Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A transmitter for generating an output signal representing temperature based on potential across thermocouple leads from a main thermocouple, comprising: a housing having first and second terminals extending through a wall separating first and second cavities in the housing, the terminals being connected to the thermocouple leads in the first cavity to form terminal cold junctions; converter means, having converter leads connected to the terminals in the second cavity, for sensing a combined signal representing main thermocouple potential and terminal cold junction potential and for providing the output signal; conductor means, having a first end coupled to the first terminal and a second end coupled to the converter means, for forming a correction thermocouple, the correction thermocouple providing a first correction signal representing a difference between a terminal temperature and a converter means temperature; and sensing means on the converter means for providing a converter temperature signal representing the converter means temperature, the converter means providing the output signal as a function of the converter temperature signal, the first correction signal and the combined signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A transmitter for generating an output signal representing temperature based on potential across thermocouple leads from a main thermocouple, comprising: a housing having first and second terminals extending through a wall separating first and second cavities in the housing, the terminals being connected to the thermocouple leads in the first cavity to form terminal cold junctions; converter means, having converter leads connected to the terminals in the second cavity, for sensing a combined signal representing main thermocouple potential and terminal cold junction potential and for providing the output signal; conductor means, having a first end coupled to the first terminal and a second end coupled to the converter means, for forming a correction thermocouple, the correction thermocouple providing a first correction signal representing a difference between a terminal temperature and a converter means temperature; and sensing means on the converter means for providing a converter temperature signal representing the converter means temperature, the converter means providing the output signal as a function of the converter temperature signal, the first correction signal and the combined signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the sensing means further comprises a resistive temperature sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The transmitter of claim 1 and further comprising: second conductor means, having a first end coupled to the second terminal and a second end coupled to the converter means, for forming a second correction thermocouple, the second correction thermocouple providing a second correction signal indicating a difference between a second terminal temperature and the converter means temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The transmitter of claim 3 wherein the converter means provides the output signal as a function of the converter temperature signal, the first correction signal, the combined signal, and the second correction signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the main thermocouple is remote from the transmitter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the main thermocouple is integrally coupled to the transmitter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the converter means further comprises: an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to the correction thermocouple, the sensing means and the converter leads; a microprocessor-based controller coupled to the A/D converter; and an output circuit coupled to the microprocessor-based controller.