Abstract: A method for evaluating the functionality of a ceramic sensor for detecting soot, the sensor including two measurement electrodes exposable to an exhaust and spaced apart from one another, and an electrical resistance heating element. The method includes: activating the resistance heating element to heat up the sensor and to burn soot off the two measurement electrodes; then deactivating the resistance heating element; then waiting for a first predetermined time period and/or waiting until a signal that is received from the sensor and represents the sensor temperature reaches a first predefined value; then measuring a first variable representing the electrical resistance between the measurement electrodes; then evaluating the functionality of the sensor based on the first variable representing the electrical resistance between the measurement electrodes.

Abstract: A resistive particle sensor is described for detecting soot in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, including a sensor element having two strip conductors, which extend spaced apart in meanders in parallel to one another in an area of the sensor element that may be exposed to the exhaust gas, and a resistance strip conductor, the two strip conductors each being capacitively connected via capacitor elements to the resistance strip conductor.

Abstract: A method for operating a sensor for detecting particles in a measuring gas. The sensor includes a sensor element having an electrically insulating element substrate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode is situated at the electrically insulating element. The first electrode and the second electrode carry out a current and/or voltage measurement. The sensor is operated in at least one measuring phase during which a first voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode. A second voltage is applied to the first and second electrode during a predetermined time period outside the measuring phase, the second voltage being lower than a decomposition voltage for water. The presence of water on the sensor element is inferred if the current and/or voltage measurement, with the second voltage being applied, yields a value which exceeds a threshold value for an electric current.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the functionality of a ceramic sensor for detecting soot, the sensor including two measurement electrodes exposable to an exhaust and spaced apart from one another, and an electrical resistance heating element. The method includes: activating the resistance heating element to heat up the sensor and to burn soot off the two measurement electrodes; then deactivating the resistance heating element; then waiting for a first predetermined time period and/or waiting until a signal that is received from the sensor and represents the sensor temperature reaches a first predefined value; then measuring a first variable representing the electrical resistance between the measurement electrodes; then evaluating the functionality of the sensor based on the first variable representing the electrical resistance between the measurement electrodes.

Abstract: A resistive particle sensor is described for detecting soot in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, including a sensor element having two strip conductors, which extend spaced apart in meanders in parallel to one another in an area of the sensor element that may be exposed to the exhaust gas, and a resistance strip conductor, the two strip conductors each being capacitively connected via capacitor elements to the resistance strip conductor.