Adaptive Temperature Controller

• US 20070210285A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valco Instruments Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valco Instruments Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Stearns, Stanley D., Cowles, Chris S., Cai, Huamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,442,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/502
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/3061 column or associated structural member used as heater
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/30 of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2401 using a heating element as a sensing element

Abstract

The adaptive temperature controller includes an ambient temperature sensor, a device for measuring resistance, an electrically-conductive material, a power supply, and a device for controlling power. In operation, the controller determines the resistance of material at or near ambient temperature. Based on such determination so long as voltage and power are known, the resistance of the material, and therefore its instant temperature is known. Additionally, the adaptive temperature controller determines the responsiveness of the electrically-conductive material to determine the predicted increase in temperature and rate of increase in temperature relative to increases in voltage, current or power. As a result the voltage or power may be instantly varied to produce near infinite control over material temperature.

Claims

1. An adaptive temperature controller for simultaneous temperature measurement and control for use with an electrically-conductive material to heat a system component, comprising:

a temperature sensor,

said temperature sensor determining the temperature of said electrically-conductive material;

a device for measuring resistance,

said device for measuring resistance recording measurement of two members of the group consisting of power, current and voltage;

said device for measuring resistance determining resistance of said electrically-conductive material by application of Ohm'"'"'s Law to said two members of the group consisting of power, current and voltage;

a power supply,

said power supply in electrical communication with said electrically-conductive material

said electrically-conductive material altering temperature based on said electrical communication from said power supply;

a device for controlling the output of said power supply,

said device for measuring resistance outputting said determination of the resistance of said electrically-conductive material to said device for controlling the output of said power supply,

said temperature sensor outputting the determination of the temperature of said electrically-conductive material to said device for controlling the output of said power supply;

said device for controlling the output of said power supply determining the thermal resistance coefficient of said electrically-conductive material based on the output of said device for measuring resistance and the output of said temperature sensor;

said device for controlling the output of said power supply controlling the temperature of said electrically-conductive material based on the output of one of the group of power, voltage or current.

2. The adaptive temperature controller of claim 1 further comprising a pulse-width-modulated switching supply controlled by a microcontroller/microprocessor.

3. The adaptive temperature controller of claim 1 further comprising a fan to induce air flow about said component.

4. The adaptive temperature controller of claim 2 further comprising a fan to induce air flow about said component.

5. The adaptive temperature controller of claim 1 wherein said adaptive temperature controller communicates with a computer.

6. The adaptive temperature controller of claim 2 wherein said adaptive temperature controller communicates with a computer.

7. The adaptive temperature controller of claim 4 wherein said adaptive temperature controller communicates with a computer.

8. A method for calibrating an adaptive temperature controller for simultaneous temperature measurement and control for use with an electrically-conductive material to heat a system component, said adaptive temperature controller including:

a temperature sensor,

said temperature sensor determining the temperature of said electrically-conductive material;

a device for measuring resistance,

said device for measuring resistance recording measurement of two members of the group consisting of power, current and voltage;

said device for measuring resistance determining resistance of said electrically-conductive material by application of Ohm'"'"'s Law to said two members of the group consisting of power, current and voltage;

a power supply,

said power supply in electrical communication with said electrically-conductive material

said electrically-conductive material altering temperature based on said electrical communication from said power supply;

a device for controlling the output of said power supply,

said device for measuring resistance outputting said determination of the resistance of said electrically-conductive material to said device for controlling the output of said power supply,

said temperature sensor outputting the determination of the temperature of said electrically-conductive material to said device for controlling the output of said power supply;

said device for controlling the output of said power supply determining the thermal resistance coefficient of said electrically-conductive material based on the output of said device for measuring resistance and the output of said temperature sensor; and

said device for controlling the output of said power supply controlling the temperature of said electrically-conductive material based on the output of one of the group of power, voltage or current,

comprising;

identifying the material of said electrically-conductive material;

said adaptive temperature controller accessing the normalized resistance of said electrically-conductive material;

permitting the temperature of electrically-conductive material to stabilize at a predetermined temperature;

said adaptive temperature controller supplying at least once a voltage or a current to electrically-conductive material and measuring the current or voltage conducted therethrough;

said temperature sensor measuring the temperature of electrically-conductive material;

said adaptive temperature controller receiving said temperature sensor measurement;

said adaptive temperature controller determining the resistance of electrically conductive material at said temperature sensor measurement;

said adaptive temperature controller receiving an instruction to alter the temperature of electrically-conductive material to a particular temperature;

said adaptive temperature controller determining the voltage associated with the temperature instruction received; and

said adaptive temperature controller causing one of the group of voltage and current associated with the temperature instruction to be applied to electrically-conductive material.

9. A method for calibrating an adaptive temperature controller for simultaneous temperature measurement and control for use with an electrically-conductive material to heat a system component, said adaptive temperature controller including:

a temperature sensor,

said temperature sensor determining the temperature of said electrically-conductive material;

a device for measuring resistance,

said device for measuring resistance recording measurement of two members of the group consisting of power, current and voltage;

said device for measuring resistance determining resistance of said electrically-conductive material by application of Ohm'"'"'s Law to said two members of the group consisting of power, current and voltage;

a power supply,

said power supply in electrical communication with said electrically-conductive material

said electrically-conductive material altering temperature based on said electrical communication from said power supply;

a device for controlling the output of said power supply,

said device for measuring resistance outputting said determination of the resistance of said electrically-conductive material to said device for controlling the output of said power supply,

said temperature sensor outputting the determination of the temperature of said electrically-conductive material to said device for controlling the output of said power supply;

said device for controlling the output of said power supply determining the thermal resistance coefficient of said electrically-conductive material based on the output of said device for measuring resistance and the output of said temperature sensor; and

said device for controlling the output of said power supply controlling the temperature of said electrically-conductive material based on the output of one of the group of power, voltage or current,

comprising;

allowing the temperature of said electrically-conductive material to stabilize;

measuring the temperature of said electrically-conductive material outputting the measurement of said temperature of said electrically-conductive material to said adaptive temperature controller;

entering said measurement of said temperature of said electrically-conductive material as a parameter to said adaptive temperature controller;

said adaptive temperature controller calculating a scale factor for said measurement of said temperature of said electrically-conductive material from a relative resistance and a preset normalized resistance characteristic; and

entering into said adaptive temperature controller at least one temperature setpoint for said measurement of said temperature of said electrically-conductive material.