Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a resistor associated with a drive system and used for measurement purposes during operation of the system, which comprises: current supply means for supplying current to said resistor; current regulating means for regulating the flow of current through said resistor during the measurement; current increasing means for increasing the flow of current through said resistor in dependence on at least one system condition including at least one system operating condition; and current control means for controlling the magnitude and duration of the current increase by said current increasing means to achieve a desired "burn-off" of deposits on the surface of said resistor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a resistor associated with a drive system and used for measurement purposes during operation of the system, which comprises: current supply means for supplying current to said resistor; current regulating means for regulating the flow of current through said resistor during the measurement; current increasing means for increasing the flow of current through said resistor in dependence on at least one system condition including at least one system operating condition; and current control means for controlling the magnitude and duration of the current increase by said current increasing means to achieve a desired "burn-off" of deposits on the surface of said resistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said current increase by said current increasing means occurs at the end of one operational phase of the system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, including sensing means for providing a temperature signal and wherein said current increase by said current increasing means is dependent on said temperature signal at the beginning of one operational phase of said system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said current increase occurs only when the temperature at the beginning of said operational phase is below a preselected value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, including memory means and means for storing said temperature signal in said memory means only after a predetermined elapse of time after the beginning of one operational phase of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including sensing means for providing a temperature signal and wherein said current increase by said current increasing means is dependent on said temperature signal at the beginning of one operational phase of said system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said current increase occurs only when the temperature at the beginning of said operational phase is below a preselected value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with one of claims 1-4, 6 and 7, wherein said current increase is dependent on the duration of operation of said system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
32 words
An apparatus in accordance with one of claims 1-4, 6 and 7, wherein said system comprises a motor vehicle and the current increase is dependent on the distance traveled by said vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, including memory means and means for storing said temperature signal in said memory means only after a predetermined elapse of time after the beginning of one operational phase of said system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
49 words
An apparatus in accordance with one of claims 1-7 and 10, wherein said system comprises an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold in which said resistor is disposed, and said resistor is used for measurement purposes in an induced air mass measuring device for the internal combustion engine.