Temperature control for conductive member

• US 6,661,241 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Naito, Ken, Tsuda, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): LeRoux, Etienne P
• Application Number:
  US09/850,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 324/713, 324/639, 324/721, 73/234.1, 73/234.2, 73/233.6, 73/615.5, 73/615.9, 73/615.6, 702/24, 702/31
• US Class Current: 324/713
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/121 cooling; cold traps
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/3061 column or associated structural member used as heater
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2030/3069 electrical resistance used to determine control temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/30 of temperature

Abstract

A device for controlling the temperature of a conductive member, which detects the electrical resistance of the conductive member, calculates the temperature of the conductive member based on the detected electric resistance, and adjusts the temperature of the conductive member based on the calculated temperature, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for controlling the temperature of a conductive member comprising:

means for detecting the value of the electrical resistance of the conductive member on the order of 10<sup>−

4</sup> ohms utilizing a pulse current having a predetermined pulse width;

means for calculating the temperature of the conductive member based on the electrical resistance detected by the means for detecting the electrical resistance; and

means for adjusting the temperature of the conductive member based on the temperature calculated by the means for calculating the temperature.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the electrical resistance comprises:

means for applying the pulse electric current to the conductive member at a predetermined time interval; and

means for detecting the voltage generated by applying the pulse electric current.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the temperature comprises:

means for cooling the conductive member by spraying a coolant; and

means for heating the conductive member by applying the pulse electric current to the conductive member.

4. A gas chromatographic system comprises:

a gas chromatograph,

a trap tube for sampling gas to be supplied to the chromatograph, the trap tube being made of a conductive material, and

a device for controlling the temperature of the trap tube including;

means for detecting the electrical resistance of the conductive member on the order of 10<sup>−

4</sup> ohms utilizing a pulse current having a predetermined pulse width;

means for calculating the temperature of the conductive member based on the electrical resistance detected by the means for detecting the electrical resistance; and

means for adjusting the temperature of the conductive member based on the temperature calculated by the means for calculating the temperature.

5. The gas chromatograph system of claim 4 wherein the trap tube is made from stainless steel.