Patent US4669049A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4669049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature measuring instrument and adapter for same
Assignee: MON-A-THERM Inc
•
Filing: 1985-10-08
•
Granted: 1987-05-26
•
Expires: 2005-10-08
Abstract
Abstract An adapter to permit a temperature measuring instrument ordinarily used with a thermistor temperature sensor to be used with a temperature probe of the thermocouple type. The adapter has an output for connection to the temperature measuring instrument and has circuitry for processing the signal from the thermocouple probe to produce at the adapter output a resistance which a thermistor sensor would generate at the same temperature. A temperature measuring instrument for efficient use of an electrical source has circuitry for processing a temperature related signal according to a sequence of operations to provide an electrical variable having a value which is a function of the temperature being measured. The sequence commences with connection of the electrical source to the processing circuitry. At the completion of the sequence a signal indicative of completion is produced. In responsive to the completion signal the electrical source is disconnected from the processing circuitry. The electrical source is reconnected to the processing circuitry a predetermined time after the disconnection.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph F. Kosednar
- 👤 Raymond F. Mohrman
- 👤 Philip M. Gundlach, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K13/00; G01K13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
An adapter for a temperature measuring instrument having an input terminal for connection ordinarily to a temperature sensor having a resistance which varies as a function of temperature, said temperature measuring instrument to be utilized with a temperature sensing probe of a type having a temperature sensing element which is different from that of the temperature sensor and which produces an electrical signal having a parameter which varies as a function of temperature, the adapter having an output for connection to the input terminal of the temperature measuring instrument, and comprising: means for processing the electrical signal to generate a corresponding digital control signal representative of different values functionally related to the parameter of the electrical signal; and means responsive to the different values respectively of the digital control signal for producing at the adapter output a resistance which varies as a predetermined function of the parameter of the electrical signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
An adapter for a temperature measuring instrument having an input terminal for connection ordinarily to a temperature sensor having a resistance which varies as a function of temperature, said temperature measuring instrument to be utilized with a temperature sensing probe of a type having a temperature sensing element which is different from that of the temperature sensor and which produces an electrical signal having a parameter which varies as a function of temperature, the adapter having an output for connection to the input terminal of the temperature measuring instrument, and comprising: means for processing the electrical signal to generate a corresponding digital control signal representative of different values functionally related to the parameter of the electrical signal; and means responsive to the different values respectively of the digital control signal for producing at the adapter output a resistance which varies as a predetermined function of the parameter of the electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the adapter output has terminals and said means for producing the resistance includes a set of resistances and means responsive to the different values respectively of the digital control signal for connecting corresponding subsets of the set of resistances across the terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 2 wherein the connecting means includes a set of transistors each having a control terminal for receiving the digital control signal and transistor terminals connected between one of the output terminals and a corresponding resistance of the set of resistances.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 3 wherein each resistance is connected to the other output terminal and the transistors are field effect transistors having gates as the control terminals for receiving the digital control signal in parallel form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An adapter as set set forth in claim 2 wherein the connecting means includes means for selectively connecting the resistances in each subset of resistances in parallel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the processing means includes means for storing the digital control signal and wherein the means for producing the resistance responds to the stored digital control signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the processing means includes means for counting digital pulses to generate the digital control signal and means for generating a series of digital pulses for the counting means, the number of the digital pulses in each series being functionally related to the parameter of the electrical signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means responsive to a second electrical signal for disconnecting an electrical energy source from the processing means and then reconnecting the source to the processing means a predetermined time period after the disconnection so that energy from the electrical energy source is used periodically and wherein the processing means includes means for processing the electrical signal according to a predetermined sequence of operations commencing with connection of the electrical energy source thereto so that when the sequence of operations is completed the second electrical signal is produced, whereby energy consumption from the electrical energy source is reduced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electrical signal is an analog voltage and the processing means includes means for converting the analog voltage to the digital control signal, said converting means including a computer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
An adapter to permit a temperature measuring instrument having an input terminal for connection to a thermistor to be utilized with a temperature sensing probe of a type having a thermocouple sensing element, the thermistor having a resistance which varies in a predetermined relationship with temperature, the thermocouple producing a voltage as a function of temperature, the adapter having output terminals for connection to the input terminal of the temperature measuring instrument, said adapter comprising: means for processing the thermocouple voltage to generate a corresponding digital control signal representative of different values functionally related to the thermocouple voltage; a set of resistances; and means responsive to the different values of the digital control signal for selectively connecting across the output terminals subsets of the set of resistances corresponding to respective values of the digital control signal so that the resulting resistance across the output terminals has the same predetermined relationship with the temperature as does the thermistor resistance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
