Sensor with controllable thermal contact for temperature monitoring
First Claim
1. A device for determining the temperature of an object, comprising:
- a first thermally conductive member;
a second thermally conductive member positionable generally adjacent to the object;
a heating member associated with the first thermally conductive member and adapted to be heated to a known temperature;
a probe member movable into contact with the first thermally conductive member while being out of contact with the second thermally conductive member and being movable into contact with the second thermally conductive member while being out of contact with the first thermally conductive member; and
a controller associated with the probe member and programmed toadjust a temperature of the heating member,receive a first input from the probe member when the probe member is in contact with the first thermally conductive member,receive a second input from the probe member when the probe member is in contact with the second thermally conductive member, anddetermine the temperature of the object based, at least in part, on the first and second inputs.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are provided for determining the temperature of an object. Such devices and methods incorporate first and second thermally conductive members, with a heating member associated with the first thermally conductive member. The second thermally conductive member is positionable adjacent to the object. The heating member is heated to a known temperature and a probe member is alternately brought into contact with the first and second thermally conductive members. When the probe member is in contact with one of the thermally conductive members, it will send an input to the controller. The controller compares the inputs to each other and, if they are not substantially equal, changes the temperature of the heating member, and the probe member is again alternately brought into contact with the thermally conductive members. When the inputs are substantially equal, the controller generates an output based on the temperature of the heating member.
7 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for determining the temperature of an object, comprising:
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a first thermally conductive member; a second thermally conductive member positionable generally adjacent to the object; a heating member associated with the first thermally conductive member and adapted to be heated to a known temperature; a probe member movable into contact with the first thermally conductive member while being out of contact with the second thermally conductive member and being movable into contact with the second thermally conductive member while being out of contact with the first thermally conductive member; and a controller associated with the probe member and programmed to adjust a temperature of the heating member, receive a first input from the probe member when the probe member is in contact with the first thermally conductive member, receive a second input from the probe member when the probe member is in contact with the second thermally conductive member, and determine the temperature of the object based, at least in part, on the first and second inputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification