Method for controlling the operation of a probe

1. A method for controlling operation of a sensor associated with an exhaust-gas purifying mechanism of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

providing a sensor associated with an exhaust-gas purifying mechanism of an internal combustion engine, said sensor having an output signal;

comparing the output signal of the sensor with a reference value in a correction assembly;

utilizing the output signal of the sensor to determine a phase of regeneration of the exhaust-gas purifying mechanism in a detection module;

supplying a signal from the detection module to the correction assembly when the phase of regeneration of the exhaust-gas purifying mechanism is determined; and

acting on the sensor to decrease the difference between the output signal and the reference value based on a correction determined by the correction assembly.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the acting on modifies an operating temperature of the sensor.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the acting on changes a supply voltage of the sensor from a nominal supply voltage.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the uotput signal of the sensor is used to determine the final stage of regeneration of the exhaust-gas purifying mechanism in the detection module.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is acted on as a function of the difference between the output signal of the sensor and the reference value determined during a final stage of a phase of regeneration of the purifying mechanism.

6. A method for controlling operation of a sensor associated with an exhaust-gas purifying mechanism of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

comparing an output signal of the sensor with a reference value;

acting on the sensor to decrease the difference between the output signal and the reference value; and

wherein a failure of the sensor is detected as a function of the action applied to the sensor to decrease the difference between the output signal and the reference value.

7. A device for controlling operation of a sensor associated with an exhaust-gas purifying mechanism of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a sensor associated with an exhaust-gas purifying mechanism of an internal combustion engine, said sensor having an output signal;

measuring means for determining a difference between the output signal of the sensor and a reference value in a correction assembly;

means for determining a phase of regeneration of the exhaust-gas purifying mechanism in a detection module utilizing the out put signal of the sensor;

means for supplying a signal from the detection module to the correction assembly when the phase of regeneration of the exhaust-gas purifying mechanism is determined; and

means for controlling the supply voltage of the sensor as a function of the difference between the output signal of the sensor and the reference value based on a correction determined by the correction assembly.

8. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor is an oxygen sensor of all-or-nothing type disposed downstream from a catalytic converter.

9. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the output signal of the sensor is used to determine the final stage of a regeneration of the exhaust-gas purifying mechanism in the detection module.

10. A device for controlling operation of a sensor associated with an exhaust-gas purifying mechanism of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a comparator determining a difference between an output signal of the sensor and a reference value;

a controller controlling the supply voltage of the sensor as a function of the difference between the output signal of the sensor and the reference value; and

a detector detecting a failure of the sensor as a function of the action applied to the sensor to decrease the difference between the output signal and the reference value.