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US 2016/0109422 A1Published application
Methods and systems for operating a variable voltage oxygen sensor
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDaniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Susan Nicole Wilber
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a rate of change in a reference voltage of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include gradually increasing a reference voltage of an oxygen sensor from a lower first voltage to a higher second voltage at a ramp rate. The ramp rate may be based on engine operating conditions.
Claims20
An engine method, comprising:
- increasing a reference voltage of an oxygen sensor from a first voltage to a second voltage gradually at a ramp rate, the ramp rate based on engine operating conditions.
An engine method, comprising:
- increasing a reference voltage of an oxygen sensor from a first voltage to an intermediate second voltage in only a single step;
- and
- increasing the reference voltage from the intermediate second voltage to a third voltage incrementally in a plurality of steps.
An engine system, comprising:
- an exhaust oxygen sensor positioned in an exhaust passage downstream of an engine cylinder;
- and
- a controller with computer readable instructions for:
- during a first condition when the engine cylinder is being fueled, increasing a reference voltage of the exhaust oxygen sensor from a first voltage to a second voltage gradually at a first ramp rate;
- and
- during a second condition when the engine cylinder is not being fueled, increasing the reference voltage of the exhaust oxygen sensor from the first voltage to the second voltage gradually at a second ramp rate, the second ramp rate more gradual than the first ramp rate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.