← Back to Patent Explorer
US4419213A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Oxygen sensing element formed as laminate of thin layers on substrate provided with heater and lead wires

Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1982-02-12
•
Granted: 1983-12-06
•
Expires: 2002-02-12
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An oxygen sensing element of the type having a solid electrolyte oxygen concentration cell formed as a laminate of thin layers on a ceramic substrate in which a heater is embedded and end portions of lead wires are inserted. To enhance reliability of insulation between a lead wire through which heater current flows and lead wires connected to the concentration cell electrodes, the end portion of the heater lead wire is inserted into the substrate so as to make close contact with a terminal portion of the heater over substantially the entire length thereof and is completely shielded from environmental atmosphere by the substrate. Accordingly, even though a carbonaceous substance may be deposited on the substrate surface during practical use of the element, the possibility of heater current leaking of the concentration cell is obviated.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masaharu Oshima
  • 👤 Kenji Ikezawa
  • 👤 Hiroyuki Aoki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 19:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4071

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 181 words
An oxygen sensing element having a substrate comprising a ceramic material, an oxygen concentration cell in the form of a laminate of thin layers placed on a major surface of the substrate, said laminate including an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte layer, a reference electrode layer adjacent the solid electrolyte layer and a measurement electrode layer adjacent the solid electrolyte layer, an electric heater embedded in the substrate and a plurality of lead wires having end portions inserted into the substrate and respectively connected to the heater and the reference and measurement electrode layers, wherein the electrical connection of each of the lead wires connected to said concentration cell includes a conductor filled hole formed in the substrate so as to open at said surface of the substrate, and wherein the inserted end portion of a first one of the lead wires, through which a current flows to the heater, is in close contact with a terminal portion of the heater substantially over the entire length of the inserted end portion and is completely shielded from environmental atmosphere by the substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 181 words
An oxygen sensing element having a substrate comprising a ceramic material, an oxygen concentration cell in the form of a laminate of thin layers placed on a major surface of the substrate, said laminate including an oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte layer, a reference electrode layer adjacent the solid electrolyte layer and a measurement electrode layer adjacent the solid electrolyte layer, an electric heater embedded in the substrate and a plurality of lead wires having end portions inserted into the substrate and respectively connected to the heater and the reference and measurement electrode layers, wherein the electrical connection of each of the lead wires connected to said concentration cell includes a conductor filled hole formed in the substrate so as to open at said surface of the substrate, and wherein the inserted end portion of a first one of the lead wires, through which a current flows to the heater, is in close contact with a terminal portion of the heater substantially over the entire length of the inserted end portion and is completely shielded from environmental atmosphere by the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 51 words
An oxygen sensing element according to claim 1, wherein said terminal portion of the heater reaches an edge of the substrate, said end portion of said first one of the lead wires being inserted into the substrate from said edge so as to lie on said terminal portion of the heater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 48 words
An oxygen sensing element according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is formed by face-to-face bonding of two sheets, one of which is first provided with said heater on a major surface thereof, the end portions of the lead wires being tightly sandwiched between the bonded two sheets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
An oxygen sensing element according to claim 3, wherein the heater is a thin layer formed by sintering a layer of a paste containing a powdered conductive material on said surface of said one of said two sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
An oxygen sensing element according to claim 4, wherein the heater has a form comprising an elongate path, said terminal portion of the heater being larger in width than the remaining portion of the heater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
An oxygen sensing element according to claim 2 or 5, wherein said end portion of said one of the lead wires is flattened.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
An oxygen sensing element according to claim 1, wherein second one of said plurality of lead wires is connected to the other terminal portion of the heater by a conductor filled in a hole formed in the substrate so as to open at said surface of the substrate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR2457489A1 Cited
GB2050628A Cited
US4264425A Cited
US4304652A Cited
US4300991A Cited
GB2052108A Cited
GB2054163A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-12-05 1987-06-06 1987-12-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-12-05 1991-06-06 1991-12-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-12-05 1995-06-06 1995-12-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag