Patents by Inventor Lothar Diehl

Lothar Diehl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100180668
    Abstract: A sensor element for determining a gas component or particles in a measuring gas, having a first and a second measuring electrode, the measuring electrodes being developed as interdigital electrodes having a row of intermeshing branches as well as a main conductor each, to which the branches are connected in an electrically conducting manner; and the branches of the interdigital electrodes being aligned essentially in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Peer Kruse, Enno Baars, Alexander Hetznecker, Lothar Diehl, Henrik Schittenhelm
  • Patent number: 7744740
    Abstract: In a procedure to recognize the gas composition of a gas mixture, which consists of at least two gases of preferably different diffusion properties, delivered to a wideband lambda sensor, especially a gas mixture of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, whereby the lambda sensor has a pumping cell with at least one gas measurement chamber, provision is made for the recognition of the gas composition of the gas mixture to result by means of modulation of the gas in the gas measurement chamber. Preferably the air number in the gas measurement chamber of the pumping cell is periodically altered, whereby the sensitivity of the lambda sensor to the gases, of which there are at least two, likewise periodically changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Diehl
  • Publication number: 20100126883
    Abstract: A sensor element for determining at least one physical property of a gas mixture is provided. The sensor element has at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, and at least one solid electrolyte that connects the at least two electrodes. The at least one first electrode is connected via at least one diffusion-resistance element to the at least one gas chamber and/or to at least one reference chamber. The at least one second electrode is connected via at least one flow-resistance element to the at least one gas chamber. The at least one flow-resistance element and the at least one diffusion-resistance element are designed in such a way that the limit current of the at least one first electrode is smaller than the limit current of the at least one second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Henrico Runge, Holger Reinshagen, Lothar Diehl, Thomas Seiler
  • Publication number: 20100077836
    Abstract: A method for operating an exhaust gas sensor, which has at least two electrodes, between which a pump current flows and between which a pump voltage occurs, said sensor being operated with a nominal operating temperature and a low temperature operation being intermittently provided at said sensor, wherein the temperature of the exhaust gas sensor is less with respect to the nominal operating temperature, and a device for carrying out the method are proposed. Provision is made according to the invention for the pump voltage to be acquired and for the low temperature operation to be influenced by the pump voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Baunach, Martin Buchholz, Anna Karoline Winkler, Jochen Domscheit, Lothar Diehl
  • Publication number: 20100000864
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas sensor, especially a lambda probe, for determining the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine that is operated with a fuel/air mixture. Said gas sensor comprises a pump cell arranged in or on a sensor element, said pump cell having a first electrode and a second electrode that are separated from the exhaust gas by at least one layer, and an electronic circuit for producing a voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode and for measuring and evaluating a pump current thereby produced in order to make it possible to draw conclusions therefrom on the composition of the fuel/air mixture. The invention is characterized in that an additional outer electrode is arranged on the sensor element. Said additional electrode is exposed to the exhaust gas and supplied with a negative current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Lothar Diehl, Thomas Seiler
  • Publication number: 20090308748
    Abstract: A sensor element for determining a gas component in a measuring gas includes a first and a second electrode, a solid electrolyte situated between the electrodes, a heater having a heating element, and an insulation surrounding the heating element, wherein the heating element has a meander pattern having a first external heating area, a second external heating area, a first internal heating area, and a second internal heating area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Wahl, Philipp Spies, Lothar Diehl, Ralf Liedtke
  • Publication number: 20090308135
    Abstract: A method for determining the temperature of a measurement sensor for determining an oxygen concentration in gas mixtures, in particular in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, wherein a detection voltage which corresponds to the oxygen concentration and is provided by a Nernst measuring cell is evaluated, and the measurement sensor is regulated to an operating temperature using a heating device, is characterized in that the internal resistance of the Nernst measuring cell is determined in a first temperature range and is used to infer the temperature of the Nernst measuring cell, and in that the internal resistance of the heating device is determined in a second temperature range and is used to infer the temperature of the Nernst measuring cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Holger Reinshagen, Lothar Diehl
