Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus for a particulate filter that is provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and traps particulate matter in exhaust gas. The abnormality detection apparatus includes: a sensor that is provided downstream of the particulate filter and detects the particulate matter; a removal device that removes the particulate matter trapped in the particulate filter based on an output of the sensor; and a determination device that determines whether the particulate filter is in an abnormal state based on a first stabilization time that has elapsed until the output of the sensor becomes stable after completion of removal of the particulate matter performed by the removal device.

Abstract: An abnormality determination apparatus includes a particulate filter provided in the exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine that collects particulate matter in the exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine, a particulate matter deposition amount detection device provided downstream of the particulate filter, and a abnormality determination portion. The particulate matter deposition amount detection device includes a detecting element that detects the particular matter that flows toward the particulate matter deposition amount detection device and that is not trapped by the particulate filter, and then outputs a value corresponding to a deposition amount deposited the particulate matter on the detecting element. The abnormality determination portion determines, whether an abnormality is present in the particulate filter based on the gradient of an output waveform of the particulate matter deposition amount detection device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reliably detect clogging in a cover even during a period corresponding to a dead zone of a detection apparatus. A PM sensor includes an element section, an element temperature detection section, a heater, and an element cover. An ECU detects clogging in the element cover based on a difference between an element temperature and an exhaust temperature when the exhaust temperature rises. Furthermore, the ECU detects clogging in the element cover based on temperature rising characteristics of the element section observed when the element section is heated by the heater. Thus, even during the period corresponding to the dead zone of the PM sensor, clogging in the element cover can be reliably detected, thus improving the reliability of the sensor.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device having a particulate matter sensor which has a pair of electrodes disposed at a distance from each other and measures the amount of particulate matter in a gaseous body, and elimination means for burning and eliminating particulate matter attached to the particulate matter sensor. The control device performs a particulate matter elimination process to judge whether the amount of particulate matter attached to the particulate matter sensor is smaller than a reference particulate matter amount that is predefined as the minimum amount of remaining particulate matter required to bring the pair of electrodes into electrical conduction at one or more spots. When the amount of particulate matter is judged to be smaller than the reference particulate matter amount, the control device causes the elimination means to terminate the particulate matter elimination process.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor (8) is installed in an exhaust path (4) of an internal combustion engine (2) to generate an output in accordance with the amount of particulate matter in a gas. Disclosed is a control device (10) that includes means for detecting the output of the particulate matter sensor (8), means for detecting information about the operating status of the internal combustion engine (2), and means for correcting the output in accordance with the information during a predetermined period from the startup to warm-up of the internal combustion engine. Correcting the output at the start of the internal combustion engine as described above suppresses the output variations of the particulate matter sensor (8), which occur due to the differences in particulate matter diameter and sensor temperature.

Abstract: A particulate matter detecting apparatus that measures an amount of particulate matter in a gas by applying a predetermined voltage between a pair of first electrodes of a sensor element portion includes a detecting portion that detects whether more particulate matter than a reference amount has accumulated on the first electrodes, a temperature controlling portion that controls a temperature of the sensor element portion to become equal to or higher than a reference temperature when it is detected that more particulate matter than the reference amount has accumulated, and a voltage controlling portion that applies a reference voltage between the first electrodes and a second electrode arranged such that a solid electrolyte is sandwiched between the second electrode and the first electrodes, when it is detected that more particulate matter than the reference amount has accumulated.

Abstract: An abnormality determination apparatus includes a particulate filter provided in the exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine that collects particulate matter in the exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine, a particulate matter deposition amount detection device provided downstream of the particulate filter, and a abnormality determination portion. The particulate matter deposition amount detection device includes a detecting element that detects the particular matter that flows toward the particulate matter deposition amount detection device and that is not trapped by the particulate filter, and then outputs a value corresponding to a deposition amount deposited the particulate matter on the detecting element. The abnormality determination portion determines, whether an abnormality is present in the particulate filter based on the gradient of an output waveform of the particulate matter deposition amount detection device.

Abstract: A particulate matter detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can estimate a discharge amount of the particulate matter accurately. The particulate matter detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, comprises: a sensor disposed at an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, the sensor including a pair of electrodes for detecting particulate matter in an exhaust gas; means for estimating a discharge amount of the particulate matter based on an output of the sensor, and means for acquiring a predetermined parameter that serves as an index for a rate with which the particulate matter in the exhaust gas is deposited on the sensor. The discharge amount estimating means corrects an estimated value of the discharge amount of the particulate matter based on the parameter acquired by the parameter acquiring means.

