Heating Element Thermistor for PM Sensor Regeneration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional particulate matter sensors fail to effectively and efficiently monitor and control the temperature of the heating element during the regeneration process, leading to inadequate soot removal and potential damage from excessive temperatures, and add complexity and cost with the use of additional temperature sensors.

Innovation Solution

The system utilizes the heating element itself as a thermistor to detect temperature, incorporating dynamic exhaust flow information and pulse width modulation to adjust the heating command signal, ensuring steady-state response voltage and maintaining net power delivery, with multiple substrate layers for protection and accurate resistance measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a temperature sensor is added to monitor the heating element temperature, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is designed to function dually as both the heating source and the temperature sensor. The heating element's resistance changes with temperature, and this resistance change is measured to determine temperature, eliminating the need for a separate temperature sensor. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by improving temperature control precision without increasing device complexity or cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element is given multiple functions: it serves as the primary heating component during regeneration and simultaneously acts as a temperature sensing element through its resistance-temperature characteristic. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to achieve precise temperature monitoring without adding separate sensing components, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the heating element temperature is increased to improve soot removal efficiency, then productivity is improved, but the risk of damaging sensor components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoot removal efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the heating element's resistance changes as feedback to monitor its temperature in real-time. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the power supplied to the heating element to maintain optimal regeneration temperature. This feedback mechanism enables high productivity for soot removal while preventing excessive temperatures that could damage sensor components, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and component safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the electrical parameters (voltage, current, power) supplied to the heating element based on the measured resistance changes. By adjusting these parameters in response to temperature conditions, the system can achieve high soot removal efficiency when needed while preventing thermal damage to components, resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of moving object

If the heating element temperature is increased to reduce regeneration time, then duration of action is improved, but the risk of overheating and component damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregeneration timeVSAvoidheating element temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element's resistance serves as a feedback indicator of its temperature. The control system continuously monitors this resistance and adjusts the heating power accordingly, enabling rapid regeneration while preventing overheating. This feedback control resolves the contradiction by allowing short regeneration times without excessive temperature increases that could damage components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts heating parameters (power, voltage, current) based on real-time resistance measurements to optimize the regeneration process. This parameter control enables the system to achieve fast regeneration times while maintaining temperatures within safe limits, resolving the contradiction between duration of action and temperature control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach provides precise temperature feedback control, optimizing soot removal efficiency while preventing overheating and reducing system complexity and cost by eliminating the need for additional temperature sensors.

Implementation Method 1

the heating element itself as a thermistor to detect the temperature of the heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermistor: Thermistor

Implementation Method 2

the heating element may be activated to oxidize the soot and regenerate the sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule Heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

the carbon component of the soot creates a high resistance short between the electrodes, which effectively lowers the resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP2869061B1Particulate matter sensor regeneration
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INC
  • EP2869061B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2869061B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2869061B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a system for regenerating a particulate matter sensor, the system comprising: a particulate matter sensor comprising a sensing element and a heating element; a sensing module configured to detect a soot loading on the sensing element of the particulate matter sensor and generate a regeneration request indicating a desired regeneration temperature; a heating module configured to receive the regeneration request and send a heating command signal to the heating element based on the regeneration request; an electrical resistance module configured to detect an electrical resistance in the heating element and determine an actual temperature of the heating element; and a temperature feedback module configured to modify the heating command signal according to the difference between the desired regeneration temperature and the actual temperature.