  • Patent number: 7628900
    Abstract: A sensor element having a layer configuration, for detecting a physical property of a gas, in particular for detecting the concentration of a gas component in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The sensor element has a measuring device, used to detect a physical property of the gas, and a heating device. The heating device includes a heater, which is electrically connected to a first heater supply lead and a second heater supply lead. The first heater supply lead is arranged in a plane of stratification between the second heater supply lead and the measuring device. The first heater supply lead is at an at least largely constant electrical potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Springhorn, Johannes Kanters, Lothar Diehl
  • Publication number: 20090217737
    Abstract: A sensor element is provided for gas sensors, in particular to determine particles in gas mixtures, the sensor element including at least one electrochemical measuring element exposed to the gas mixture to be determined, and at least one temperature-measuring element integrated into the sensor element. The temperature-measuring element includes a resistor track, which has an electric resistance of less than 180 Ohm at 0° C. The resistor track may thus be produced by thin-foil technology, such as screen printing, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Lutz Dorfmueller, Sabine Roesch, Detlef Heimann, Stefan Rodewald, Helmut Marx, Henrico Runge, Harald Guenschel, Ralf Schmidt, Markus Siebert, Lothar Diehl, Thorsten Ochs, Juergen Sindel, Juergen Ruth, Andreas Schaak, Henrik Schittenhelm
  • Publication number: 20090152130
    Abstract: A gas sensor 10 for detecting particles in a gas stream has a first electrochemical pump cell 14, which has a measuring chamber 16 in which a first electrode 18 is disposed to pump particles between the first measuring chamber 16 and the gas stream. Furthermore, a second electrochemical pump cell 20 is provided, which has a second measuring chamber 22 in which a second electrode 24 is disposed so as to pump particles. According to the invention, the second measuring chamber 22 is connected to the gas stream via an absorber medium 34 for absorption of the particles to be detected. This makes it possible to absorb the particles to be detected in a first operating mode using the absorber medium 34, and to desorb the absorbed particles in a second operating mode, and to detect the quantity of the desorbed particles. Thus, the gas sensor 10 is able to take even low concentrations into account, and short-term measuring errors do not have such a serious effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Jens Schneider, Detlef Helmann, Goetz Reinhardt, Henrico Runge, Lothar Diehl, Juergen Ruth, Thomas Seiler
  • Publication number: 20090152112
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas sensor, particularly a lambda probe, for determining the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine that is operated using a fuel-air mixture. Said gas sensor comprises a pump cell with an outer electrode that is exposed to the exhaust gas, an inner electrode located in a measuring chamber which is separated from the exhaust gas by means of a first diffusion barrier, and an electronic circuit for generating a voltage applied between the outer electrode and the inner electrode as well as for measuring and evaluating a pump current that is generated in said process in order to draw a conclusion therefrom about the composition of the fuel-air mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Diehl, Thomas Seiler
  • Publication number: 20090116534
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a sensor, in particular a sensor made of ceramic material. Said sensor is heated to a shock-resistance temperature which is higher than a specific temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Tabery, Raphaelle Laure Satet, Ulrich Eisele, Lothar Diehl, Sascha Klett
  • Publication number: 20090107839
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas sensor for determining the oxygen concentration in a gas mixture, especially in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines. Said gas sensor comprises a pump cell having an outer pump electrode, exposed to the gas mixture, and an inner pump electrode, exposed to the gas mixture via a diffusion barrier, and a solid electrolyte body interposed between the outer pump electrode and the inner pump electrode. The gas sensor also has a reference electrode, exposed to a reference gas, and a sensor heating device. The outer pump electrode is connected to a circuit arrangement via a pump current line, the inner pump electrode via a measuring line, the reference electrode via a reference current line and the sensor heating device via two heating lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Scheffel, Holger Reinshagen, Lothar Diehl, Thomas Seiler
  • Publication number: 20090095627
