US4734872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Temperature control for device under test
Assignee: Temptronic Corp
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Filing: 1985-04-30
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Granted: 1988-03-29
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Expires: 2005-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for and method of precisely controlling the temperature of an electronic component through a range of temperatures by controlling the temperature of a gas forced into contact with the component is disclosed. The system comprises a dual control loop including two sensors, one for measuring the temperature of the gas and the other for sensing the temperature of the component, for controlling the temperature of the gas so as to provide accurate control of the temperature of the component.
Inventors
- 👤 George Eager
- 👤 Pater Selverstone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2851; G01R31/2886; G01R31/2891; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1927; G05D23/193; G05D23/1931; G05D23/20; G05D23/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
In a system for precisely controlling the temperature of a substantially solid object through a range of temperatures, said system including (a) support means for supporting said object; (b) means, responsive to a control signal, for contorlling the temperature of a fluid; (c) means for directing said fluid into direct contact with an object supported by sa support means so as to control the temperature of said object; (d) menas for generaitng a first signal as a function of the current temperature of said fluid; (e) means for generating a second signal as a function of the desired temperature of said fluid; and (f) means for generating said control signal as a function of the different between said first and second signals; wherein the improvement comprises: said means for generating said second signal as a function of the desired temperature of the fluid includes means for generating said second signal as a function of the difference between the desired temperature of said object and the actual tmeperature of said object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
In a system for precisely controlling the temperature of a substantially solid object through a range of temperatures, said system including (a) support means for supporting said object; (b) means, responsive to a control signal, for contorlling the temperature of a fluid; (c) means for directing said fluid into direct contact with an object supported by sa support means so as to control the temperature of said object; (d) menas for generaitng a first signal as a function of the current temperature of said fluid; (e) means for generating a second signal as a function of the desired temperature of said fluid; and (f) means for generating said control signal as a function of the different between said first and second signals; wherein the improvement comprises: said means for generating said second signal as a function of the desired temperature of the fluid includes means for generating said second signal as a function of the difference between the desired temperature of said object and the actual tmeperature of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating said second signal as a function of the difference between the desired temperature of said object and the actual temperature of said object includes sensing means for sensing the temperature of said object at a location so as to substantially minimize the effect of said fluid on said sensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said means for directing said fluid into direct contact with said object directs said fluid in a predetermined direction so as to contact the portions of said object opposite said location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating said second signal includes means for performing the following control function: Asp=∫[[K2*E]+K1 (dE/dt)]dt wherein: Asp=the desired temperature of said fluid; Dsp=the desired temperature of said object; E=error (the desired temperature of said object minus the measured temperature of said object); K1=control constant; and K2=control constant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating said second signal includes means for performing the following control function: Asp=Dsp+K1*E+K2∫Edt wherein: Asp=the desired temperature of said object; E=error (the desired temperature of said object minus the measured temperature of said object) K1=control constant; and K2=control constant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a system for precisely controlling the temperature of a substantially solid object through a range of temperatures, said system comprising: supporting means for supporting said object; means responsive to a first signal, for controlling the temperture of a gas; means for directing said gas directly into contact with an object supported by said supporting means; means for measuring the temperature of said gas and for generating a second signal as a function of said measured temperature of said gas;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a system for precisely controlling the temperature of a substantially solid object through a range of temperatures, said system comprising: supporting means for supporting said object; means responsive to a first signal, for controlling the temperture of a gas; means for directing said gas directly into contact with an object supported by said supporting means; means for measuring the temperature of said gas and for generating a second signal as a function of said measured temperature of said gas;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
means for measuring the temperature of said object and for generating a third signal as a fuuction of said measured temperature of said object;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
means for measuring the temperature of said object and for generating a third signal as a fuuction of said measured temperature of said object;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
means for generating a fourth signal as a function of the desired temperature of said object;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
means for generating a fourth signal as a function of the desired temperature of said object;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for generating a fifth signal as a function of the difference between said third and fourth signals; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
