Contact Temperature Sensing via Resistance Change Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contact temperature sensors often fail to distinguish between good and bad thermal contact, leading to inaccurate temperature measurements due to disturbances such as vibrations, material contraction, expansion, and dirt, which can result in misinterpretation of data.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system that induces a current through an electrically conductive structure to sense temperature-induced resistance changes, allowing determination of contact information by processing these changes with a processor unit to ensure reliable temperature measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contact temperature sensors are used to measure temperature, then accurate temperature measurement is achieved, but the sensor cannot distinguish between good and bad thermal contact leading to invalid data
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: it measures temperature through its sensing element while simultaneously detecting contact quality through the structural element. The structural element acts as both a mechanical support and a thermal conduction path whose temperature can be monitored to determine contact status, allowing one device to provide both temperature data and contact validation.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate structural element is introduced as an intermediary between the sensor and the object being measured. This structural element serves as a thermal bridge that conducts heat from the object to the sensor, and its temperature can be independently monitored to verify contact quality without interfering with the primary temperature measurement function.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor is attached to the object under test, then temperature measurement is enabled, but contact can be disturbed or lost due to vibrations, contraction, expansion, and dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of contact quality by monitoring the temperature of the structural element before and during the temperature measurement process. This allows the system to identify contact disturbances early and take corrective actions or flag invalid measurements before they compromise the overall measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the temperature of the structural element and uses this information as feedback to verify contact status. When the structural element's temperature deviates from expected values indicating poor contact, the system can alert operators, adjust measurement parameters, or discard invalid data, creating a closed-loop verification system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides reliable contact information, ensuring accurate temperature measurements by detecting and quantifying contact between the sensor and the object or fluid, and identifying changes in contact conditions.
Implementation Method 1
sense a temperature-induced change in resistance of the electrically conductive structure for determining contact information, wherein the temperature-induced change in resistance is dependent on heat exchange with the electrically conductive structure and an environment
Implementation Method 2
the temperature-induced change in resistance is dependent on heat exchange with the electrically conductive structure and an environment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~3c
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A system (100) for determining contact with an object (102) or a fluid (108) comprises: a sensor (110) comprising an electrically conductive structure (112), wherein the sensor (110) is configured to induce a current through the electrically conductive structure (112) and sense a temperature-induced change in resistance of the electrically conductive structure (112) for determining contact information, wherein the temperature-induced change in resistance is dependent on heat exchange with the electrically conductive structure (112) and an environment; a processor unit (120) configured to receive the sensed temperature-induced change in resistance and being configured to process the sensed temperature-induced change in resistance for determining contact information between the sensor (110) and the object (102) or the fluid (108).