In a temperature sensitive element, a covering member containing a glass as a main component and having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of output lines is provided on pads to cover at least portions of output lines located on the pads. The pads are formed of a glass-based material which contains, as main components, a metal and a glass having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of a ceramic substrate, and the thermal expansion coefficient of the pads is set to be smaller than that of the output lines. Accordingly, in the case where the temperature sensitive element is exposed to a temperature change between a high temperature and ordinary temperature, compressive stress can be applied to the output lines by the covering member and the pads. Thus, the fixing force between the output lines and the pads can be increased.

An exhaust gas purification device includes a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for capturing particulate matter (PM) in an exhaust gas, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device for reducing NOx in the exhaust gas, detecting units for detecting the DPF electrostatic capacity, an estimating unit for estimating the inside temperature of the DPF based on the electrostatic capacity, and a controlling unit for executing forced DPF regeneration. A lower limit temperature is defined as a temperature to trigger PM combustion, and an upper limit temperature is defined as a temperature to avoid filter erosion. The controlling unit executes the forced regeneration with an amount of fuel supplied for causing the inside temperature to reach the lower limit temperature, when the inside temperature is at or above the SCR activation temperature, and executes the forced regeneration with another amount of fuel supplied for causing the inside temperature to reach the upper limit temperature, when the inside temperature is below the SCR activation temperature.

A heater is provided that includes at least one resistive heating element having a material with a non-monotonic resistivity vs. temperature profile and exhibiting a negative dR/dT characteristic over a predetermined operating temperature range along the profile. The heater can include a plurality of circuits disposed in a fluid path to heat fluid flow.

The present invention relates to a temperature sensor (1) for an engine of a vehicle, comprising: a casing (1) containing a circuit board (14) and traversed by at least one pair (2) of wires (3) provided with terminals (8), the terminal (8) being made up of a portion (804) crimped onto a conductor (5) arranged in the casing (1), a connector (101) comprising at least one metal insert (10) ensuring the electrical connection with the circuit board (14), where the casing comprises at least one flange (9) for holding the terminals (8), the terminals (8) being folded.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for a pulse switched high side driver for vehicle sensor. An example method may include switching a transistor of a vehicle circuit to connect a first resistor to a vehicle sensor for a first time period in which exhaust gas temperature values of the vehicle are within a first range of exhaust gas temperatures values. The example method may also include switching, by providing a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal with an on signal value, the transistor to connect a second resistor to a vehicle sensor for a second period of time in which exhaust gas temperature values of the vehicle are within a second range of exhaust gas temperatures values that are greater than the first range of exhaust gas temperature values, wherein the second resistor and vehicle sensor are also included in the vehicle circuit, wherein the second resistor is in parallel with a first resistor and connected between the transistor and the vehicle sensor. The example method may also include switching, by providing a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal with an off signal value, the transistor to disconnect the second resistor from the vehicle sensor for a third period of time, the third period of time being greater than the second period of time. The example method may also include reading, using an analog to digital converter (ADC) an output of the vehicle sensor during or after the first period of time.

A method for operating a heater system including a resistive heating element having a material with a non-monotonic resistivity vs. temperature profile is provided. The method includes heating the resistive heating element to within a limited temperature range in which the resistive heating element exhibits a negative dR/dT characteristic, operating the resistive heating element within an operating temperature range that at least partially overlaps the limited temperature range, and determining a temperature of the resistive heating element such that the resistive heating element functions as both a heater and a temperature sensor. The resistive heating element can function as a temperature sensor in a temperature range between about 500° C. and about 800° C., and the non-monotonic resistivity vs. temperature profile for the material of the resistive heating element can have a local maximum and a local minimum.

A method that determines a correct or an incorrect position of a temperature sensor in an emission control system, the method including: determining a first reference temperature within a first temperature interval; measuring a first temperature with the temperature sensor corresponding to the first temperature interval; determining a second reference temperature within a second temperature interval; measuring a second temperature with the temperature sensor corresponding to the second temperature interval; determining a value for a characteristic parameter based on the first reference temperature, the first measured temperature, the second reference temperature and the second measured temperature; comparing the determined value for the characteristic parameter with a predetermined characteristic parameter threshold value that is based upon the determined operation parameter results for different positions of the temperature sensor for predetermined engine operation characteristics; and based upon the comparison, determining a correct or an incorrect position of the temperature sensor.

A thermocouple arrangement comprising: a first thermocouple including a first thermoelement and a second thermoelement coupled at a first junction, the first junction subject to a first temperature, the second material different from the first material; a second thermocouple including a third thermoelement and a fourth thermoelement coupled to the third thermoelement at a second junction connected to the first thermoelement, the second junction arranged at a second portion subject to a second temperature, the fourth material different from the third material; and a third thermocouple including a fifth thermoelement and a sixth thermoelement coupled to the fifth thermoelement at a third junction connected to the second thermoelement, the third junction arranged at the second portion exposed to the second temperature, the fifth material different from the third material and the fourth material, the sixth material different from the third material, the fourth material, and the fifth material.

A temperature sensor includes an insulating substrate made of ceramics and having a first surface and a second surface an electrode including a cathode electrode and an anode electrode, which are disposed on the first surface of the insulating substrate; a resistance wire portion including one or more resistance wires inside the insulating substrate, a cathode end portion of the resistance wire portion being electrically connected to the cathode electrode, and an anode end portion of the resistance wire portion electrically connected to the anode electrode; and one or more metal layers connected to a portion in a path through which current flows between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, and the portion having a potential identical with or lower than that of the resistance wire portion.

A method of manufacturing a sensor include depositing a metal layer on a substrate and fabricating a calibration structure on the metal layer. The calibration structure can include a first calibration portion and a second calibration portion. The method may further include, performing a first calibration of the sensor by modifying the first calibration portion. In addition, the method can include placing a cover layer on a portion of the first calibration portion after the first calibration and then performing a second calibration of the sensor by modifying the second calibration.