# US 8,539,817 B2 · Particulate matter detection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,817 B2 - Document ID: US8539817B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/221,979 - Filed: 2011-08-31 - Published: 2012-03-08 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-07 - Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd.; Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Atsuo Kondo; Takeshi Sakuma; Masahiro Tokuda; Takashi Egami; Keizo Iwama; Masanobu Miki - Inventors: Atsuo Kondo; Takeshi Sakuma; Masahiro Tokuda; Takashi Egami; Keizo Iwama; Masanobu Miki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539817B2 ## CPC - G01N 15/0656: {using electric, e.g. electrostatic methods or magnetic methods (by investigating individual particles G01N15/1031, G01N15/12)} - F01N 9/002: {of filter regeneration} - F01N 2560/05: the means being a particulate sensor - F01N 2560/20: Sensor having heating means - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) ## Abstract A particulate matter detection device includes a plate-like element base material including, on one surface thereof, a formed recess portion to collect a particulate matter; a pair of measurement electrodes arranged on the bottom surface side of the recess portion of the element base material; and a high-voltage dust collection electrode embedded in a wall which forms the recess portion of the element base material on the one surface side of the element base material from a position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. An electric field is generated from the high-voltage dust collection electrode to the pair of measurement electrodes, to collect, on the bottom surface side of the recess portion, the particulate matter flowing along the element base material, and a change of electric characteristics between the pair of measurement electrodes is measured to detect the particulate matter collected on the recess portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A particulate matter detection device comprising: a plate-like element base material including, on one surface thereof, a formed recess portion to collect a particulate matter; a pair of measurement electrodes arranged in a bottom surface of the recess portion of the element base material or in the element base material on the bottom surface side of the recess portion; and a high-voltage dust collection electrode embedded in a wall which forms the recess portion of the element base material at the same height position as a position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged in a depth direction of the recess portion or on the one surface side position of the element base material from the position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged, wherein an electric field is generated from the high-voltage dust collection electrode to the pair of measurement electrodes arranged in the bottom surface of the recess portion or in the element base material on the bottom surface side of the recess portion, to collect, on the bottom surface side of the recess portion, the particulate matter included in a measurement target gas flowing along the element base material, and a change of electric characteristics between the pair of measurement electrodes is measured to detect the particulate matter collected on the bottom surface side of the recess portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 1, wherein the high-voltage dust collection electrode is disposed to surround the periphery of the recess portion excluding a wall thereof positioned on an inflow side of the measurement target gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 2, wherein the measurement electrodes constituting the pair of measurement electrodes are combteeth-like electrodes each including a plurality of planarly arranged combteeth portions, and a comb spine portion which connects the plurality of combteeth portions of each of the measurement electrodes to one another at ends thereof, the combteeth portions of the measurement electrodes are arranged to engage with each other via a space, and the pair of measurement electrodes have a constitution in which at least a portion where the plurality of combteeth portions engage with each other is disposed in a region of the bottom surface of the recess portion and in which the comb spine portion of each of the measurement electrodes is disposed in the wall forming the recess portion outside the bottom surface region of the recess portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 3, further comprising: an earth dust collection electrode for earthing disposed on the surface side of the element base material opposite to the one surface thereof from the position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 2, further comprising: an earth dust collection electrode for earthing disposed on the surface side of the element base material opposite to the one surface thereof from the position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 1, wherein the high-voltage dust collection electrode is disposed to surround the whole region around the recess portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 6, wherein the measurement electrodes constituting the pair of measurement electrodes are combteeth-like electrodes each including a plurality of planarly arranged combteeth portions, and a comb spine portion which connects the plurality of combteeth portions of each of the measurement electrodes to one another at ends thereof, the combteeth portions of the measurement electrodes are arranged to engage with each other via a space, and the pair of measurement electrodes have a constitution in which at least a portion where the plurality of combteeth portions engage with each other is disposed in a region of the bottom surface of the recess portion and in which the comb spine portion of each of the measurement electrodes is disposed in the wall forming the recess portion outside the bottom surface region of the recess portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 7, further comprising: an earth dust collection electrode for earthing disposed on the surface side of the element base material opposite to the one surface thereof from the position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 6, further comprising: an earth dust collection electrode for earthing disposed on the surface side of the element base material opposite to the one surface thereof from the position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement electrodes constituting the pair of measurement electrodes are combteeth-like electrodes each including a plurality of planarly arranged combteeth portions, and a comb spine portion which connects the plurality of combteeth portions of each of the measurement electrodes to one another at ends thereof, the combteeth portions of the measurement electrodes are arranged to engage with each other via a space, and the pair of measurement electrodes have a constitution in which at least a portion where the plurality of combteeth portions engage with each other is disposed in a region of the bottom surface of the recess portion and in which the comb spine portion of each of the measurement electrodes is disposed in the wall forming the recess portion outside the bottom surface region of the recess portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 10, further comprising: an earth dust collection electrode for earthing disposed on the surface side of the element base material opposite to the one surface thereof from the position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The particulate matter detection device according to claim 1, further comprising: an earth dust collection electrode for earthing disposed on the surface side of the element base material opposite to the one surface thereof from the position where the pair of measurement electrodes are arranged.