Step-change sensor for pumped and unpumped operation

A method for operating a sensor device that senses at least a proportion of at least one gas component of a gas in a measurement gas space, the sensor device including at least one sensor element having at least one first electrode, at least one first reference electrode, and at least one second reference electrode, wherein the second reference electrode is connected to at least one reference gas channel, the first electrode is connected to the first reference electrode and the second reference electrode by at least one respective solid electrolyte, the sensor element further having at least one diffusion element which is connected to the first reference electrode, the method comprising:

• applying, in a first operating mode, at least one of a pump voltage and a pump current, to the sensor element between the first electrode and the first reference electrode;
• and
• operating the sensor element, in a second operating mode, without pump voltage and without pump current between the first electrode and the first reference electrode;
• wherein in at least one of the first operating mode and in the second operating mode, the proportion of the gas component is deduced by sensing of at least one of a voltage and an electric current, at least one of:
• i) between the first electrode and the first reference electrode, ii) between the first electrode and the second reference electrode, and iii) between at least one electrical supply line of the first electrode and at least one electrical supply line of at least one of the first reference electrode and of the second reference electrode.