sensor. The CPU calculates element resistance based on the voltage applied to the oxygen sensor and the current detected in the sensor. In a sensor diagnosis routine, the CPU determines whether preconditions for the diagnosis have been met. If all the preconditions have been met, the CPU executes the diagnosis. That is, the CPU determines whether the element resistance is within a predetermined range. If it is below the range, the CPU determines that the sensor has high element temperature abnormality. If the element resistance is above the range, the CPU determines that the sensor has low element temperature abnormality.