# US 10,481,065 B2 · Methods and systems for exhaust particulate matter sensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,065 B2 - Document ID: US10481065B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/909,719 - Filed: 2018-03-01 - Published: 2019-09-05 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-01 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Xiaogang Zhang; David Charles Weber; Vidhushekhar Zambare - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481065B2 ## CPC - G01N 15/0618: {of the filter type (G01N15/0643 takes precedence)} - F01N 3/031: having means for by-passing filters, e.g. when clogged or during cold engine start - F01N 3/033: in combination with other devices {(with adsorbents or absorbents F01N3/0821)} - F01N 3/2892: {Exhaust flow directors or the like, e.g. upstream of catalytic device} - F01N 11/002: {the diagnostic devices measuring or estimating temperature or pressure in, or downstream of the exhaust apparatus} - F01N 13/008: {Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus (sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439)} - G01N 1/00: Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation - G01N 1/2208: {with impactors} - G01N 1/2252: {in a vehicle exhaust} - G01N 15/0606: {by collecting particles on a support} - G01N 15/065: {using condensation nuclei counters} - F01N 2260/14: for modifying or adapting flow area or back-pressure - F01N 2470/04: characterised by shape, disposition or dimensions of apertures - F01N 2470/24: Concentric tubes or tubes being concentric to housing, e.g. telescopically assembled - F01N 2470/30: Tubes with restrictions, i.e. venturi or the like, e.g. for sucking air or measuring mass flow - F01N 2550/04: Filtering activity of particulate filters - F01N 2560/05: the means being a particulate sensor - F01N 2900/0416: using the state of a sensor, e.g. of an exhaust gas sensor - G01N 2001/2223: {aerosol sampling devices} - G01N 2001/2285: {Details of probe structures} - G01N 2015/0046: {in gas, e.g. smoke} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for a PM sensor. In one example, a method comprises flowing exhaust gas to a cone-shaped PM sensor having a pair of openings arranged across from one another and a plurality of outlets distal to the pair of openings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: flowing exhaust gas proximal to a central axis of an exhaust passage through a first opening of a cone-shaped soot sensor; expelling a first portion of the exhaust gas through a second opening directly across the first opening, and diverting a second portion of the exhaust gas around flow diverters spaced about electrodes distal to the central axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are coupled to a substrate capturing particulates from the second portion of exhaust gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion of exhaust gas flows in a radially outward direction perpendicular to the central axis through a plurality of outlets arranged along a disc portion of the soot sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of exhaust gas comprises larger particulates than the second portion of exhaust gas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein diverting the second portion further includes flowing the second portion of exhaust gas in a sinusoidal pattern around a first flow diverter and a second flow diverter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of exhaust gas flow linearly and the second portion of exhaust gas zig-zags. ### Claim 7 A particulate matter sensor, comprising: a cone-shaped outer shell comprising a hollow interior with a first opening admitting exhaust gas thereto; a disc-portion of the outer shell includes a first flow deflector coupled to a first surface and a second flow deflector coupled to a second surface; and a plurality of second openings configured to expel exhaust gas from the disc-portion to an exhaust passage in a direction perpendicular to a general direction of exhaust gas flow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The particulate matter sensor of claim 7, wherein the cone-shaped outer shell further comprises a third opening arranged directly opposite the first opening, and where a central axis of the exhaust passage extends through geometric centers of the first and third openings. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The particulate matter sensor of claim 8, wherein the first opening and third opening are circular, and where a diameter of the first opening is less than a diameter of the third opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The particulate matter sensor of claim 7, wherein the first flow deflector is arranged upstream of both a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and where the second flow deflector is arranged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The particulate matter sensor of claim 7, wherein the first flow deflector is spaced away from the second surface by 1 to 5 millimeters, and where the second flow deflector is spaced away from the first surface by 1 to 5 millimeters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The particulate matter sensor of claim 7, wherein the first flow deflector and the second flow deflector flow exhaust gas in a sinusoidal pattern before flowing the exhaust gas through one of the plurality of second openings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The particulate matter sensor of claim 7, wherein a support structure cantilevers the outer shell in the exhaust passage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The particulate matter sensor of claim 7, wherein the outer shell is symmetric and where the first flow deflector and the second flow deflector are concentric about a central axis of the exhaust passage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The particulate matter sensor of claim 7, wherein a diameter of the outer shell increases in a downstream direction relative to the general direction of exhaust gas flow, and where the first opening is arranged at an apex of the outer shell. ### Claim 16 A system, comprising: an engine coupled to an exhaust passage; a cone-shaped soot sensor comprising a first opening at its apex admitting exhaust gas from the exhaust passage, a plurality of second openings and a third opening configured to expel exhaust gas from a hollow interior of the cone-shaped soot sensor; and a controller with computer-readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory thereof that when executed enable the controller to: regenerate a substrate of the cone-shaped soot sensor in response to a measured resistance by activating a heating element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the measured resistance corresponds to a resistance of electrodes coupled to a first surface of the substrate and where the heating element is coupled to a second surface of the substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first and third openings are arranged along a central axis of the exhaust passage, and where the plurality of second openings are distal to the central axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of second openings are arranged along a disc portion of the cone-shaped soot sensor, and where the plurality of second openings expel exhaust gas from the disc portion in a radially outward direction toward surfaces of an exhaust pipe of the exhaust passage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the cone-shaped soot sensor is immovable and where there are no additional inlets or other outlets other than the first opening, plurality of second openings, and the third opening.