Abstract: A method for operating an exhaust gas sensor in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The exhaust gas sensor includes a ceramic sensor element having at least one measuring electrode and a heating device. A binary dewpoint end signal is calculated, based on data which relate to the internal combustion engine and the exhaust gas sensor, which indicates whether or not the occurrence of liquid water in the exhaust system is still to be expected. Whenever the vehicle is turned off and the dewpoint end signal simultaneously has the value which signals that the occurrence of liquid water in the exhaust system is still to be expected, the sensor element is heated by its heating device to a temperature for a certain period of time in such a way that the sensor element dries.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting particles, in particular, soot particles, is described. The sensor includes a sensor element having at least two measuring electrodes, which are situated on a carrier substrate, and a protective tube assembly having at least one outer protective tube and one inner protective tube. The sensor element is situated in the inner protective tube in a longitudinal extension direction. The outer protective tube and the inner protective tube are designed to permit the particles to access the sensor element in a direction deviating from the longitudinal extension direction.

Abstract: A method for determining soot in exhaust gases of burners or internal combustion engines with the aid of a sensor element which includes at least two measuring electrodes exposed to the exhaust gas and one heating element, a voltage being applied to the at least two measuring electrodes during a measuring phase and the current flow or electrical resistance occurring between the measuring electrodes being determined and output as a measure for the particle concentration or the particle mass flow, characterized in that during the measuring phase, the temperature of the sensor element is monitored and the sensor element is heated by the heating element, if the temperature of the sensor element falls below a limiting temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device, in particular a control and evaluating unit, for operating a particle sensor (20) for determining a particle content in a gas flow, wherein the particle sensor (20) has, on the surface of the particle sensor, a sensor structure for determining a soot load and at least one heating element (26) separated from the sensor structure by an insulating layer, by means of which at least one heating element the particle sensor (20) can be heated up in a regeneration phase and in the process a soot load on the particle sensor (20) can be removed, and by means of the heating element (26) a heating phase can be performed at least at times before the regeneration phase, wherein in said heating phase a temperature that is significantly lower than the regeneration temperature is set, wherein short-term temperature drops as a result of wetting with water can be detected by means of a temperature sensor (27) integrated in the particle sensor (20).

Abstract: A sensor for detecting particles, in particular, soot particles, is described. The sensor includes a sensor element having at least two measuring electrodes, which are situated on a carrier substrate, and a protective tube assembly having at least one outer protective tube and one inner protective tube. The sensor element is situated in the inner protective tube in a longitudinal extension direction. The outer protective tube and the inner protective tube are designed to permit the particles to access the sensor element in a direction deviating from the longitudinal extension direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device, in particular a control and evaluation unit, for operating at least one exhaust gas sensor for monitoring the functionality of an emission control system in the exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust gas sensor is operated at least intermittently at high temperatures and has a thermal shock sensitivity inherent to the design, and in which a heating phase can be implemented at least intermittently prior to a regeneration phase or prior to a measuring operation phase, wherein a clearly lower temperature is set in this heating phase in comparison to the regeneration temperature or the measuring operation temperature. According to the invention, the function for dew point recognition and re-release of a dew point end is adaptively implemented and influenced by at least one water detection criterion or at least one flood detection criterion.

Abstract: A method for checking the function of a sensor for detecting soot is provided, the sensor including at least two measuring electrodes situated on a substrate made of an electrically insulating material, and a heating element, the method including: carrying out a first current-voltage measurement at a first temperature to ascertain a first measured variable, carrying out a second current-voltage measurement at a second temperature to ascertain a second measured variable, and forming a difference between the first measured variable and the second measured variable.

Abstract: A method for determining soot in exhaust gases of burners or internal combustion engines with the aid of a sensor element which includes at least two measuring electrodes exposed to the exhaust gas and one heating element, a voltage being applied to the at least two measuring electrodes during a measuring phase and the current flow or electrical resistance occurring between the measuring electrodes being determined and output as a measure for the particle concentration or the particle mass flow, characterized in that during the measuring phase, the temperature of the sensor element is monitored and the sensor element is heated by the heating element, if the temperature of the sensor element falls below a limiting temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device, in particular a control and evaluation unit, for operating at least one exhaust gas sensor for monitoring the functionality of an emission control system in the exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust gas sensor is operated at least intermittently at high temperatures and has a thermal shock sensitivity inherent to the design, and in which a heating phase can be implemented at least intermittently prior to a regeneration phase or prior to a measuring operation phase, wherein a clearly lower temperature is set in this heating phase in comparison to the regeneration temperature or the measuring operation temperature. According to the invention, the function for dew point recognition and re-release of a dew point end is adaptively implemented and influenced by at least one water detection criterion or at least one flood detection criterion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device, in particular a control and evaluating unit, for operating a particle sensor (20) for determining a particle content in a gas flow, wherein the particle sensor (20) has, on the surface of the particle sensor, a sensor structure for determining a soot load and at least one heating element (26) separated from the sensor structure by an insulating layer, by means of which at least one heating element the particle sensor (20) can be heated up in a regeneration phase and in the process a soot load on the particle sensor (20) can be removed, and by means of the heating element (26) a heating phase can be performed at least at times before the regeneration phase, wherein in said heating phase a temperature that is significantly lower than the regeneration temperature is set, wherein short-term temperature drops as a result of wetting with water can be detected by means of a temperature sensor (27) integrated in the particle sensor (20).

Abstract: A method for regenerating a particle sensor, which comprises a ceramic base body, in the exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine for driving a motor vehicle, wherein a particle loading of the particle sensor is determined by applying an electrical voltage between at least two electrodes with interdigital arrangement, a temperature of the particle sensor is determined with a temperature sensor mounted to the ceramic base body or from the electrical resistance of a heating element and said particle sensor is regenerated by means of heating with the electrical heating element.

Abstract: A method for checking the function of a sensor for detecting soot is provided, the sensor including at least two measuring electrodes situated on a substrate made of an electrically insulating material, and a heating element, the method including: carrying out a first current-voltage measurement at a first temperature to ascertain a first measured variable, carrying out a second current-voltage measurement at a second temperature to ascertain a second measured variable, and forming a difference between the first measured variable and the second measured variable.

Abstract: A method for regenerating a particle sensor, which comprises a ceramic base body, in the exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine for driving a motor vehicle, wherein a particle loading of the particle sensor is determined by applying an electrical voltage between at least two electrodes with interdigital arrangement, a temperature of the particle sensor is determined with a temperature sensor mounted to the ceramic base body or from the electrical resistance of a heating element and said particle sensor is regenerated by means of heating with the electrical heating element.