A system includes: an exhaust aftertreatment system that includes a particulate matter sensor that includes a heating element configured to selectively provide heat to the particulate matter sensor; and a controller programmed to: receive particulate matter data indicating a state of the particulate matter sensor; determine that the particulate matter sensor is in a full state based on the particulate matter data; and activate the heating element to: (i) a first temperature for a first period of time, the first temperature being sufficient to burn off water or ammonia; (ii) a second temperature for a second period of time immediately after the first period of time, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature and being sufficient to burn off urea, biuret, or melamine; and (iii) a third temperature for a third period of time immediately after the second period of time, the third temperature being greater than the second temperature and being sufficient to burn off carbon.

Embodiments of the present invention provide An oxygen sensor (160) control module (100) for a vehicle, comprising input means (130) for receiving one or more signals (135) indicative of a likelihood of future engine cranking, an output means (140) to provide an output signal (145) to cause activation of a heater (150) associated with the oxygen sensor, and processing means (110) arranged to control, in dependence on the one or more signals (135) indicative of the likelihood of future engine cranking, the output means (140) to provide the output signal (145) to cause activation of the heater (150) associated with the oxygen sensor (160) prior to the engine cranking.

A sensor for detecting electrically conductive and/or polarizable particles, in particular for detecting soot particles, includes a substrate, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer, which is arranged between the substrate and the first electrode layer. An insulation layer is formed betweem the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer and at least one opening is formed in the first electrode layer and in the insulation layer, wherein the opening of the first electrode layer and the opening of the insulation layer are arranged one over the other at least in some segments in such a way that at least one passage to the second electrode layer is formed.

A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine detects an amount of particulate matter contained in an exhaust gas in an exhaust passage, according to an electrical property across electrodes of a particulate matter sensor disposed in the exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine. The term electrical property here refers to a property that changes with the amount of particulate matter deposited, for example, a current value of when a predetermined voltage is applied. After the internal combustion engine is started and detection of the amount of the particulate matter is completed, an element section of the particulate matter sensor is set to a predetermined temperature range. The particulate matter deposited on the element section is thereby burned and removed. The control apparatus maintains the element section in the predetermined temperature range after burning and removing the particulate matter until the internal combustion engine stops.

A particulate matter detecting device includes: an element unit on which particulate matter contained in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is deposited; a heater that heats the element unit; a detecting unit that detects the amount of particulate matter on the basis of electrical characteristics of the element unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the heater. For a predetermined period that does not include a period in which the particulate matter is deposited on the element unit, the control unit operates the heater using a predetermined amount of control set in advance such that the temperature of the element unit is higher than the temperature of the exhaust gas and lower than a predetermined temperature at which the element unit is thermally degraded.

The present disclosure relates to a system, apparatus, and method for reconditioning a particulate matter sensor in an exhaust aftertreatment system that will resist poisoning. The system and method includes receiving particulate matter data indicating a state of the particulate matter sensor; determining that the particulate matter sensor is in a full state based on the particulate matter data; activating a heating element of the particulate matter sensor to a multiple of intermittent temperatures that clean the sensor pre-patory to the next measurement. By this manner, many reactive chemicals are removed before they can react with and poison the sensor materials.

Methods and systems are provided for a particulate matter sensor. In one example, the sensor may include a concave inlet for admitting exhaust gas from an exhaust passage downstream of a particulate filter into the sensor.

A method for determining soot in exhaust gases of burners or internal combustion engines with the aid of a sensor element which includes at least two measuring electrodes exposed to the exhaust gas and one heating element, a voltage being applied to the at least two measuring electrodes during a measuring phase and the current flow or electrical resistance occurring between the measuring electrodes being determined and output as a measure for the particle concentration or the particle mass flow, characterized in that during the measuring phase, the temperature of the sensor element is monitored and the sensor element is heated by the heating element, if the temperature of the sensor element falls below a limiting temperature.

Methods and systems are provided for activating a universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor activation during each of a pre-delivery phase and a post-delivery phase of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include during the pre-delivery phase, following an engine start, using a lower current flowing via a heater coupled to the UEGO sensor to heat the UEGO sensor and during the post-delivery phase, following an engine start, once exhaust temperature reaches a threshold temperature, using a higher current flowing via the heater coupled to the UEGO sensor to heat the UEGO sensor.

A PM detection system has a PM sensor, current detector, and control circuit. The circuit switches of a detection mode and a burning mode. In the detection mode, the control circuit prohibits supply of power to a heater and supplies a voltage between electrodes, and instructs the current detector to detect a current flowing between the electrodes. In the burning mode, the control circuit instructs the heater to generate heat energy to burn PM accumulated on an accumulation part. The control circuit judges PM has remained on the accumulation part when the detected current exceeds a threshold value, and performs the burning mode again. The system further has a pair of current detectors. Each current detector detects a leak current flowing from the heater to the electrodes through an insulation member when the heater generates heat energy. The circuit detects a sensor failure based on the detected leak current.