Patent US260680A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5043692A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5043692A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Temperature sensing apparatus and method of making same
Assignee: Ranco Inc of Delaware
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Filing: 1989-11-13
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Granted: 1991-08-27
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Expires: 2009-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A temperature sensor. Two thick films resistor elements are mounted to a substrate and then a thermistor coupled to those elements to form a voltage divider. The resistance of the thermistor is determined at a reference temperature and the thick film resistor elements are precisely trimmed using a laser trimming system to produce a precision voltage divider. To sense temperatures the voltage divider is energized and its resistance ratio is sensed utilizing a bridge circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Royal H. Sites
- 👤 Richard R. Garcia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/02; G01K15/00; G01K7/16; G01K7/22; G01K7/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of manufacturing a temperature sensor comprising the steps of: forming a voltage divider having first and second segments by coupling a thermistor material having a resistance that varies with temperature to a substrate to form a first segment and coupling a resistor material to the substrate in contact with the thermistor material to form a second segment; measuring the resistance of the thermistor material at a reference temperature; and precisely trimming the resistor material to produce a precise resistance ratio between the first and second segments at said reference temperature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of manufacturing a temperature sensor comprising the steps of: forming a voltage divider having first and second segments by coupling a thermistor material having a resistance that varies with temperature to a substrate to form a first segment and coupling a resistor material to the substrate in contact with the thermistor material to form a second segment; measuring the resistance of the thermistor material at a reference temperature; and precisely trimming the resistor material to produce a precise resistance ratio between the first and second segments at said reference temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The sensor manufacturing method of claim 1 wherein the second segment is formed by applying a second resistor material to the substrate in parallel with the thermistor material and both resistor materials are trimmed to precise resistance values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method claimed in claim 2 wherein the thermistor material and the resistor material comprise thick films that are deposited onto the substrate through a screen which defines the patterns of the thermistor material and resistor material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 1 further including encapsulating said sensor in an elastomeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
A temperature probe comprising: a) a temperature sensor comprising, i) a substrate; ii) a thick film thermistor element deposited on the substrate; iii) a thick film resistor element deposited on the substrate and electrically coupled to the thermistor element to form a voltage divider; iv) at least one conductor for supplying power to the voltage divider; and v) an output signal conductor connected to an output junction between said resistor element and said thermistor element; b) a probe housing at least partially surrounding said sensor with said substrate disposed within but spaced from said housing; and c) a resiliently deformable body of material surrounding said temperature sensor for isolating said temperature sensor from mechanical stress applied to said probe housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
A temperature probe comprising: a) a temperature sensor comprising, i) a substrate; ii) a thick film thermistor element deposited on the substrate; iii) a thick film resistor element deposited on the substrate and electrically coupled to the thermistor element to form a voltage divider; iv) at least one conductor for supplying power to the voltage divider; and v) an output signal conductor connected to an output junction between said resistor element and said thermistor element; b) a probe housing at least partially surrounding said sensor with said substrate disposed within but spaced from said housing; and c) a resiliently deformable body of material surrounding said temperature sensor for isolating said temperature sensor from mechanical stress applied to said probe housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A temperature probe as defined in claim 5 wherein said probe housing comprises a wall member defining a slot, said conductors supported by an insulating conduit engaged in said slot with said conduit and conductors supporting said sensor cantilever fashion in said housing during assembly of said probe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The probe claimed in claim 5 further including a resiliently deformable grommet-like member engaged in said slot and firmly engaging said insulating conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sensor claimed in claim 5 further including a second resistance element deposited on said substrate and electrically coupled to said voltage divider in parallel with said thermistor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of making precision temperature sensors comprising: a) forming electrically conductive circuit portions on a plurality of individual substrate regions; b) forming at least one resistor element on each of said substrate regions in electrically conductive engagement with respective circuit portions; c) forming a thermistor element on each substrate region, each thermistor element electrically coupled to a respective resistor element to form a voltage divider with an output junction between said resistance element and said thermistor element; d) maintaining said substrate regions at a precisely known stable temperature; e) measuring the resistance of each thermistor element at said temperature; and f) measuring the resistance of each resistor element and trimming each resistor element to alter the resistance thereof to a resistance value dictated by the measured resistance of the thermistor element at said temperature.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of making precision temperature sensors comprising: a) forming electrically conductive circuit portions on a plurality of individual substrate regions; b) forming at least one resistor element on each of said substrate regions in electrically conductive engagement with respective circuit portions; c) forming a thermistor element on each substrate region, each thermistor element electrically coupled to a respective resistor element to form a voltage divider with an output junction between said resistance element and said thermistor element; d) maintaining said substrate regions at a precisely known stable temperature; e) measuring the resistance of each thermistor element at said temperature; and f) measuring the resistance of each resistor element and trimming each resistor element to alter the resistance thereof to a resistance value dictated by the measured resistance of the thermistor element at said temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method claimed in claim 9 further including attaching conductors to said substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method claimed in claim 10 further including encapsulating said substrate in a resiliently flexible body of elastomeric material with said conductors extending from said body.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a temperature sensor comprising the steps of: forming a voltage divider network comprising first and second series connected resistive segments and an interposed output junction; the first segment comprising a thermistor element of thermistor material deposited on a substrate, whose resistance changes on the temperature of the thermistor's material changes and the second segment comprising a resistor element of resistor material deposited on said substrate to produce a monolithic resistor having a predetermined nominal resistance value.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making a temperature sensor comprising the steps of: forming a voltage divider network comprising first and second series connected resistive segments and an interposed output junction; the first segment comprising a thermistor element of thermistor material deposited on a substrate, whose resistance changes on the temperature of the thermistor's material changes and the second segment comprising a resistor element of resistor material deposited on said substrate to produce a monolithic resistor having a predetermined nominal resistance value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 where the trimming step is performed by laser trimming the resistor element to achieve the predetermined resistance value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of encapsulating the voltage divider network in a moisture protective potting material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein prior to encapsulating, the substrate and voltage divider network are positioned within a heat conductive housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 where the thermistor material and resistive material are deposited onto a single substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12 where the transferring step is performed by immersing the thermistor in a liquid bath having an accurately controlled temperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
A temperature sensor for monitoring temperature comprising substrate means, precision trimmed, resistor material fixed to the substrate means, thermistor material fixed to the substrate means and electrically coupled to said resistor material to form a voltage divider, energizing means connected across the voltage divider for energizing the probe with a voltage, and monitoring means coupled to a junction between the resistor material and the thermistor material for monitoring a voltage at said junction related to the temperature of the thermistor means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
81 words
A temperature sensor for monitoring temperature comprising substrate means, precision trimmed, resistor material fixed to the substrate means, thermistor material fixed to the substrate means and electrically coupled to said resistor material to form a voltage divider, energizing means connected across the voltage divider for energizing the probe with a voltage, and monitoring means coupled to a junction between the resistor material and the thermistor material for monitoring a voltage at said junction related to the temperature of the thermistor means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The temperature sensor of claim 18 additionally comprising a thermally conductive enclosure for mounting the thermistor material and the resistor material means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The temperature sensor of claim 18 wherein the resistor material and the thermistor materials are thick film inks applied to the substrate means in controlled patterns.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-26 | 1995-02-25 | 1995-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-26 | 1999-02-25 | 1999-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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