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:
 Utilizes the fact that
resistance of a metal
changes with
temperature.
 Make up:
 Traditionally made up
of platinum, nickel, iron
or copper wound
around an insulator.
 Temperature range:
 From about -196°C to
482°C.
Thin Film RTD
RTD Advantages and Disadvantages

 Advantages:  Disadvantages:
 Stable  Expensive
 Very accurate  Current source
 Change in required
resistance is linear  Small change in
resistance
 Self heating
 Less rugged than
thermocouples.
Thermistor, the basics of
 How it works:
 Like the RTD a
thermistor uses the fact
that resistance of a
metal changes with
temperature.
 Make up:
 Generally made up of
semiconductor
materials
 Temperature Range:
 About -45°C - 150°C
Thermistor
Thermistor Advantages and Disadvantages

 Advantages:  Disadvantages:
 Very sensitive (has  Output is a non-
the largest output linear function
change from input  Limited
temperature) temperature range.
 Quick response  Require a current
 More accurate than source
RTD and  Self heating
Thermocouples  Fragile
Thermocouple, some more basics
 How it works:
 Made up of two
different metals joined
at one end to produce
a small voltage at a
given temperature.
 Make up:
 Made of up two
different metals. Ex: A
type J is made up of
Iron and Constantan.
 Temperature Range
 Type J: 0°C to 750°C
A few Thermocouples
Thermocouple Advantages and Disadvantages

 Advantages:  Disadvantages:
 Self Powered (does  Extremely Low
not require a Voltage output
current or voltage (mV)
source)  Not very stable
 Rugged  Needs a reference
 Inexpensive point
 Simple
Lets Experiment!
 In lab a RTD, thermistor, and
thermocouple were placed in a beaker
of 750mL of water and readings were
taken from 19°C to 80°C.
 The next two slides show the results.
 The Data (some of it)
Temperature Thermocouple RTD Thermistor
(degrees Celsius) (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
Thermocouple RTD
3.50 135.00
3.00 130.00
2.50

Resistance (Ω)
125.00
Voltage (mV)

2.00
120.00
1.50
115.00
1.00
110.00
0.50
0.00 105.00

-0.50 100.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Temperature (∘C) Temperature (∘ C)

Thermistor
120.00

100.00
Resistance (KΩ)

80.00

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Temperature (∘C)
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
+ 1 2
- 1K 50K
7417

49K Relay
+ +
-
1K
- Vout
Vin + -
+ 4.7μF
Thermocouple 5V 15V
-

+
- 1K 50K

Fan
50K

1K
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/