Method, particle sensor and particle sensor system for measuring particles

Abstract

A method and a particle sensor ( 5 ) are provided for measuring particles, especially soot particles. The particles to be detected accumulate in a measuring region ( 10 ) of the particle sensor ( 5 ). The particles located in the gas stream ( 55 ) or the particles already accumulated in the measuring region ( 10 ) are burned by a combustion device ( 15 ), the combustion being controlled via a control signal from a control unit ( 20 ), which is electrically connected to a measuring device ( 25 ), in such a way that the quantity of the particles adhering in the measuring region ( 10 ) remains constant. The physical variable of the combustion device ( 15 ), which leads to the controlled combustion of the particles, is drawn upon as the signal amplitude of the particle sensor ( 5 ).

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A particle sensor for measuring particles, comprising:
 a measuring region for adhering the particles to be detected;   a measuring device and a combustion device situated in distributed fashion on at least one base element, wherein the particle sensor includes a control unit for controlling the combustion by the combustion device, via a control signal from a control unit, which is connected to the measuring device, so that the quantity of the particles adhering in the measuring region remains constant, and determining from this, a signal amplitude of the particle sensor.   
     
     
         12 . A particle sensor system for measuring particles, comprising:
 a particle sensor having a measuring region for adhering the particles to be detected;   a control unit coupled to the particle sensor;   a measuring device and a combustion device situated in distributed fashion on at least one base element, wherein the control unit of the particle sensor is for controlling the combustion by the combustion device, via a control signal from a control unit, so that the quantity of the particles adhering in the measuring region remains constant, and determining from this, a signal amplitude of the particle sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The particle sensor system of  claim 12 , wherein the measuring device is spatially subsequently situated to the combustion device in a flow direction of the gas stream.