Abstract: Disclosed is an abnormality determination device capable of checking for abnormal particulate matter detection by a particulate matter detection sensor. The particulate matter detection sensor 10 includes a sensor element section 12, which comes into contact with particulate matter in exhaust gas in an exhaust pipe 6 of an internal combustion engine 2, and changes its output in accordance with the amount of particulate matter attached to the sensor element section 12. A heater for the particulate matter detection sensor 10 is capable of heating the sensor element section 12 to a particulate matter elimination temperature (T3) at which the particulate matter attached to the sensor element section 12 is eliminated from the sensor element section 12. An ECU 50 determines, in accordance with output changes (S1 to S4) occurring in the particulate matter detection sensor 10 during heater control, whether or not the particulate matter detection sensor 10 is abnormal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a particulate matter detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can maintain an appropriate balance between reduction in time required for one detecting sequence and limiting of power consumption of a heater for sensor reset. The particulate matter detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes: a sensor disposed at an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, the sensor including a pair of electrodes for trapping particulate matter; voltage applying means for applying voltage across the electrodes; discharge amount index acquiring means for acquiring a predetermined index associated with a discharge amount of the particulate matter; and voltage adjusting means for adjusting the voltage to be applied across the electrodes based on the index acquired by the discharge amount index acquiring means such that the voltage is lower when the discharge amount is large than when the discharge amount is small.

Abstract: In the present invention, a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine detects an amount of particulate matter contained in an exhaust gas in an exhaust passage, according to an electrical property across electrodes of a particulate matter sensor disposed in the exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. The term “electrical property” here refers to a property that changes with the amount of particulate matter deposited, for example, a current value of when a predetermined voltage is applied. After the internal combustion engine is started and detection of the amount of the particulate matter is completed, an element section of the particulate matter sensor is set to a predetermined temperature range. The particulate matter deposited on the element section is thereby burned and removed.

Abstract: A porous structure including a pair of electrodes disposed in a flow direction of exhaust gas and a solid electrolyte interposed between the electrodes is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and the amount of a particulate matter in exhaust gas is specified based on a potential difference generated between the electrodes.

Abstract: An abnormality detection apparatus for a particulate filter that is provided in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and traps particulate matter in exhaust gas. The abnormality detection apparatus includes: a sensor that is provided downstream of the particulate filter and detects the particulate matter; a removal device that removes the particulate matter trapped in the particulate filter based on an output of the sensor; and a determination device that determines whether the particulate filter is in an abnormal state based on a first stabilization time that has elapsed until the output of the sensor becomes stable after completion of removal of the particulate matter performed by the removal device.

Abstract: A method of correcting NOx sensor includes the steps of preparing a corrective map in advance, finding an existing proportion of NO or NO2 in a mixture of NOx in exhaust gases before coming into an NOx sensor, and correcting an NOx concentration that the NOx sensor detects actually. The corrective map records relationships between temperature physical quantities that are relevant to a temperature of the exhaust gases, oxygen-concentration physical quantities that are relevant to an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gases, and the existing proportion. The existing proportion is found with reference to the corrective map using the temperature physical quantities and oxygen-concentration physical quantities that are detected actually. The NOx concentration is corrected on the basis of not only the existing proportion but also a difference between an NO2 diffusion velocity and an NO diffusion velocity.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensor includes a solid electrolyte layer, a measuring electrode laminated on a first face of the solid electrolyte layer, a reference electrode laminated on a second face of the solid electrolyte layer which is different from the first face thereof, such that the reference electrode and the measuring electrode are opposed to each other with the solid electrolyte layer interposed therebetween, a porous diffusion resistance layer that permits gas to pass therethrough and covers the measuring electrode, and a catalyst layer including a catalyst metal and a base material on which the catalyst metal is supported. The catalyst layer permits gas to pass therethrough and covers the porous diffusion resistance layer. The catalyst metal is a platinum-palladium-rhodium alloy, and contains 2 to 9 mass % of rhodium when the overall amount of the catalyst layer is represented as 100 mass %.

Abstract: A method of correcting NOx sensor includes the steps of preparing a corrective map in advance, finding an existing proportion of NO or NO2 in a mixture of NOx in exhaust gases before coming into an NOx sensor, and correcting an NOx concentration that the NOx sensor detects actually. The corrective map records relationships between temperature physical quantities that are relevant to a temperature of the exhaust gases, oxygen-concentration physical quantities that are relevant to an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gases, and the existing proportion. The existing proportion is found with reference to the corrective map using the temperature physical quantities and oxygen-concentration physical quantities that are detected actually. The NOx concentration is corrected on the basis of not only the existing proportion but also a difference between an NO2 diffusion velocity and an NO diffusion velocity.