公开(公告)号：US20200088667A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-19

申请号：US16566069

申请日：2019-09-10

Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.

Inventor： Fabio PASSANITI ,  Enrico ROSARIO ALESSI

IPC: G01N27/12 ,  G01N33/00

Abstract: A sensor is driven at a first heating power value. The sensor generates a sensing signal that is indicative of a sensed entity. A possible onset of a sensor contamination condition is detected as a function of the sensing signal generated by the sensor. If such detecting fails to indicate onset of a sensor contamination condition, the sensor continues to be driven at the first heating power value. However, if such detecting indicates onset of a sensor contamination condition, a protection mode is activated. In the protection mode, the sensor is driven at a second heating power value for a protection interval, where the second heating power value is lower than the first heating power value. Furthermore, the operation may refrain from supplying power to the sensor for a further protection interval, wherein the further protection interval is longer than the protection interval.