Filter regenerating apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A filter regenerating apparatus for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The filter regenerating apparatus includes: a heating chamber having a first opening and a second opening; a filter for trapping particulate matter included in the exhaust gas which is discharged from the internal combustion engine and flows into the heating chamber via the first opening portion; a microwave generating device for generating microwave supplied to the heating chamber; a microwave detecting device having a detecting section for detecting the power of the microwave supplied to the heating chamber, the microwave detecting device outputting a detection signal in accordance with the detected power; and a control device for controlling the microwave generation of the microwave generating device in accordance with the detection signal, wherein the heating chamber includes a space into which no exhaust gas flows, the filter is supported against a wall of the heating chamber by a support portion having a heat insulating member, the support portion being positioned in the space into which no exhaust gas flows, and the detecting section of the microwave detecting device is located in the support portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.