CPC G01N 27/123 (2013.01) [G01N 33/007 (2013.01); H05B 1/0283 (2013.01)] | 9 Claims |
1. An apparatus, comprising a circuit which includes:
at least one input node configured to receive from a gas sensor a sensing signal indicative of a sensed entity;
at least one power node configured to power a heating element of the gas sensor; and
processing circuitry coupled with the at least one input node and the at least one power node and configured to:
drive the heating element of the gas sensor at a first heating power value;
receive from the gas sensor a sensing signal indicative of a sensed entity;
detect, as a function of the received sensing signal, onset of a sensor contamination condition;
continue driving the heating element of the gas sensor at said first heating power value if said detecting fails to indicate onset of a sensor contamination condition; and
activate a protection mode when onset of the sensor contamination condition is detected, wherein activation of the protection mode includes driving the heating element of the gas sensor at a second heating power value for a protection interval, wherein said second heating power value is lower than said first heating power value.
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