Abstract: A method for operating a sensor for detecting particles in a measuring gas. The sensor includes a sensor element including a substrate, and at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode situated on the substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode carry out a current and/or voltage measurement in temporally spaced measuring phases, at least during an interruption of a measuring phase a check being carried out as to whether the interrupted measuring phase is continuable, the interrupted measuring phase being identified as continuable, and the sensor being subsequently switched off, if, after an expected trigger time, a value for a current and/or voltage measurement falls below a threshold value, a regeneration of the sensor element for removing particles from the sensor element being carried out, and the sensor being subsequently switched off, if the value for the current and/or voltage measurement exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: In a method for diagnosing a particle filter of a motor vehicle a particle sensor which is connected downstream and has a ceramic sensor element is used, wherein, for the particle sensor, regeneration (10) of the ceramic sensor element is provided by thermal heating to a specific temperature and for a specific time after the start of the motor vehicle. Within the scope of an on-board diagnosis a confirmed diagnosis result is output after a repeated occurrence of a first diagnosis result. In the proposed method reduced regeneration (40) of the ceramic sensor element takes place after a first diagnosis result (30).

Abstract: A method for operating a sensor for detecting particles in a measuring gas. The sensor includes a sensor element including a substrate, and at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode situated on the substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode carry out a current and/or voltage measurement in temporally spaced measuring phases, at least during an interruption of a measuring phase a check being carried out as to whether the interrupted measuring phase is continuable, the interrupted measuring phase being identified as continuable, and the sensor being subsequently switched off, if, after an expected trigger time, a value for a current and/or voltage measurement falls below a threshold value, a regeneration of the sensor element for removing particles from the sensor element being carried out, and the sensor being subsequently switched off, if the value for the current and/or voltage measurement exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: In a method for diagnosing a particle filter of a motor vehicle a particle sensor which is connected downstream and has a ceramic sensor element is used, wherein, for the particle sensor, regeneration (10) of the ceramic sensor element is provided by thermal heating to a specific temperature and for a specific time after the start of the motor vehicle. Within the scope of an on-board diagnosis a confirmed diagnosis result is output after a repeated occurrence of a first diagnosis result. In the proposed method reduced regeneration (40) of the ceramic sensor element takes place after a first diagnosis result (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a sensor unit (20) that is arranged in the exhaust gas region of an internal combustion engine (10). According to the invention, a sensor temperature (31, 32) is directly or indirectly determined by the sensor unit (20), and is compared to an exhaust temperature (33) that is determined by a further sensor unit and/or to model variables and/or to defined threshold values, whereby a dismounting and/or an inappropriate mounting of the sensor unit is indicated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring a sensor unit (20) that is arranged in the exhaust gas region of an internal combustion engine (10). According to the invention, a sensor temperature (31, 32) is directly or indirectly determined by the sensor unit (20), and is compared to an exhaust temperature (33) that is determined by a further sensor unit and/or to model variables and/or to defined threshold values, whereby a dismounting and/or an inappropriate mounting of the sensor unit is indicated.