Temperature Measurement

using sensors and signal

conditioning
Michael Mansell
Ken Dudeck (Faculty
Sponsor)

Topics of Discussion

Types of temperature sensors

The CK101 LCD Temperature
Meter
Our circuit design

Types of temperature
sensors

RTD (Resistance Temperature

Detector)
Thermistor
Thermocouple

RTD, the basics

How it works:

Make up:

Utilizes the fact that

resistance of a metal
changes with
temperature.
Traditionally made
up of platinum,
nickel, iron or
copper wound
around an insulator.

Temperature range:

From about -196C

to 482C.

Thin Film RTD

RTD Advantages and

Disadvantages

Advantages:

Stable
Very accurate
Change in
resistance is
linear

Disadvantages:

Expensive
Current source
required
Small change in
resistance
Self heating
Less rugged than
thermocouples.

Thermistor, the basics of

How it works:

Make up:

Like the RTD a

thermistor uses the
fact that resistance
of a metal changes
with temperature.
Generally made up
of semiconductor
materials

Temperature Range:

About -45C - 150C

Thermistor

Thermistor Advantages and

Disadvantages

Advantages:

Very sensitive
(has the largest
output change
from input
temperature)
Quick response
More accurate
than RTD and
Thermocouples

Disadvantages:

Output is a nonlinear function

Limited
temperature
range.
Require a current
source
Self heating
Fragile

Thermocouple, some more

basics

How it works:

Make up:

Made up of two
different metals
joined at one end to
produce a small
voltage at a given
temperature.
Made of up two
different metals. Ex: A
type J is made up of
Iron and Constantan.

Temperature Range

Type J: 0C to 750C
A few Thermocouples

Thermocouple Advantages and

Disadvantages

Advantages:

Self Powered
(does not require
a current or
voltage source)
Rugged
Inexpensive
Simple

Disadvantages:

Extremely Low
Voltage output
(mV)
Not very stable
Needs a
reference point

Lets Experiment!

In lab a RTD, thermistor, and

thermocouple were placed in a
beaker of 750mL of water and
readings were taken from 19C to
80C.
The next two slides show the
results.

The Data (some of it)

Temperature
(degrees Celsius)

Thermocouple

RTD

Thermistor

(mille-Volts)

(ohms)

(kilo-ohms)

19

-0.10

108.00

105.60

20

-0.10

108.40

99.80

21

0.00

108.70

94.20

22

0.00

109.00

88.20

23

0.00

109.50

83.80

24

0.10

110.00

79.70

25

0.10

110.40

75.90

26

0.10

110.90

73.30

27

0.20

111.30

70.00

28

0.20

111.50

68.40

29

0.30

112.00

63.40

30

0.40

112.90

60.50

32

0.50

113.20

54.80

34

0.70

114.10

49.20

36

0.70

114.80

45.50

A little easier to read

First test subject (The Kit

CK101)

Basically the
same idea as our
circuit design,
but easier?
How it works
Why it did not
work

CK101 LCD Temperature

Sensor

How it works and what went

wrong

Uses transistors
instead of the other
discussed sensor
types.
Uses the ICL 7106
chip
Problems:

Possible Bad chip

Capacitors not
soldered in properly.
Cold solder joins
leading to bad
connections

Our design
It works!

Picture

Another Picture

Circuit Diagram

Questions or Comments?

My Sources

Omega.com (Info on RTDs and

Thermistors) http://www.omega.com
/
United Electric Controls
(Thermocouple, RTD, and Thermistor
info) http://www.ueonline.com/
Intersil (ICL 7106 Chip reference)
http://www.intersil.com/