Instrumentation system for improvement of temperature sensor performance

Abstract

The semiconductor resistances known as thermistors have more advantages compared with all other temperature transducers. Unfortunately, the non-linear characteristics, lower sensitivity for the higher temperature range of measurement and the self-heating effect of thermistors are some of their disadvantages that are limiting their application. As a result of some intensive research on improvement of the measurement and instrumentation techniques with thermistors, an electronic circuit is developed that is reducing considerably the thermistor non-linearity, its self-heating effect and is increasing its sensitivity in a wider temperature range of measurements and control. The circuit involves a set of thermistors, connected in a specific Wheatstone-bridge configuration. Analysis of the circuit and testing it in real environment proves its effectiveness in improvement the performance of this temperature sensor equipment.

Keywords: Sensors, Transducers, Thermistors, Characteristics, Stable, Linearity, Self-heating, Sensitivity, Range, Measurement, Wheatstone bridge