Patent ID: 7955494
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A gas sensor control apparatus for controlling a gas sensor including a sensor element having a solid electrolyte layer, and first and second electrodes located on opposite sides of said solid electrolyte layer, said first electrode serving as a gas detecting electrode, said second electrode serving as a reference electrode, said sensor element generating, as a sensor output, a current flowing between said first and second electrodes having a value depending on concentration of a specific gas component contained in a gas under measurement, said gas sensor control apparatus being configured to: determine whether or not it is time for said gas sensor to start operation; and control a forced supply of oxygen from a side of said second electrode to a side of said first electrode on a temporary basis when a determination result of whether or not it is time for the gas sensor to start operation becomes affirmative; wherein said control is configured to measure an impedance of said sensor element, said control is configured to stop forcibly supplying oxygen to the side of said first electrode when said measured impedance has reached a predetermined value, and the impedance of said sensor element is an AC impedance obtained by temporarily changing a voltage applied to the sensor element to an alternating voltage.