Exhaust gas sensors with oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte, useful in controlling fuel-air ratios and catalyst regeneration cycles, having two waste gas-side electrodes and reference atmosphere side electrode

摘要

An exhaust gas sensor device (54), comprising an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte (70) separating the exhaust gas from a reference atmosphere and forming a Nernst cell with a first waste gas-side electrode (72) and a reference atmosphere side electrode (76), includes a second waste gas-side electrode (74) forming a pump cell with the first waste gas-side electrode (72). An independent claim is also included for a method for operating the device, involving producing a potential difference between the first and second waste gas-side electrodes using operating and evaluation circuitry (56) (for measuring the Nernst potential set up in the Nernst cell) and alternating the extent of the potential difference between at least two values.