A selective catalytic reduction system control system (10) and method of its use include an ammonia (“NH.sub.3”) slip sensor (13) located within an interior space (27) of an exhaust stack (15) of a selective catalytic reactor (31), toward an inlet end (25) of the stack (15); a housing (17) located within the interior space of the exhaust stack; the housing including face panels 19; a nitrogen oxides (“NOx”) sensor (11) contained within an interior space (29) defined by the face panels of the housing, at least two of the face panels (19.sub.I, 19.sub.O) containing an oxidation catalyst; and a dosing controller (59) in communication with the NH.sub.3 and NOx sensors, the dosing controller including a microprocessor with dosing logic embedded thereon. The housing with oxidation catalyst acts as a linear box, isolating the NOx sensor from NH.sub.3 slip, linearizing the NOx sensor signal.

A diagnostic method is provided for testing a gas sensor mounted in an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine provided with an after treatment system and a diagnostic motor management module. The method comprises receiving a gas sensor signal from the gas sensor as subsequent gas sensor sample values in a time window; detecting a noise component from the gas sensor signal; deriving a sensor baseline condition in the diagnostic motor management module in case of a noise component detected at a value higher than a preset noise threshold value, and deriving a fault sensor condition in the diagnostic motor management module in case of a noise component detected at a value lower than the preset noise threshold value.

An O.sub.2 sensor has a sensor element, which includes a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes, while the solid electrolyte layer is interposed between the electrodes. The O.sub.2 sensor outputs an electromotive force signal in response to an air-to-fuel ratio of exhaust gas of an engine, which serves as a sensing subject. A constant current circuit, which induces a flow of a predetermined constant electric current between the pair of electrodes of a sensor element, and a current sensing arrangement, which senses a current value of an actual electric current that is conducted through the sensor element, are provided. A microcomputer determines whether an abnormality of the constant current circuit is present based on the current value of the electric current, which is sensed with the current sensing arrangement, in a case where the constant current is induced by the constant current circuit.

A sensor for detecting electrically conductive and/or polarizable particles, in particular for detecting soot particles, includes a substrate and at least two electrode layers, a first electrode layer and at least one second electrode layer, which is arranged between the substrate and the first electrode layer. At least one insulation layer is formed between the first electrode layer and the at least one second electrode layer and at least one opening is formed in both the first electrode layer and the at least one insulation layer. At least some sections of the opening in the first electrode layer and of the opening in the insulation layer are arranged one above the other, such that at least one passage is formed to the second electrode layer.

An ECM executes a catalyst early activation control at the cold start of an engine such that the activation of a catalyzer is promoted by opening a WGV. Further, the ECM performs a diagnosis process of diagnosing whether or not the WGV is stuck closed, based on the amplitude of the output fluctuation in an air-fuel-ratio sensor during execution of the catalyst early activation control.

A system for determining a performance status of an exhaust aftertreatment system may include determining an ammonia-to-nitrogen ratio using a sample ammonia input value and a sample NO.sub.x input value. An actual NO.sub.x input value and an actual ammonia input value can be received. An emission value from may be received from a first sensor. A NO.sub.x emission estimate, an ammonia slip estimate, and an optimal ammonia storage value for a selective catalytic reduction may be determined using an iterative inefficiency calculation based, at least in part, on the actual NO.sub.x input value, the actual ammonia input value, and the ammonia-to-nitrogen ratio; and the NO.sub.x emission estimate, the ammonia slip estimate, and the optimal ammonia storage value may be outputted to a diagnostic system.

A particulate matter sensor detecting particulate matter in exhaust emissions is provided, which is resistant to having sensor surfaces buried by particulate matter residue. Detection electrodes are provided, with alternating polarity, laminated in a laminating direction, separated by insulation. Of the detection electrodes, first detection electrodes of one polarity and second detection electrodes of the other polarity are exposed perpendicular to the laminating direction. In the direction perpendicular to the laminating direction, the particulate matter sensor has target accumulating parts on which the particulate matter is accumulated. In the target accumulating parts, the thickness W1 of the first detection electrodes in the laminating direction is greater than the thickness W2 of the second detection electrodes in the laminating direction.

A method is provided for controlling nitrogen oxide emissions in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by means of successive actuation of catalytic converters in the exhaust tract and of the internal combustion engine, wherein the catalytic converters or the internal combustion engine are actuated in succession if the actuation of a first device is not sufficient for reducing the nitrogen oxide emissions. An arrangement for carrying out the method is also provided.

Determining a functionality of an exhaust gas sensor in an exhaust gas system having a catalytic converter and a first exhaust gas sensor upstream of the catalytic converter and a second exhaust gas sensor downstream of the catalytic converter. The first and the second exhaust gas sensors are heated to a temperature above a minimum operating temperature.; A first sensor signal of the first exhaust gas sensor; and a second sensor signal of the second exhaust gas sensor are determined. The first and the second sensor signals are compared in an operating period in which a temperature of the at least one catalytic converter does not exceed a temperature threshold value; and an operating parameter of the first exhaust gas sensor (121) is determined on the basis the comparison

An exhaust purification system comprising an exhaust purification catalyst, a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor, and a control device performing air-fuel ratio control for controlling an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas and abnormality diagnosis control for diagnosing the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor. In the air-fuel ratio control, the control device alternately and repeatedly switches the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst between a rich air-fuel ratio and a lean air-fuel ratio. In the abnormality diagnosis control, the control device judges that the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor has become abnormal when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made the rich air-fuel ratio by the air-fuel control and the output air-fuel ratio of the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor changes from an air-fuel ratio richer than a predetermined lean judged air-fuel ratio to an lean air-fuel ratio.