Abstract: An electrochemical device has an electrochemical cell provided with an electrolyte having proton conductivity, an anode provided on one side of the electrolyte, and a cathode provided on the other side of the electrolyte. The electrochemical device is configured so that a solution containing water, an artificial synthetic resin, and an acid is supplied to the anode. The electrochemical device is configured so that an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the cathode and connecting a load between the anode and the cathode. The electrochemical device is configured so that the inert gas is supplied to the cathode and connecting the voltage application unit between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ammonia sensor element having a measured gas chamber, a reference gas chamber and a solid electrolyte body arranged therebetween. The solid electrolyte body has a first main surface facing the measured gas chamber and a second main surface facing the reference gas chamber. A detection electrode is formed on the first main surface. A reference electrode is formed on the second main surface. The solid electrolyte body contains a first proton conducting solid electrolyte. The detection electrode contains a second proton conducting solid electrolyte. The second proton conducting solid electrolyte has an acid strength greater than that of the first proton conducting solid electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical device has an electrochemical cell provided with an electrolyte having proton conductivity, an anode provided on one side of the electrolyte, and a cathode provided on the other side of the electrolyte. The electrochemical device is configured so that a solution containing water, an artificial synthetic resin, and an acid is supplied to the anode. The electrochemical device is configured so that an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the cathode and connecting a load between the anode and the cathode. The electrochemical device is configured so that the inert gas is supplied to the cathode and connecting the voltage application unit between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ammonia sensor element having a measured gas chamber, a reference gas chamber and a solid electrolyte body arranged therebetween. The solid electrolyte body has a first main surface facing the measured gas chamber and a second main surface facing the reference gas chamber. A detection electrode is formed on the first main surface. A reference electrode is formed on the second main surface. The solid electrolyte body contains a first proton conducting solid electrolyte. The detection electrode contains a second proton conducting solid electrolyte. The second proton conducting solid electrolyte has an acid strength greater than that of the first proton conducting solid electrolyte.

Abstract: To provide an SOx concentration detection device that can detect the SOx concentration in exhaust gas without using a dedicated sensor. As shown in FIG. 4, the current value that flows when a voltage in the limiting current region is applied stays at a constant value (limiting current value) regardless of the elapsed time. On the other hand, the current value that flows when a voltage in the overcurrent region is applied decreases with the lapse of time and approaches the limiting current value 30 seconds after the start of application of the voltage. In this embodiment, the current value difference is defined as “SO2 reduction current,” and the SO2 concentration around the sensor is detected from an integrated value of the SO2 reduction current.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to detect a concentration of a SOx included in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine easily and accurately by a limiting current type sensor. The invention relates to a SOx concentration detection device of the engine having a limiting current type sensor. The device of the invention comprises a detecting part for detecting the concentration of the SOx included in the exhaust gas by using an output current of the sensor while lowering a voltage applied to the sensor from a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: The particulate matter detection element is constituted of a laminated body including first and second electrode layers each having a plate-like shape and a thickness between 50 ?m and 500 ?m laminated on each other through an intermediate insulating layer having a plate-like shape and a thickness between 3 ?m and 20 ?m. A cross-sectional surface of the laminated body in the lamination direction is used as a detection surface of the particulate matter detection element.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to detect a concentration of a SOx included in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine easily and accurately by a limiting current type sensor. The invention relates to a SOx concentration detection device of the engine having a limiting current type sensor. The device of the invention comprises a detecting part for detecting the concentration of the SOx included in the exhaust gas by using an output current of the sensor while lowering a voltage applied to the sensor from a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: To provide an SOx concentration detection device that can detect the SOx concentration in exhaust gas without using a dedicated sensor. As shown in FIG. 4, the current value that flows when a voltage in the limiting current region is applied stays at a constant value (limiting current value) regardless of the elapsed time. On the other hand, the current value that flows when a voltage in the overcurrent region is applied decreases with the lapse of time and approaches the limiting current value 30 seconds after the start of application of the voltage. In this embodiment, the current value difference is defined as “SO2 reduction current,” and the SO2 concentration around the sensor is detected from an integrated value of the SO2 reduction current.

Abstract: The particulate matter detection element is constituted of a laminated body including first and second electrode layers each having a plate-like shape and a thickness between 50 ?m and 500 ?m laminated on each other through an intermediate insulating layer having a plate-like shape and a thickness between 3 ?m and 20 ?m. A cross-sectional surface of the laminated body in the lamination direction is used as a detection surface of the particulate matter detection element.

Abstract: In a PM detection sensor S having a PM sensor element 1 installed in an exhaust-gas pipe of an engine E/G, PM detection electrodes are placed in detection spaces in slits, respectively, formed in an insulation substrate. In the insulation substrate, one slit is embedded between an electric field generating electrode and a common electric field generating electrode. The other slit is embedded between an electric field generating electrode and the common electric field generating electrode. The same magnitude of an electric field is generated between the detection spaces when electric power is supplied to the electric field generating electrodes. An average value of sensor outputs transferred from the PM detection electrode is used as a sensor output of the PM sensor element.

Abstract: A gas sensing element is disclosed as having a measuring gas chamber to which measuring gases are admitted, a diffusion resistance portion for introducing measuring gases to the measuring gas chamber under diffusion resistance, a sensor cell for detecting a specified gas concentration of measuring gases, and an oxygen pump cell for adjusting an oxygen concentration in the measuring gases. The sensor cell includes a measuring electrode, placed facing the measuring gas chamber, and a reference electrode formed in pair with the measuring electrode. The oxygen pump cell includes an inner pump electrode placed facing the measuring gas chamber, and an outer pump electrode formed in pair with the inner pump electrode. The diffusion resistance portion is placed in an area inside of external end walls of the inner pump electrode to be exposed to the measuring gas chamber.

Abstract: A proton conductor has a porous sintered body made of tetravalent metallic oxide. Pyrophosphate as tetravalent metallic compound is formed on surfaces and porous walls of the body, and in the inside of each pore of the body. A method produces the proton conductor by immersing the porous sintered body made of tetravalent metallic oxide into liquid solvent containing phosphate, and heating the porous sintered body at 400° C. over 4 hours. A carbon quantity detecting sensor has the proton conductor, a pair of a measuring electrode and a reference electrode, and an electric power source for supplying a predetermined current or voltage to the electrode pair composed of the measuring and reference electrodes. The measuring electrode is formed on one surface of the proton conductor to face the measuring gas. The reference electrode is formed on the other surface of the proton conductor to be apart from the measuring gas.

Abstract: A gas sensor control device is disclosed as including a sensor cell having a negative terminal, to which a current-voltage converter is connected, and a differential amplifier is connected to the current-voltage converter to provide a current measured result applied to a microcomputer. The current-voltage converter has an opposite-to-sensor terminal to which another differential amplifier is connected. A sensor-side terminal of the current-voltage converter and another differential amplifier is electrically connected to each other via an electric pathway having a sensor-current flow disabling pathway in which a switch circuit is provided. Closing the switch circuit allows a potential difference between both terminals of the current-voltage converter is zeroed. With the switch circuit closed, the microcomputer calculates an element current correcting value, while detecting an electromotive force of the sensor cell based on which a failure is determined.

Abstract: A particulate matter (PM) detection sensor is placed in an exhaust gas pipe of a diesel engine. The PM sensor element has a detection part composed of a pair of detection electrodes and a heater part. The detection electrodes and the heater part are stacked in the PM sensor element. A control circuit instructs a heater power supply to supply electric power to the heater part when the diesel engine is started to operate. The heater part heats the detection part at a predetermined temperature T1 within a range of 600° C. to 900° C. for a predetermined period S1 of time, for example, 650° C. for 20 seconds, in order to burn and completely eliminate particulate matter accumulated in the detection part. This control process avoids incorrect detection of the PM detection sensor. After this process, the control circuit executes usual control of the PM detection sensor.

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.

Abstract: A carbon quantity detecting sensor for continuously detecting a carbon quantity of measuring gases with increased precision using a simplifier structure is disclosed. The sensor includes at least a proton conductive body composed of a solid electrolyte body having a proton conductivity, an electrode pair composed of a measuring electrode and a reference electrode formed on the proton conductive body at opposing surfaces thereof respectively, and a power source for applying at least one of a given current or a given voltage across the electrode pair. The measuring gases electrode is exposed to the measuring gases and the reference electrode is isolated from the measuring gases. This enables the carbon quantity of measuring gases to be detected with increased precision for a long period of time without causing a carbon component to accumulate on a surface of the measuring electrode due to an electrochemical reaction.

Abstract: An oxidizing device and an oxidizing method for oxidizing a carbon-containing component in a gaseous mixture containing H2O and the carbon-containing component are disclosed having a proton conductive body and an electrode member placed on the proton conductive body. The electrode member has an anode electrode and a cathode electrode held in contact with each other and the proton conductive body has electric conductivity of 0.01 Scm?1 or more at a temperature of 400° C. or less. The anode electrode separates a proton (H+) from H2O at a boundary portion between the anode electrode and the proton conductive body to facilitate a reaction to introduce the proton into the proton conductive body. The cathode electrode facilitates a reduction reaction in the presence of the proton supplied from the proton conductive body at a boundary portion between the cathode electrode and the proton conductive body.

Abstract: A gas sensing element is disclosed as having a measuring gas chamber to which measuring gases are admitted, a diffusion resistance portion for introducing measuring gases to the measuring gas chamber under diffusion resistance, a sensor cell for detecting a specified gas concentration of measuring gases, and an oxygen pump cell for adjusting an oxygen concentration in the measuring gases. The sensor cell includes a measuring electrode, placed facing the measuring gas chamber, and a reference electrode formed in pair with the measuring electrode. The oxygen pump cell includes an inner pump electrode placed facing the measuring gas chamber, and an outer pump electrode formed in pair with the inner pump electrode. The diffusion resistance portion is placed in an area inside of external end walls of the inner pump electrode to be exposed to the measuring gas chamber.

Abstract: A gas sensor control device is disclosed as including a sensor cell having a negative terminal, to which a current-voltage converter is connected, and a differential amplifier is connected to the current-voltage converter to provide a current measured result applied to a microcomputer. The current-voltage converter has an opposite-to-sensor terminal to which another differential amplifier is connected. A sensor-side terminal of the current-voltage converter and another differential amplifier is electrically connected to each other via an electric pathway having a sensor-current flow disabling pathway in which a switch circuit is provided. Closing the switch circuit allows a potential difference between both terminals of the current-voltage converter is zeroed. With the switch circuit closed, the microcomputer calculates an element current correcting value, while detecting an electromotive force of the sensor cell based on which a failure is determined.