Abstract: A deterioration determination apparatus is usable with an ammonia sensor that includes an ammonia element portion that includes, a solid electrolyte, an ammonia electrode, and a reference electrode. The deterioration determining apparatus compares a first evaluation value and a second evaluation value, and determines whether deterioration has occurred in the ammonia element portion of the ammonia sensor at an evaluation time or subsequent to the evaluation time. The first evaluation value is based on a first sensor current obtained when a DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode of the ammonia element portion at an initial time that is during an initial use period of the ammonia sensor. The second evaluation value is based on a second sensor current obtained when the DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode subsequent to the initial period of use of the ammonia sensor.

Abstract: An abnormality determination apparatus for an ammonia sensor is usable in an exhaust purification system including a catalyst, a supply apparatus, an ammonia sensor, an NOX sensor, and an oxygen sensor. During a continuation period within which ammonia supply to the catalyst continues after the supply apparatus stops supply of reductant, the abnormality determination apparatus calculates the ammonia concentration on a downstream side of the catalyst as a first concentration value, based on an output of the ammonia sensor and an output of the oxygen sensor. During the continuation period, the abnormality determination apparatus calculates the ammonia concentration on the downstream side of the catalyst as a second concentration value, based on an output of the NOX sensor and the output of the oxygen sensor. The abnormality determination apparatus determines presence or absence of abnormality in the ammonia sensor based on the first concentration value and the second concentration value.

Abstract: Failure detection apparatus for a particulate filter includes: a sensor having a particulate matter detection unit that outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of accumulated PM, and a heater unit that heats the particulate matter detection unit; a regeneration control unit that causes the heater unit to heat the particulate matter detection unit to a regeneration temperature allowing the particulate matter to be burned off; a start detection unit that determines the start of the internal combustion engine; failure determination unit that determines whether exhaust gas contains water droplets while the engine is in operation; a heating control unit that causes the heater unit to heat the particulate matter detection unit to a first temperature allowing the accumulated particulate matter to remain and the moisture included in the particulate matter to be removed; and failure determination unit that determines whether the filter has failure based on a sensor output value.

Abstract: A gas concentration detection device has a first element part, a first detection part, a second element part, a second detection part and a sensitivity correction part. The sensitivity correction part is configured to correct a second gas component concentration detected by the second detection part based on a time difference between a first response time of the first detection part and a second response time of the second detection part when the first detection part and the second detection part have a function of detecting a common gas component contained in a target gas to be detected, and a variation in concentration of the common gas component exceeds a reference variation amount.

Abstract: An ammonia sensor has an ammonia element section having a first solid electrolyte body which is provided with a detection electrode and a reference electrode, a heater section that heats the first solid electrolyte body, and a potential difference detection section for detecting a potential difference between the detection electrode and the reference electrode. The detection electrode contains at least Au and Pd. The content ratio of Au and Pd on the surface of the detection electrode is more than 0 mol % and 80 mol % or less of Pd with respect to 100 mol % of Au.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes an ammonia element section, a heater, and a potential difference detecting section. The detection electrode has a distal end, a proximal end, and a central position in the longitudinal direction. The detection electrode is partitioned at the central position in the longitudinal direction into a distal end region and a proximal end region, the distal end region being located to be closer to the distal end than the proximal end region is, the proximal end region being located to be closer to the proximal end than the distal end region is. The heating section has a heating center arranged to face an offset point which is located to be closer to the distal end than the central position is, the heating center arranged to face the offset point causing average temperature in the distal end region to differ from average temperature in the proximal end region.

Abstract: An abnormality determination apparatus for an ammonia sensor is usable in an exhaust purification system including a catalyst, a supply apparatus, an ammonia sensor, an NOX sensor, and an oxygen sensor. During a continuation period within which ammonia supply to the catalyst continues after the supply apparatus stops supply of reductant, the abnormality determination apparatus calculates the ammonia concentration on a downstream side of the catalyst as a first concentration value, based on an output of the ammonia sensor and an output of the oxygen sensor. During the continuation period, the abnormality determination apparatus calculates the ammonia concentration on the downstream side of the catalyst as a second concentration value, based on an output of the NOX sensor and the output of the oxygen sensor. The abnormality determination apparatus determines presence or absence of abnormality in the ammonia sensor based on the first concentration value and the second concentration value.

Abstract: A deterioration determination apparatus is usable with an ammonia sensor that includes an ammonia element portion that includes, a solid electrolyte, an ammonia electrode, and a reference electrode. The deterioration determining apparatus compares a first evaluation value and a second evaluation value, and determines whether deterioration has occurred in the ammonia element portion of the ammonia sensor at an evaluation time or subsequent to the evaluation time. The first evaluation value is based on a first sensor current obtained when a DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode of the ammonia element portion at an initial time that is during an initial use period of the ammonia sensor. The second evaluation value is based on a second sensor current obtained when the DC voltage is applied between the ammonia electrode and the reference electrode subsequent to the initial period of use of the ammonia sensor.

Abstract: A failure detection device has a PM filter, a PM detection sensor having a sensor element arranged at a downstream of the PM filter, an ECU and a PM detection sensor control part. The sensor element detects an amount of PM in exhaust gas, and generates a sensor signal corresponding to the detected PM amount. A load detection part in the ECU detects an engine load. A judgment execution determination part in the control part compares the detected engine load with a threshold value, and determines whether a PM filter failure detection should be performed based on the comparison result. A failure judgment part compares the sensor signal with a failure judgment threshold value when the determination part decides that it is necessary to perform the failure detection of the PM filter, and determines that the PM filter failure has occurred based on the latter comparison result.

