Patent ID: 8555701

Claim:
A method of operating a semiconductor gas sensor comprising the steps of: providing a controller connected to a power supply, said controller being capable of applying electricity, ceasing the application of electricity, and receiving electrical signals through electrical connections; providing a sensing apparatus having a heating element and a sensing element, where the sensing apparatus is electrically connected to said controller through a first electrical pathway, the heating element increases in temperature when electricity is applied, the resistance of said heating element increases when the temperature of said heating element increases, the temperature of said sensing element increases when the temperature of said heating element increases, and the sensing element is a semi conductive material with a conductivity that changes in response to changes in its temperature; providing an operating temperature system comprising an operating comparator and an operating resistor of fixed resistance, said operating comparator having distinct electrical connections to said controller and said sensing apparatus and being able to compare the resistance of the operating resistor and the heating element, said operating comparator being able to provide an operating temperature signal electronically to the controller when the resistance of the heating element is not less than the resistance of the operating resistor; and where the controller applies electricity through the heating element in a series of narrow pulses.