means for generating a fifth signal as a function of the difference between said third and fourth signals; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for generating said first signal as a function of said fifth signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for generating said first signal as a function of said fifth signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein said means for controlling the temperature of said gas includes means for cooling said gas below ambient temperature and means, responsive to said first signal, for heating said cooled gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein said means for directing said gas into direct contact with said object includes gas compressor means for compressing gas and forcing said gas through said means for cooling and said means for heating prior to forcing said gas into contact with said object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein said means for directing said gas into direct contact with said object includes means for defining a predetermined path of said gas from said means for heating said gas to said object, wherein said means for measuring the temperature of said gas is disposed in the path of said gas between said heater means and said object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system according to claim 9, wherein said means for measuring the temperature of said object is located relative to said object so as to be shielded from said gas by said object when said gas is forced into contact with said object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system according to claim 9, wherein said means for measuring the temperature of said object is located relative to said object so as to substantially minimize the effect of the temperature of said gas on said means for measuring the temperature of said object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system according to claim 6, further including means for generating a sixth signal, representative of the desired temperature of said gas and a function of said fifth signal, wherein said first signal is a function of the difference between said sixth signal and said second signal so as to represent the difference between the desired and measured temperature of said gas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
system according to claim 12, wherein said means for generating said sixth signal includes means for performing the following control function: Asp=Dsp+K1*E+K2∫Edt wherein: Asp=the desired temperature of said gas; Dsp=the desired temperature for said object; E=error (the desired temperature of said object minus the measured temperature of said object). K1=control constant; and K2=control constant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 12, wherein said means for generating said second signal includes means for performing the following control function: Asp=∫[K2*E+K1(dE/dt)]dt wherein: Asp=the desird temperature of said gas; Dsp=the desired temperature of said object; E=error (the desired temperature of said object minus the measured temperature of said object) K1=control constant; and K2=control constant.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of controlling the precise temperature of an object under test through a range of temperatures by controlling the temperature of a fluid forced into direct contact with said object so that the object can be tested at each of various temperatures within said range, said method comprising the steps of: supporting said object so that said fluid directly contacts said object; setting the desired temperature of the supported object; measuring the current temperature of the supported object; determining the difference between the desired temperature of the supported object and the measured temperature of the supported object; determining the desired temperature of the fluid as a function of the difference between the desired temperature of the supported object and the measured temperature of the supported object; measuring the actual temperature of the fluid; and controlling the temperature of said fluid as a function of the difference between the desird temperature and the actual temperature of the fluid.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of controlling the precise temperature of an object under test through a range of temperatures by controlling the temperature of a fluid forced into direct contact with said object so that the object can be tested at each of various temperatures within said range, said method comprising the steps of: supporting said object so that said fluid directly contacts said object; setting the desired temperature of the supported object; measuring the current temperature of the supported object; determining the difference between the desired temperature of the supported object and the measured temperature of the supported object; determining the desired temperature of the fluid as a function of the difference between the desired temperature of the supported object and the measured temperature of the supported object; measuring the actual temperature of the fluid; and controlling the temperature of said fluid as a function of the difference between the desird temperature and the actual temperature of the fluid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of determining the desired temperature of said fluid as a function of the difference between the desired temperature of the supported object and the measured temperature of the supported object is determined in accordance with the following relationship: Asp=Dsp+K1*E+K2∫Edt wherein: Asp=the desired temperature of said fluid; Dsp=the desired temperature of said object; E=error the (the desired temperature of said object minus the measured temperature of said object) K1=control constant; and K2=control constant.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of determining the desired temperatur of said fluid as a function of the difference between the desired temperature of the object and the measured temperature of the object is determined in accordance with the following relationship: Asp=∫[K2*E+K1(dE/dt)]dt wherein: Asp=the desired temperature of said fluid; Dsp=the desired temperature of said object; E=error (the desired temperature of said object minus the measured temperature of said object) K1=control constant; and K2=control constant.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |