Patent ID: 7909981

Claim:
A method for cleaning an electrode in a sensor, the sensor comprising a substrate, the electrode in contact with the substrate, and an electrolytic material in direct contact with the electrode, the method comprising the steps of: determining a measuring potential at which a concentration of a gas component is determined; applying a hydrating potential, the hydrating potential being a lower potential than the measuring potential in order to hydrate the sensor; selecting an oxidizing potential that is greater than the measuring potential; and applying the oxidizing potential to the electrode, the oxidizing potential between approximately 451 mV and approximately 649 mV, wherein the step of applying an oxidizing potential comprises: determining a time for applying the oxidizing potential based on at least one measurement of: concentration of impurity before applying the oxidizing potential, and concentration of impurity after applying the oxidizing potential; wherein the sensor is cleaned without disassembling or dismantling the sensor, and wherein the step of applying an oxidizing potential further comprises taking at least two consecutive measurements across the electrode, wherein if these at least two consecutive measurements yield a value within 10% of each other over a measurement time period, oxidation and regeneration are considered complete.