LCD thermometer

In this page, I introduce the LCD thermometer which is sold by "Akizuki Denshi Tsusho".
At this thermometer, the IC thermo sensor (S8100) or the diode (1S1588) is used as the thermo
sensor. When using the IC thermo sensor, the thermometry to +100°C from -40°C is possible. Also,
when using the diode, the measurement to +150°C from -20°C is possible. Both sensors are
contained in the kit.
This time, I used the diode as the thermo sensor to measure more than +100°C.
ICL7136 of Intersil (Harris) is used for the thermometer and is measuring the change of the forward
direction minute voltages of the diode by the temperature. The 3-1/2 digits liquid crystal display
(SP521PR) is used for the display. The most significant digit can display only "1".
The consumption electric power of ICL7136 is very small and it is possible to operate about 3
months continuously with the 9-V cell.

The main parts are contained in the kit. The plastic case and the cell are contained. But, there is not
a connection cable of the sensor.
 Circuit drawing

Pattern drawing

Operation explanation

Parts explanation

Performance measurement

Circuit drawing
of the LCD thermometer
Operation explanation
of the LCD thermometer
The following explanation is the one to have gathered the item which was investigated when
making a thermometer this time.

Why is it possible to measure a temperature with the diode?

The forward voltage of the silicon diode changes in the

coefficient of -2mV/°C when the temperature with joint
changes.
Generally, the 20°C forward voltage is about 600 mV.
The forward voltage becomes about 400 mV(600mV-
(2mV/°C x 100°C)) when the temperature with joint rises by
100°C and becomes 120°C. At the thermometer this
time, it is displaying the change of this voltage as the
temperature. The temperature range which it is possible
to measure is within the allowable temperature of the
diode. It depends on the kind of the diode but it is
possible from about -20°C to 150°C. Generally, a diode
is enclosed with the package of glass or plastic. So, even
if the ambient temperature changes, the voltage of the
diode doesn't sometimes change immediately.

ICL7136 is what IC?

The ICL7136 is the IC of the CMOS that the function to measure the voltage of the input
correctly, the function to control the LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) and so on are housed in 1
chip. It is possible to measure the voltage to ±200 mV or ±2 V. The ICL7136 is the type which
uses the LCD as the display. There is the ICL7137 in the type which uses the LED for the
display. The control signal of the LCD is the square wave of the frequency is about 60
Hz(48KHz/800) and the voltage is 5.5Vp-p.

The measurement of the

voltage is done in
converting input voltage to
the energy with constant
time. It is possible to
measure correctly with this
way. When measuring, it
doesn't take in energy from
the input. Make the
energy(Quantity of electric
charge which is stored up to
the capacitor) which is
equivalent to the input voltage occur inside and the way of measuring it is adopted. Because it is,
the input impedance is very high(More than 1 G-ohm?) and the input electric current flows
hardly. The ICL7136 does the measurement process like the figure on the right the about three
times in the 1 second.
4000 clocks/time = 4000 x (4/48000Hz) = 0.33 seconds/time

In the zero setting phase, the charging to the capacitor (CREF) for the reference voltage is done at
the same time as setting the measurement circuit to the zero voltage.
In the input integration phase, the energy which is equivalent to the input voltage is stored up at
the capacitor (CAZ) for the measurement.
In the measurement count phase, making discharge the energy of the capacitor (CAZ) for the
measurement and the capacitor (CREF) for the reference voltage and the time which becomes the
zero voltage is measured.
In the measurement count phase, because the energy of CAZ and CREF is discharged, the
maximum of the measurement can be adjusted by changing the quantity with the energy which is
stored up in CREF.
The thermometer this time sets the display of the cold side in VR2(zero adjust) and sets the
display of the hot side in VR1(scale factor adjust).

To have explained before, the forward voltage of the diode has

the characteristic with the falling voltage when the temperature
rises(-2mV/°C). When displaying the forward voltage of the
diode as the temperature, the figure of the display falls when
the temperature rises. In such a display, it isn't possible to use
as the thermometer.
The ICL7136 has the input terminals of "High" and "Low".
Also, it has the electric grounding (Common). The COM is the
electric grounding to be making inside, being different from the
side of the negative of the power supply. As for the
measurement of the input voltage, it measures the potential difference between "IN HI" and "IN
LO". In case of the figure on the left, the potential difference of HI and LO becomes VH-VL. The
potential difference becomes big when the forward voltage (VL) of the diode becomes small with
the temperature rise. Therefore, the displayed figure rises.
 The liquid crystal works how?
The liquid crystal is in the condition to have the nature of the liquid(Fluidity) and the nature of
the solid(Crystal). There is not material which is called the liquid crystal.
I learned the following at the school. When the temperature is low, the object becomes the solid
condition. When the temperature rises, it becomes the liquid condition. Moreover, when the
temperature rises, it becomes the gaseous condition.
In the liquid crystal condition, it is the neutrality of the solid and the liquid.
The material of the biphenyl of some kind which has this nature at the normal temperature is
used for the liquid crystal display. With the material which we know well, the one of the liquid
crystal condition is the soap water or the cuttlefish ink... They are the material to have the
structure of crystals while being the liquid. Because the cuttlefish ink is always black, it isn't
possible to use for the indicator. (It may be possible to use if devising.)
In the following explanation, the word "the liquid crystal" means "the material which has the
liquid crystal condition".
The structure of the
TN(Twisted Nematic)
liquid crystal display puts
the polarizing filter which
makes the vibration of the
light the constant direction
at the front and the back,
arranges the board which
has the small ditch among it
and it encloses the liquid
crystal into it. The
polarizing filter and the
ditch board on the side of
the front and on the side of
the back are making shift by
the 90 degrees. When there
is not liquid crystal in the
ditch board, because the
polarizing filter is 90
degrees shifted, the light
can not pass. However, the
light is 90 degrees twisted
with the liquid crystal when
pouring the liquid crystal in
the ditch board and the light
gets to pass. It is the strange
phenomenon.
This is because the crystal
of the liquid crystal stands
in line along the ditch
board. The row of the
crystal is 90 degrees twisted
at the front and the back.
Because the light moves
ahead along the crystal, it is
90 degrees twisted.
When not applying the
voltage to the liquid crystal
display, it is in this
condition. It is in the condition which can be seen with the back of the display being transparent.

The crystal of the liquid crystal matches the constant direction in the influence in the
 Parts explanation
of the LCD thermometer

Most of the parts are contained in the kit.

IC for the voltage measurement (ICL7136)

The ICL7136 is the IC for the

analog/digital converter. This is the IC
to display the analog voltage in the
digital.
The IC to be using this time is the DIP
of the 40 pins.
The voltage to ±200mV or ±2V can be
measured in few errors.

Data sheet for ICL7136

 Liquid crystal display (SP521PR)

This is the TN(Twisted Nematic)-type

liquid crystal display.
It is possible to 4 digits display but the
display of the maximum figure is only
"1".
It isn't possible to work continuously in
the direct current. However, when
applying the about 5-V DC voltage
between the backplane (common) and
the terminal, the color of the segment
which corresponds can be temporarily
changed to the black. With this, the
correspondence of the terminal and the
display segment can be confirmed.
When using the 5-V power supply, the resistor as much as 10K-ohm must be put in series to
prevent from big electric current's flowing in case of the short circuit.
The specification of SP521PR to be using this time is as follows.
The letter height : 12.7 mm
The maximum applied voltage : 10 V
The operating temperature : -10 to 55°C
The storage temperature : -20 to 60°C

IC socket

This socket is used to install ICL7136 and the liquid crystal

display.
It is the socket for the DIP of the 40 pins. The socket to use for the
liquid crystal display cuts off either side to make the interval of the
pin line wide.
In case of the socket for ICL7136, the parts are installed inside the
socket. So, when there are the supports in the socket, they must be
removed.
 Diode for the temperature sensor (1S1588)

