Particulate matter detection element, particulate matter detection sensor, and method of manufacturing particulate matter detection element

A particulate matter detection element for measuring electrical characteristics changing with an amount of deposited particulate matter, and for detecting particulate matter in a gas to be measured, the particulate matter detection element comprises:

• flat-shaped conductor layers;
• flat-shaped insulating layers;
• a laminated structure in which the conductor layers and the insulating layers are alternately laminated;
• and
• a detecting unit having the conductor layers of different polarities as a pair of detection electrodes on a cross section of the laminated structure, and deposited with particulate matter, wherein
• the conductor layers each have a constant thickness, and include conductor layer planar portions having a stripped-pattern cross section, and gently curved conductor layer end edge portions each having a circular-arc cross section, provided on both sides of the respective conductor layer planar portions.

A particulate matter detection sensor that detects particulate matter present in a gas to be measured, comprising:

• a particulate matter detection element for measuring electrical characteristics changing with an amount of deposited particulate matter, and for detecting the particulate matter, the detection element including:
• flat-shaped conductor layers;
• flat-shaped insulating layers;
• a laminated structure in which the conductor layers and the insulating layers are alternately laminated;
• and a detecting unit having the conductor layers of different polarities as a pair of detection electrodes on a cross section of the laminated structure, and deposited with particulate matter, wherein
• the conductor layers each have a constant thickness, and include conductor layer planar portions having a stripped-pattern cross section, and tapered conductor layer end edge portions each having a triangular cross section, provided on both sides of the respective conductor layer planar portions;
• a power supply that applies a voltage across the pair of detection electrodes;
• and
• a measuring unit that allows an electric field to act on particulate matter present in the gas to be measured for collection to the detecting unit, the electric field being generated by applying a voltage across the detection electrodes by the power supply, and measures electrical characteristics between the pair of detection electrodes, the electrical characteristics changing with deposition of particulate matter on the detecting unit.