Adaptive Temperature Controller

• US 20090045187A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valco Instruments Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valco Instruments Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Cowles, Chris S., Cai, Huamin, Stearns, Stanley D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,642,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/497
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/30 of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/2401 using a heating element as a sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0247 For chemical processes

Abstract

The adaptive temperature controller includes 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 one or more temperatures and therefore determines the resistance of the material through a range of operating temperature. Based on such determination so long as voltage and power are known, the resistance of the material, and therefore its temperature, are known. 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 use with an electrically-conductive material to heat a system component, comprising:

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

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

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

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

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

6. A method for operation of an adaptive temperature controller for use with an electrically-conductive material to heat a system component, said adaptive temperature controller including:

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 device for controlling the output of said power supply determining the thermal coefficient of resistance of said electrically-conductive material based on the output of said device for measuring resistance and a temperature input; 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 which said electrically-conductive material is composed;

said adaptive temperature controller identifying the normalized resistance of said material of which electrically-conductive material is composed;

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

said adaptive temperature controller receiving the temperature of electrically-conductive material;

said adaptive temperature controller receiving the resistance of electrically-conductive material at temperature;

said adaptive temperature controller determining a scale factor to be applied to the normalized resistance characteristic by comparison of the normalized resistance characteristic to the said resistance at said temperature;

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

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 or current 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.

7. A method for operation of an adaptive temperature controller for use with an electrically-conductive material to heat a system component, said adaptive temperature controller including:

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 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;

heating said electrically-conductive material;

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

said adaptive temperature controller receiving said temperature;

said adaptive temperature controller receiving identification of the resistance of said electrically-conductive material at said temperature;

deriving a resistance characteristic curve for said electrically-conductive material from said identification of said resistance at the temperatures received;

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

said adaptive temperature controller determining the resistance associated with the said instruction from said resistance characteristic curve; and

said adaptive temperature controller causing the voltage or current associated with the instruction to be applied to said electrically-conductive material.