Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
Electrochemical sensor construction, particularly for incorporation in the exhaust system of an automotive-type internal combustion engine comprising a tubular housing (12); an elongated plate (11) of an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte material having one end portion exposed to the exhaust gases and forming a sensing portion (11/1) and another end portion adapted for connection to an external circuit, and forming a connecting portion (11/3); electrodes (37, 38) secured on a surface of the plate; and heating means on the plate to maintain at least selected regions of the plate at an elevated temperature comprising, in accordance with the invention a seal (16) separating, in gas-tight manner, said sensing end portion (11/1) of the plate from the remainder of the plate and securing the elongated plate into the housing at an intermediate portion; the portion of the sensor remote from said sensing end portion at the other side of the seal, and inwardly of the connecting portion (11/3) forming a reference portion (11/2) and being exposed to a reference substance; and wherein one of the electrodes (37) is positioned on the measuring end portion and the other electrode (38) is positioned on the reference portion; and wherein, further, said heating means comprises a flat heating layer applied to a surface of the plate opposite at least the electrode (38) on the reference portion (11/2).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
Electrochemical sensor construction, particularly for incorporation in the exhaust system of an automotive-type internal combustion engine comprising a tubular housing (12); an elongated plate (11) of an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte material having one end portion exposed to the exhaust gases and forming a sensing portion (11/1) and another end portion adapted for connection to an external circuit, and forming a connecting portion (11/3); electrodes (37, 38) secured on a surface of the plate; and heating means on the plate to maintain at least selected regions of the plate at an elevated temperature comprising, in accordance with the invention a seal (16) separating, in gas-tight manner, said sensing end portion (11/1) of the plate from the remainder of the plate and securing the elongated plate into the housing at an intermediate portion; the portion of the sensor remote from said sensing end portion at the other side of the seal, and inwardly of the connecting portion (11/3) forming a reference portion (11/2) and being exposed to a reference substance; and wherein one of the electrodes (37) is positioned on the measuring end portion and the other electrode (38) is positioned on the reference portion; and wherein, further, said heating means comprises a flat heating layer applied to a surface of the plate opposite at least the electrode (38) on the reference portion (11/2).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Sensor according to claim 1, wherein the reference substance comprises oxygen of ambient air, and said sensor housing includes access openings (31, 34) establishing communication of ambient air with the reference portion (11/2).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Sensor according to claim 2, wherein the heating means comprises a thin film layer on a flat surface of the elongated plate (11).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Sensor according to claim 1, wherein both the first and the second electrodes (37, 38) are located on the same major surface (36) of the elongated plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Sensor according to claim 4, wherein the heater element is a thin film heater element located at the side of the plate opposite that at which the electrodes are applied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sensor according to claim 5, wherein the heater element and at least one electrode are in at least approximately matching registration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Sensor according to claim 5, wherein two heater elements are provided, one, each, in approximately matching registration with one of the electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Sensor according to claim 1, wherein both the electrodes are of essentially the same material and the sensor operates as a potentiometric cell.