Self-heating oxygen sensor

摘要

A self-heating oxygen sensor comprising a sensing element, composed of an oxide and formed into a wire shaped object or a thin-film-strip shaped object such that a curve expressing temperature dependability of electric resistance has a segment of positive inclination and a hot spot is caused to occur so that a change in current value or electric resistance when a predetermined voltage is applied can be detected as a change in oxygen concentration. The self-heating oxygen sensor does not require a separate heater for heating, is simple in structure, has excellent response characteristics at a stable operating temperature, and is yet inexpensive.