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor for measuring the concentration of a gas component in a gas mixture. Said sensor comprises a solid electrolyte and electrodes which are separated from each other by means of the solid electrolyte and of which an outer electrode is exposed to the gas mixture while an inner electrode is disposed in a hollow space that is separated from the gas mixture with the aid of a diffusion barrier. The inventive sensor is characterized in that an additional outer electrode is exposed to the exhaust gas, said additional outer electrode being impinged upon by a current whose sign is the opposite of the current by which the outer electrode is impinged upon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Diehl, Thomas Hermann Seiler
  • Patent number: 7501604
    Abstract: A sensor element for determining the concentration of gas components in gas mixtures, e.g., for determining the oxygen concentration in exhaust gases of combustion engines, includes: at least one electrochemical measurement cell that encompasses a first and a second electrode in contact with a solid electrolyte material; a heating element for heating the sensor element to operating temperature; and a cavity integrated into the sensor element. The cavity exhibits, in at least one region close to the lateral delimiting surfaces of the cavity, a diameter that is greater than zero and smaller than the diameter in its central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Diehl
  • Publication number: 20090038941
    Abstract: In an apparatus that ascertains a concentration of a component in a gas mixture, the apparatus includes: a gas measurement chamber, in which the concentration of the component is adjustable against an influence of an interface, acting across a diffusion barrier, with the concentration in the gas mixture, whereby the influence of the interface is compensated for by a controllable current of ions of the component by way of a solid electrolyte, which is charged with a controllable pumping voltage, serves as a pumping mechanism, and is located between the gas measurement chamber and the gas mixture, so that a parameter that characterizes a current constitutes a measurement for the concentration in the gas mixture, whereby the solid electrolyte is at least periodically charged with a specified constant pumping voltage as a function of at least one state parameter of the gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Stahl, Hans-Martin Wiedenmann, Detlef Heimann, Lothar Diehl, Thomas Moser, Bjoern Janetzky, Jan Bahlo
  • Patent number: 7461536
    Abstract: A circuit configuration for operating a gas sensor is described, including a reference gas space in which an electrode is situated which is supplied with a reference gas pump current to maintain the concentration of the reference gas. A diagnostic system determines a concentration change of the reference gas via a change in the reference pump current and a time-based evaluation of the sensor signal of the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Schnaibel, Erich Junginger, Andreas Koring, Ruediger Deibert, Harry Braun, Lothar Diehl
  • Publication number: 20080296156
    Abstract: A sensor element is provided for determining a physical property of a measuring gas, especially of the concentration of at least one gas component in the measuring gas, which has at least one ceramic layer, a diffusion barrier adjoining the at least one ceramic layer and at least one electrode that is exposed to the measuring gas diffusing through the diffusion barrier. In order to reduce the production variations with respect to the static pressure dependence and the limiting current of the diffusion barrier), the proportions of silicon in the diffusion barrier and in the at least one ceramic layer are approximately equal and differ by not more than 1 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Christian OHLY, Walter Strassner, Joachim Graeber, Ulrich Eisele, Lothar Diehl, Thomas Seiler
  • Publication number: 20080289961
    Abstract: A sensor element for determining the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas has a conductor track applied to a solid electrolyte, which includes an electrode provided in a measuring area of the sensor element and an electrode lead connected to the electrode and situated in the lead area of the sensor element. In a transition area between the measuring area and the lead area, the conductor track has a narrowing. Furthermore, the electrode includes a first electrode section and a second electrode section, the first electrode section being connected to the electrode lead in a transition area between the measuring area and the lead area, and the first and second electrode sections being electrically connected to one another only on their sides facing away from the lead area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Reiner Schmitt, Thomas Wahl, Harald Guenschel, Harry Braun, Andy Tiefenbach, Ulrich Eisele, Lothar Diehl, Thomas Moser, Stefan Rodewald, Dieter Lindauer, Juergen Sindel, Dirk Rady, Frank Buchholz
  • Patent number: 7445699
    Abstract: A gas sensor for detecting at least one physical magnitude of a gas, in particular of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, is proposed, which includes a sensor element having an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a first solid electrolyte member on which a first electrode and a second electrode are applied. The first and the second electrode are electrically connected by means of the first solid electrolyte member. The first electrode is in contact with the gas. The area of the first electrode is smaller than the area of the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heiner Scheer, Carsten Springhorn, Hans-Joerg Renz, Frank Haag, Walter Strassner, Lothar Diehl, Thomas Moser, Stefan Rodewald, Marten Mamey, Jürgen Karle