This is the diode to use as the temperature sensor. The original use
of this diode is the diode for the switching. The one of the other
name can use for the temperature sensor if being the silicon diode.
But, the mold type doesn't suit because it is difficult for the
temperature change to spread through the joint immediately.
The transistor can be used instead of the diode. It connects the base
with the collector and it uses the part of the connection between the
base and the emitter for the temperature sensor. The use example is
mentioned to the manual of ICL7136. When using the transistor for
the temperature sensor, the type which is stored in the metallic case suits.
The lead wires of the diode are insulated with the tubes that the heat can be endured(the glass
fiber tube so on). And, the shielded wire is used for the connection with the thermometer.

Potentiometer

These potentiometers are used for the zero adjustment and the
scale adjustment. Because it changes the resistance value by the
pitch of the screw, the resistance value can be changed in detail.

Resistor

As for the resistors which are contained in the kit, the resistors of
1% of the tolerance are used.
As the thermometer, the accuracy with the resistance value
isn't too necessary. However, because it handles the minute
voltage, there is possibility that the resistance value change by
the temperature has an influence on the measurement error.

Multilayer ceramic capacitor

This capacitor is used for the high frequency bypass of the power
supply. Because it is for the high frequency bypass, the multilayer
ceramic capacitor with the good high frequency characteristic is
used.
 Film capacitor

These capacitors are the capacitors which are used for the input
voltage measurement, the reference voltage setting and so on of
the ICL7136.
The polyester film capacitors are used.
Because it influences the precision of the measurement, it is better
to use the capacitor which few changes of the capacity by the
temperature. Also, it is better to use the small size one because the
place to install is narrow.

Ceramic capacitor

This capacitor is used for the clock generator of ICL7136. To

make oscillate at the frequency of about 50 KHz, the ceramic
capacitor with the good high frequency characteristic is used.

Printed board

This is the printed

board which is
attached to the kit.
Because the print
pattern is already
made, you solder the
parts only to the fixed
position and can make
the thermometer.

When using the diode sensor, the resistor (R4) to control the electric current of the diode is
necessary. As for the pattern of the printed board, the mounting of this resistor isn't considered.
The solder resist (the green paint) is painted the mounting position of R4 which is mentioned to
the pattern drawing. The solder resist in the part must be scraped off with the cutter knife and so
on before mounting the resistor.
 Shielded wire

This wire is used to connect the diode temperature sensor and the
thermometer. The input impedance of ICL7136 is very high and is
easily influenced by the noise signal from outside. So, it makes the
influence little by the shielded wire
I used the shielded wire of the 2 wires which were at hand, but it is
OK in the shielded wire of the single wire.
This part isn't contained in the kit.

Wiring terminal

This terminal is used to connect the wire of the temperature sensor

and the power supply.
This part isn't contained in the kit.

Stud

The pattern of the printed board is pictured near the hole for
the fixation. There is a gravity which touches the circuit
when using the metallic stud. Therefore, I used mold-type stud.
Instead of stud, the plastic spacer can be used. Also, the
insulation-type washer can be used, too.
This part isn't contained in the kit.

Performance measurement
of the LCD thermometer

The adjustment of the thermometer does the 0°C setting with VR2 using the ice water. Also, it
does the 100°C setting with VR1 using the boiling hot water.

The following graph is the indicated value of the thermometer this time which was measured
simultaneously with the alcohol thermometer. Basically, the forward voltage of the silicon diode
changes in - 2mV/°C but with the kind of the diode, the change of the voltage isn't linear.

When comparing with the value of the alcohol thermometer after setting 0°C and 100°C, as for
the temperature display by the diode sensor, it displayed the rather low value. In the graph, there
seemed not to be a big difference but there was a maximum of 1.5°C difference among from
30°C to 80°C.