Method and device for the operation of a binary lambda sensor arranged in an exhaust gas tract of an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903790-B2
Application number	US-201214360764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2012
Priority date	Nov 29, 2011
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A binary lambda sensor has a first electrode arranged on the exhaust gas side, a second electrode arranged contiguous to a reference air volume, and a power source arranged between the first and second electrode. A potential difference between the first and second electrodes forms a measurement signal of the sensor. In a measurement operation of the sensor, the power source is operated in a measurement operating state and provides the measurement signal. To adjust a specified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume, the power source is operated in a regeneration operating state. If a specified condition is fulfilled and the engine is operating in a coasting mode, the power source is operated in the measurement operating state, and a power source adjustment signal is determined for the regeneration operating state based on the measurement signal, for the adjustment of the specified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a binary lambda probe arranged in an exhaust gas section of an internal combustion engine and having a first electrode arranged on the exhaust gas side, a second electrode arranged outside of the exhaust gas side to adjoin a reference air volume fed air by a feed line communicating with an area outside of the internal combustion engine, an electrolyte in contact with both the first electrode on the exhaust gas side and with the second electrode, and a current source arranged electrically between the first and the second electrode, wherein a potential difference between the first and the second electrode forms a measurement signal of the binary lambda probe, the method comprising:
communicating air from the area outside of the internal combustion engine into the reference volume,
operating the current source in a measurement operation state during a measurement operation of the binary lambda probe, and providing the measurement signal,
operating the current source in a regeneration operation state to set a prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume, and
when a prespecified condition is met and the internal combustion engine is in an overrun operation state in which a supply of fuel is suppressed:
operating the current source in the measurement operation state, and
determining an actuating signal for the current source for the regeneration operation state of said current source based on the measurement signal of the binary lambda probe to set the prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume.

2. A method for operating a binary lambda probe arranged in an exhaust gas section of an internal combustion engine and having a first electrode arranged on the exhaust gas side, a second electrode arranged outside the exhaust gas side to adjoin a reference air volume fed air by a feed line communicating with an area outside of the internal combustion engine, an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode on the exhaust gas side and with the second electrode, and a current source arranged electrically between the first and the second electrode, wherein a potential difference between the first and the second electrode forms a measurement signal of the binary lambda probe, the method comprising:
communicating air from the area outside of the internal combustion engine into the reference volume,
operating the voltage source in a measurement operation state during a measurement operation of the binary lambda probe, and providing the measurement signal,
operating the voltage source in a regeneration operation state to set a prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume, and
when a prespecified condition is met and the internal combustion engine is in an overrun operation state in which a supply of fuel is suppressed:
operating the voltage source in the measurement operation state, and
determining an actuating signal for the voltage source for the regeneration operation state of said voltage source based on the measurement signal of the binary lambda probe in order to set the prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume.

3. A device for operating a binary lambda probe arranged in an exhaust gas section of an internal combustion engine and having a first electrode arranged on the exhaust gas side, a second electrode arranged outside the exhaust gas side to adjoin a reference air volume fed air by a feed line communicating with an area outside of the internal combustion engine, an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode on the exhaust gas side and with the second electrode, and a current source arranged electrically between the first and the second electrode, wherein a potential difference between the first and the second electrode forms a measurement signal of the binary lambda probe, wherein the device is programmed:
to operate the current source in a measurement operation state during a measurement operation of the binary lambda probe, and providing the measurement signal,
to operate the current source in a regeneration operation state to set a prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume, and
when a prespecified condition is met and the internal combustion engine is in an overrun operation state in which a supply of fuel is suppressed, after air from the area outside of the internal combustion engine enters into the reference volume:
to operate the current source in the measurement operation state, and
to determine an actuating signal for the current source for the regeneration operation state of said current source based on the measurement signal of the binary lambda probe to set the prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume.

4. A device for operating a binary lambda probe arranged in an exhaust gas section of an internal combustion engine and having a first electrode arranged on the exhaust gas side, a second electrode arranged outside the exhaust gas side to adjoin a reference air volume fed air by a feed line communicating with an area outside of the internal combustion engine, an electrolyte in contact with both the first electrode and the second electrode, and a voltage source arranged electrically between the first and the second electrode, wherein a potential difference between the first and the second electrode forms a measurement signal of the binary lambda probe, wherein the device is programmed:
to operate the voltage source in a measurement operation state during a measurement operation of the binary lambda probe, and providing the measurement signal,
to operate the voltage source in a regeneration operation state to set a prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume, and
when a prespecified condition is met and the internal combustion engine is in an overrun operation state in which a supply of fuel is suppressed, after air from the area outside of the internal combustion engine enters into the reference volume:
to operate the voltage source in the measurement operation state, and
to determine an actuating signal for the voltage source for the regeneration operation state of said voltage source based on the measurement signal of the binary lambda probe in order to set the prespecified oxygen concentration in the reference air volume.

Assignees

• Continental Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Schlegel Sirko
• Paggel Jens

Classifications

• G01M15/104 Primary

  using oxygen or lambda-sensors (testing catalytic converters F01N3/18, F01N11/007) · CPC title

• G01N27/4065

  Circuit arrangements specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• G01N27/407

  for investigating or analysing gases {(G01N27/411 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01N27/4175

  Calibrating or checking the analyser · CPC title

• F02D41/1454

  the characteristics being an oxygen content or concentration or the air-fuel ratio · CPC title