摘要 |
Disclosed is a method for correcting characteristic variation of a PM sensor and improving detection accuracy of the sensor. The PM sensor has a pair of electrodes for capturing the PM in an exhaust gas, and a sensor output changes in accordance with a captured amount of the PM. If the sensor output gets close to a saturated state, the PM combustion control for combusting and removing the PM is executed. If a zero-point output of the PM sensor is to be corrected, first, a sensor output at a point of time when predetermined time required for combustion of the PM has elapsed after electrical conduction to the heater is started by the PM combustion control is obtained. Then, the sensor output at an arbitrary point of time is corrected. As a result, correction of the sensor can be made smoothly by using existing PM combustion control. |