Exhaust gas sensor heater control apparatus
AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorTakeshi Iwahashi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment of an engine (1) in which air-fuel ratio feedback control is performed based on output of an exhaust gas sensor (100) disposed in an exhaust path, when the engine (1) starts in an extremely low temperature state (e.g., −20 to −30° C.), a heater (200) that heats a sensor element (110) of the exhaust gas sensor (100) is not powered immediately after the engine (1) starts, rather, power to the heater (200) is started when an engine coolant water temperature has reached a temperature near an air-fuel ratio feedback control starting water temperature.
Claims9
(canceled)
An exhaust gas sensor heater control apparatus that, in an internal combustion engine in which air-fuel ratio feedback control is performed based on output of an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust path, controls powering to a heater that heats a sensor element of the exhaust gas sensor, the exhaust gas sensor heater control apparatus comprising:
- a water temperature detector that detects a coolant water temperature of the internal combustion engine;
- and
- a power controller that does not power the heater in a case where the coolant water temperature when the internal combustion engine starts is lower than {air-fuel ratio feedback control starting water temperature−predetermined value}, and starts power to the heater when the coolant water temperature has reached {air-fuel ratio feedback control starting water temperature−predetermined value};
- the predetermined value that is set for the air-fuel ratio feedback control starting water temperature is determined according to the coolant water temperature when the internal combustion engine starts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.