| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the period for suspending measurement of the amount of PM in exhaust gas due to PM reset for removing fine particles deposited on a PM sensor. <P>SOLUTION: When an internal combustion engine stops, an element of a PM sensor is heated, if the resistance between PM sensor electrodes is smaller than a reference resistance, up to a first temperature so that PM deposited on the element can be heated and removed therefrom. When the internal combustion engine starts, the element is heated, upon detecting that the engine is about to start, up to a second temperature lower than the first temperature so that the deposit on the surface of the element can be heated and removed therefrom. Then, after the internal combustion engine has started and the deposit has been heated and removed from the surface of the element, the amount of fine particles in exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT |
