The invention relates to a device for operating a particle sensor in the exhaust gas duct of an internal combustion engine, the particle sensor comprising an interdigital electrode for determining the particles contained in the exhaust gas and a heater for regenerating said particle sensor and an engine management system being associated with the internal combustion engine. Provision is thereby made for a probe control unit to be connected to said particle sensor, for the probe control unit to be disposed in a separate assembly between said particle sensor and the engine management system and for said probe control unit to be connected to said engine management system via a digital bus or an analog interface. The invention relates further to a corresponding method. Device and method allow for the autonomous operation of a particle sensor without the engine management system having to be configured for the operation of said particle sensor.