An adapter to permit a temperature measuring instrument having an input terminal for connection to a thermistor to be utilized with a temperature sensing probe of a type having a thermocouple sensing element, the thermistor having a resistance which varies in a predetermined relationship with temperature, the thermocouple producing a voltage as a function of temperature, the adapter having output terminals for connection to the input terminal of the temperature measuring instrument, said adapter comprising: means for processing the thermocouple voltage to generate a corresponding digital control signal representative of different values functionally related to the thermocouple voltage; a set of resistances; and means responsive to the different values of the digital control signal for selectively connecting across the output terminals subsets of the set of resistances corresponding to respective values of the digital control signal so that the resulting resistance across the output terminals has the same predetermined relationship with the temperature as does the thermistor resistance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein the set of resistances includes a set of resistors and wherein the connecting means includes means for selectively connecting subsets of the set of resistors accross the terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein the adapter output has terminals and wherein the connecting means includes a set of transistors each having a control terminal for receiving the digital control signal and transistor terminals connected between one of the output terminals and a corresponding resistance of the set of resistances.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 12 wherein each resistance is connected to the other output terminal and the transistors are field effect transistors having gates as the control terminals for receiving the digital control signal in parallel form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An adapter as set set forth in claim 10 wherein the resistance connecting means includes means for selectively connecting the resistances in each subset of resistances in parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein the processing means includes means for storing the digital control signal and wherein the connecting means responds to the stored digital control signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein the processing means includes means for counting digital pulses to generate the digital control signal and means for generating a series of digital pulses for the counting means, the number of the digital pulses in each series being functionally related to the thermocouple voltage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 10 further comprising means responsive to an electrical signal for disconnecting an electrical energy source from the processing means and then reconnecting the source to the processing means a predetermined time period after the disconnection so that energy from the electrical energy source is used periodically and wherein the processing means includes means for processing the thermocouple voltage according to a predetermined sequence of operations commencing with connection of the electrical energy source thereto so that when the sequence of operations is completed the electrical signal is produced, whereby consumption of energy from the electrical energy source is reduced.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein the processing means includes means for converting the thermocouple voltage to the digital control signal, said converting means including a computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
141 words
A temperature measuring instrument for efficient use of energy from an electrical energy source and for use with a sensor for supplying a first signal having a parameter functionally related to temperature, the instrument comprising: means for processing the first signal according to a predetermined sequence of operations to provide at the output terminals of the temperature measuring instrument an electrical variable having a value which is a function of the temperature being measured, the predetermined sequence commencing with connection of the electrical energy source to the processing means so that when the sequence of operations is completed a second signal indicative of completion is produced; and means responsive to the second signal for disconnecting the electrical energy source from the processing means and then reconnecting the electrical energy source to the processing means a predetermined time period after the disconnection.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
141 words
A temperature measuring instrument for efficient use of energy from an electrical energy source and for use with a sensor for supplying a first signal having a parameter functionally related to temperature, the instrument comprising: means for processing the first signal according to a predetermined sequence of operations to provide at the output terminals of the temperature measuring instrument an electrical variable having a value which is a function of the temperature being measured, the predetermined sequence commencing with connection of the electrical energy source to the processing means so that when the sequence of operations is completed a second signal indicative of completion is produced; and means responsive to the second signal for disconnecting the electrical energy source from the processing means and then reconnecting the electrical energy source to the processing means a predetermined time period after the disconnection.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 19 wherein the predetermined time period exceeds the time for the sequence of operations to be completed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 19 wherein the means for disconnecting and then reconnecting includes timing means responsive to the second signal to reconnect the electrical energy source to the processing means at the end of the predetermined time period.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
58 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 21 wherein the timing means produces a third signal at the end of the predetermined time period and wherein the means for disconnecting and then reconnecting includes a transistor having a control terminal responsive to the third signal and transistor terminals connected between the electrical energy source and the processing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 19 wherein the processing means comprises a microcomputer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
An instrument as set forth in claim 19 wherein the means for disconnecting and then reconnecting includes a transistor having a control terminal responsive to the second signal indicative of completion of each sequence of operations and transistor terminals connected between the electrical energy source and the processing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3447376A
Cited
US3534809A
Cited
US4341117A
Cited
US3978325A
Cited
US4122719A
Cited
US4157663A
Cited
US4293916A
Cited
US4403296A
Cited
US4466749A
Cited
US4607962A
Cited
US4493564A
Cited
US4537516A
Cited
US4562554A
Cited
US4588308A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-25 | 1990-11-24 | 1991-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-25 | 1994-11-24 | 1995-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-25 | 1998-11-24 | 1999-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |