| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To estimate the active state of an oxygen sensor highly accurately. SOLUTION: Catalyst temperature TCAT is detected by means of a sensor (S 11). On the other hand, a correction factor HHOS for correcting the radiation of heat from an oxygen sensor to a catalyst is set based on the flow rate Q of intake air corresponding to the flow rate of exhaust gas (S12). The catalyst temperature TCAT is corrected by the correction factor HHOS to operate the element temperature TO21 of the oxygen sensor (TO21=TCAT×HHOS) (S13). Furthermore, the element temperature TO21 is corrected based on the temperature of intake air corresponding to the outer air temperature thus obtaining the final element temperature TO2 TO2=TO21-(25-suction air temperature)} (S14). When the element temperature TO2 is higher than the active temperature (S 15), a decision is made that the oxygen sensor is active (S 16). |
