| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time required for the inspection process of gas sensors, prior to factory shipment. <P>SOLUTION: An O2 sensor 20 is provided to an exhaust pipe of an engine and is turned into an active state, when a sensor element 23 having a solid electrolytic layer 21 is heated by a heater 25. An ECU 10 determines whether the O2 sensor 20 is prior to factory shipments or after factory shipments and controls the energization of the heater differently depending on whether it is prior to factory shipments or after factory shipments, on the basis of determination results. Specifically, the ECU 10 limits electric power at the threshold of the start of the energization of the heater in the case where the sensor element 23 requires countermeasured against water damages prior to factory shipment, and the ECU 10 throws in the electric power to the heater 25, without limit from the threshold of the start of the energization of the heater, when the sensor element 23 does not necessarily require countermeasures against water damages, as prior to factory shipments. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT |
