Abstract: A method and apparatus determine exhaust gas temperature and control the heater of a heated exhaust gas oxygen sensor. Heater failures are diagnosed based on the level of current flowing through the heater. Exhaust gas temperature is determined by using a Kalman filter. The exhaust gas temperature sensor is eliminated while maintaining a high degree of accuracy. Current flowing through the heater is used to calculate the temperature of the heater. The temperature of the heater is compared to a desired temperature range and the current to the heater is adjusted to maintain the desired temperature range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determine exhaust gas temperature and control the heater of a heated exhaust gas oxygen sensor. Heater failures are diagnosed based on the level of current flowing through the heater. Exhaust gas temperature is determined by using a Kalman filter. The exhaust gas temperature sensor is eliminated while maintaining a high degree of accuracy. Current flowing through the heater is used to calculate the temperature of the heater. The temperature of the heater is compared to a desired temperature range and the current to the heater is adjusted to maintain the desired temperature range.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting blockage of an automotive side object detection system (“SODS”). The system includes a blockage detection processor, which is operative to determine whether an RF leakage signal level sensed between transmit and receive antennas of the system substantially match one or more of a plurality of pattern recognition information curves. If it is determined that the leakage signal level substantially matches one or more of a plurality of pattern recognition information curves, a blocked condition of the SODS is declared, as may be caused by mud, salt, ice, etc. The blockage detection processor is further operative to determine whether the leakage signal exceeds a predetermined blockage threshold level. If the leakage exceeds the predetermined blockage threshold level, a blocked condition of the SODS is also declared.

Abstract: An improved control for the heater element of a motor vehicle engine exhaust gas oxygen sensor determines the temperature of the heater element and adjusts the heater element current by closed-loop control to minimize deviation of the heater element temperature from a desired heater temperature determined in relation to the desired oxygen sensor temperature. The heater temperature is calculated based on the heater element resistance, and the heater resistance is adaptively adjusted to account for sensor-to-sensor variation. The adaptive adjustment is updated based on a deviation of the measured heater element resistance from an expected value under predetermined calibration conditions at engine start-up.

Abstract: An improved control for the heater element of a motor vehicle engine exhaust gas oxygen sensor determines the temperature of the heater element and adjusts the heater element current by closed-loop control to minimize deviation of the heater element temperature from a desired heater temperature determined in relation to the desired oxygen sensor temperature. The heater temperature is calculated based on the heater element resistance, and the heater resistance is adaptively adjusted to account for sensor-to-sensor variation. The adaptive adjustment is updated based on a deviation of the measured heater element resistance from an expected value under predetermined calibration conditions at engine start-up.