ON Thermistor as Temp sensors

Thermistor is a combination of the words thermal and resistor. The Thermistor was invented by Samuel Ruben in 1930. A Thermistor is a type of resistor used to measure temperature changes, relying on the change in its resistance with changing temperature. Thermistors can measure temperatures across the range of -40 - 150C.
Thermistors are made of semiconductor materials

Thermistors can take various shapes; rod, disc, washer, bead

Thermistors come in two varieties; NTC (negative thermal coefficient) and PTC (positive thermal coefficient). If k is positive, the resistance increases with increasing temperature, and the device is called a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor. If k is negative, the resistance decreases with increasing temperature, and the device is called a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor.

Electrical resistance of a metal depends on the temperature. The basic principle of thermistors is that; change in temperature changes its resistance, this change can be converted to electrical signal.

To be useful, systems must interact with their environment. To do this they use sensors. Sensors is examples of transducers.  A transducer is a device that converts one physical quantity into another Examples include:
A mercury-in-glass thermometer (converts temperature into displacement of a column of mercury) a microphone (converts sound into an electrical signal).

Almost any physical property of a material that changes in response to some excitation can be used to produce a sensor widely used sensors include those that are:
resistive inductive capacitive piezoelectric photoresistive elastic thermal.

Resistive thermometers

Typical devices use platinum wire (such a device is called a platinum resistance thermometers or PRT). Linear but has poor sensitivity.

A typical PRT element A sheathed PRT

Thermistors materials with a high thermal co efficientof resistance Sensitive but highly non-linear.

A typical disc thermistor

A threaded thermistor

PN junctions

A semiconductor device with the properties of a diode (we will consider semiconductors and diodes later). Inexpensive, linear and easy to use Limited temperature range (perhaps -50rC to 150 rC) due to nature of semi conductor material.

Resistive devices

 can be very simple

 Where the resistance of the device changes with the quantity being measured,this change can be converted into a voltage signal using a potential divider as shown .
 The output of this arrangement is not linearly related to the change in resistance.

Switches  Switch interfacing is also simple Can use a single resistor as below to produce a voltage output. All mechanical switches suffer from switch bounce.

Precision
 A measure of the lack of random errors (scatter).

Linearity Maximum deviation from a straight-line response. Normally expressed as a percentage of the full-scale value.

Sensitivity
A measure of the change produced at the output for a given change in the quantity being measured.

Major specifications to be considered while using a thermistor. Resistance temperature curve: it varies from thermistor to thermistor and the specifications are provided by the manufacturer. Resistance tolerance: The specifications for this is provided by the manufacturer Beta tolerance: This depends on the material being used for the thermistor

They are used as resettable fuses. They are used in time delay circuits. PTC Thermistors are used in motor starting circuits. The PTC Thermistor can provide a combination of heater and thermostat in one device. They are used as liquid level and flow sensors.

Based on the application, the type of Thermistor is decided. Thermistors can cost from 20Rs and above. Some online stores for buying thermistors.

Sensitivity: This allows thermistors to sense very small changes in temperature. Accuracy: Thermistors offer both high absolute accuracy and interchangeability. Cost: For the high performance they offer, thermistors are very cost-effective. Ruggedness: Because of their construction, thermistors are very rugged. Flexibility: Thermistors can be configured into a wide variety of physical forms, including very small packages.

Typically only self-heating is a design consideration. Proper care must be taken to limit the sensing current to a low enough value that self-heat error is minimized to an acceptable value. Non-linearity can be addressed by software or by circuitry, and moisture induced failure by glass encapsulation

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