Abstract: Failure detection apparatus for a particulate filter includes: a sensor having a particulate matter detection unit that outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of accumulated PM, and a heater unit that heats the particulate matter detection unit; a regeneration control unit that causes the heater unit to heat the particulate matter detection unit to a regeneration temperature allowing the particulate matter to be burned off; a start detection unit that determines the start of the internal combustion engine; failure determination unit that determines whether exhaust gas contains water droplets while the engine is in operation; a heating control unit that causes the heater unit to heat the particulate matter detection unit to a first temperature allowing the accumulated particulate matter to remain and the moisture included in the particulate matter to be removed; and failure determination unit that determines whether the filter has failure based on a sensor output value.

Abstract: In a gas sensor diagnosis device, a temperature change part varies a temperature of a sensor element in an ammonia sensor at a first temperature which is outside of the predetermined activation temperature range. A zero-voltage shift detection part detects whether the mixed potential of the sensor element is not more than a predetermined output threshold value after the temperature change part varies a temperature of the sensor element. A temperature acquisition part detects a zero-voltage shift temperature of the sensor element at which the zero-voltage shift detection part detects that the mixed potential of the sensor element drops below the predetermined output threshold value. The deterioration state detection part detects a deterioration state of the ammonia sensor based on the zero-voltage shift temperature of the sensor element detected by the temperature acquisition part.

Abstract: A control unit (6) estimates an output value of a PM sensor (S2) located at a downstream side of a DPF used as a reference filter, and detects whether the estimated output value exceeds a predetermined value (S3). When the estimated output value exceeds the predetermined value (YES in S3), the control unit detects an output value of the PM sensor (S4), and a heater heats the PM sensor (S5). The control unit detects an output value of the PM sensor (S6) after the PM sensor is heated, and calculates a change ratio of the output values of the PM sensor before and after heating (S7). The control unit estimates an average particle size of PM based on the calculated change ratio (S8), and detects whether the DPF has failed based on a comparison result of a corrected output value of the PM sensor with a threshold value.

Abstract: A detection conductive section and a monitor conductive section made of a conductive material having a higher electrical resistivity than that of PM are included. A deposition surface on which the PM is deposited is provided to the detection conductive section. A pair of detection electrodes are provided to the deposition surface. A pair of monitor electrodes are provided to the monitor conductive section. The configuration is made such that no PM is deposited on the monitor conductive section between the pair of monitor electrodes.

Abstract: A failure detection device has a PM filter, a PM detection sensor having a sensor element arranged at a downstream of the PM filter, an ECU and a PM detection sensor control part. The sensor element detects an amount of PM in exhaust gas, and generates a sensor signal corresponding to the detected PM amount. A load detection part in the ECU detects an engine load. A judgment execution determination part in the control part compares the detected engine load with a threshold value, and determines whether a PM filter failure detection should be performed based on the comparison result. A failure judgment part compares the sensor signal with a failure judgment threshold value when the determination part decides that it is necessary to perform the failure detection of the PM filter, and determines that the PM filter failure has occurred based on the latter comparison result.

Abstract: A control unit (6) estimates an output value of a PM sensor (S2) located at a downstream side of a DPF used as a reference filter, and detects whether the estimated output value exceeds a predetermined value (S3). When the estimated output value exceeds the predetermined value (YES in S3), the control unit detects an output value of the PM sensor (S4), and a heater heats the PM sensor (S5). The control unit detects an output value of the PM sensor (S6) after the PM sensor is heated, and calculates a change ratio of the output values of the PM sensor before and after heating (S7). The control unit estimates an average particle size of PM based on the calculated change ratio (S8), and detects whether the DPF has failed based on a comparison result of a corrected output value of the PM sensor with a threshold value.

Abstract: A porous honeycomb structure including multiple co-catalyst particles and multiple inorganic binder particles of smaller particle diameter than the co-catalyst particles. Each co-catalyst particle is comprised of a ceria-zirconia solid solution. The inorganic binder particles reside between the co-catalyst particles. In the honeycomb structure, an exposure fraction of the co-catalyst particles from the inorganic binder particles on a cross-section of the honeycomb structure is within a range of 3 to 10%.

Abstract: A porous honeycomb structure including multiple co-catalyst particles and multiple inorganic binder particles of smaller particle diameter than the co-catalyst particles. Each co-catalyst particle is comprised of a ceria-zirconia solid solution. The inorganic binder particles reside between the co-catalyst particles. In the honeycomb structure, an exposure fraction of the co-catalyst particles from the inorganic binder particles on a cross-section of the honeycomb structure is within a range of 3 to 10%.

Abstract: A carbon-based combustion catalyst is obtained by calcining sodalite at a temperature of 600° C. or more. Alternatively, a carbon-based combustion catalyst is obtained by performing the following mixing step, drying step, and calcination step. In the mixing step, aluminosilicate (sodalite), and an alkali metal source, and/or an alkaline earth metal source are mixed in water to obtain a liquid mixture. In the drying step, the liquid mixture is heated to evaporate the water, thereby obtaining a solid. In the calcination step, the solid is calcined at a temperature of 600° C. or more so that a part or all of the sodalite structure is changed. The thus-obtained catalyst can cause carbon-based material to be stably burned and removed at a low temperature for a long time.

Abstract: A particulate sensing element that detects a concentration of electrically conductive particulates PM in a gas to be measured includes a sensing portion exposed to the gas to be measured in which a pair of sensing electrodes that face each other formed with a predetermined gap therebetween on a surface of an electrically insulating heat resistant base plate, and a heating element that heats the sensing portion to a predetermined temperature, wherein a catalyst layer that can oxidize the electrically conductive particulates PM is formed at least on a part of a portion except the sensing portion exposed to the gas to be measured.