Temperature Sensing Apparatus with Segmented Contacts for Ambient Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature sensors mounted on electronic devices or heat sources face inaccuracies in measuring ambient temperature due to the influence of the device's higher temperature, leading to incorrect ambient temperature readings.
Innovation Solution
A temperature sensing apparatus comprising a substrate with a sensing material and two pairs of contacts, where the second pair is separated by a greater distance than the first, allowing for distinct electrical property measurements that decouple substrate and ambient temperature influences, using materials like carbon foam or graphene foam to determine accurate temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a temperature sensor is mounted on an electronic device or heat source, then the sensor can be integrated into the device structure, but the measured temperature will be influenced by the heat source temperature rather than reflecting the true ambient temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor structure is segmented into multiple heating elements arranged in specific patterns, allowing differential measurement capabilities. By segmenting the heating function across multiple elements with different geometries, the system can isolate and compensate for heat source interference while maintaining integration with the electronic device.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical parameters (resistance, current distribution) of the sensing elements based on their geometric configurations. By monitoring how these parameters change under different thermal conditions and using multiple elements with different parameters, the system can mathematically separate ambient temperature effects from heat source effects, achieving accurate ambient temperature measurement while remaining integrated with the device.
2Device complexity
If a single temperature sensor is used to measure ambient temperature, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement accuracy is compromised due to heat source interference
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated sensor array serves multiple functions: it can measure ambient temperature, substrate temperature, and heat source temperature simultaneously by processing signals from different elements. This multi-functionality allows a single integrated sensor system to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate sensors, maintaining low device complexity while achieving high measurement precision through differential measurements.
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
This approach enables precise ambient and substrate temperature determination by leveraging the differing current paths through the sensing material, reducing the impact of the heat source's temperature on measurements and improving accuracy without complex manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the sensing material is a single piece of a particular material... configured to provide a first electrical property measurement between the first pair of contacts and to provide a second electrical property measurement between the second pair of contacts, the first and second electrical property measurements for use in determining an ambient temperature and/or a substrate temperature
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a substrate (102); a sensing material (104) located on the substrate (102); a first pair (A, B) of contacts (106) coupled to the sensing material (104) and separated by a first distance (108); and a second pair (A, C) of contacts (110) coupled to the sensing material (104) and separated by a second distance (112), the second distance (112) being greater than the first distance (108); wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a first electrical property measurement between the first pair (A, B) of contacts (106) and to provide a second electrical property measurement between the second pair (A, C) of contacts (110), the first and second electrical property measurements for use in determining an ambient temperature and/or a substrate (102) temperature.