Temperature sensor and related methods
US6824307B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/36
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A temperature sensor may include a capacitor, a circuit element coupled in series with the capacitor and having a resistance that varies with temperature, and a controller. The controller is for charging/discharging the capacitor through the circuit element, measuring a charging/discharging time required to charge/discharge the capacitor to a predetermined threshold, and determining a temperature based upon the charging/discharging time. More specifically, the circuit element may be a thermistor, for example. The temperature sensor may further include at least one calibration resistor coupled between the controller and the capacitor. As such, the controller may sequentially charge/discharge the capacitor through the circuit element and the at least one calibration resistor, measure respective charging/discharging times required to charge/discharge the capacitor to the predetermined threshold through the circuit element and the at least one calibration resistor, and determine the temperature based upon the charging/discharging times.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.