Temperature Measurement with Thermistors
Gerald Recktenwald
Portland State University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
February 26, 2013
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving
Temperature Measurement
Temperature can be measured with many devices
• Liquid bulb thermometers
• Gas bulb thermometers
• bimetal indicators
• RTD: resistance temperature detectors (Platinum wire)
• thermocouples
• thermistors
• IC sensors
• Optical sensors
. Pyrometers
. Infrared detectors/cameras
. liquid crystals
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 1
IC Temperature Sensors (1)
• Semiconductor-based temperature sensors for thermocouple reference-junction
compensation
• Packaged suitable for inclusion in a circuit board
• Variety of outputs: analog (voltage or current) and digital
• More useful for a manufactured product or as part of a control system than as
laboratory instrumentation.
Examples (circa 2010)
Manufacturer Part number
Analog Devices AD590, AD22103, TMP35, TMP36, TMP37
Dallas Semiconductor DS1621, DS18B20
Maxim Max675, REF-01, LM45
National Instruments LM35, LM335, LM75, LM78
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 2
IC Temperature Sensors (2)
Example: TMP36 from Analog Devices
Don’t confuse the TO-92-3 package with a transistor!
Low Voltage Temperature Sensors TMP35/TMP36/TMP37
Rev. E Information furnished by Analog Devices is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by Analog Devices for its use, nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties that may result from its use. Specifications subject to change without notice. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of Analog Devices. Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106, U.S.A.Tel: 781.329.4700 www.analog.com Fax: 781.461.3113 ©1996–2008 Analog Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
FEATURES Low voltage operation (2.7 V to 5.5 V) Calibrated directly in °C 10 mV/°C scale factor (20 mV/°C on TMP37) ±2°C accuracy over temperature (typ) ±0.5°C linearity (typ) Stable with large capacitive loads Specified !40°C to +125°C, operation to +150°C Less than 50 µA quiescent current Shutdown current 0.5 µA max Low self-heating
APPLICATIONS Environmental control systems Thermal protection Industrial process control Fire alarms Power system monitors CPU thermal management
GENERAL DESCRIPTION The TMP35/TMP36/TMP37 are low voltage, precision centi-grade temperature sensors. They provide a voltage output that is linearly proportional to the Celsius (centigrade) temperature. The TMP35/ TMP36/TMP37 do not require any external calibration to provide typical accuracies of ±1°C at +25°C and ±2°C over the !40°C to +125°C temperature range.
The low output impedance of the TMP35/TMP36/TMP37 and its linear output and precise calibration simplify interfacing to temperature control circuitry and ADCs. All three devices are intended for single-supply operation from 2.7 V to 5.5 V maxi-mum. The supply current runs well below 50 µA, providing very low self-heating—less than 0.1°C in still air. In addition, a shutdown function is provided to cut the supply current to less than 0.5 µA.
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PIN CONFIGURATIONS
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Figure 2. RJ-5 (SOT-23)
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Figure 4. T-3 (TO-92)
The TMP35 is functionally compatible with the LM35/LM45 and provides a 250 mV output at 25°C. The TMP35 reads temperatures from 10°C to 125°C. The TMP36 is specified from !40°C to +125°C, provides a 750 mV output at 25°C, and operates to 125°C from a single 2.7 V supply. The TMP36 is functionally compatible with the LM50. Both the TMP35 and TMP36 have an output scale factor of 10 mV/°C.
The TMP37 is intended for applications over the range of 5°C to 100°C and provides an output scale factor of 20 mV/°C. The TMP37 provides a 500 mV output at 25°C. Operation extends to 150°C with reduced accuracy for all devices when operating from a 5 V supply.
The TMP35/TMP36/TMP37 are available in low cost 3-lead TO-92, 8-lead SOIC_N, and 5-lead SOT-23 surface-mount packages.
Low Voltage Temperature Sensors TMP35/TMP36/TMP37
Rev. E Information furnished by Analog Devices is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by Analog Devices for its use, nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties that may result from its use. Specifications subject to change without notice. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of Analog Devices. Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106, U.S.A.Tel: 781.329.4700 www.analog.com Fax: 781.461.3113 ©1996–2008 Analog Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
FEATURES Low voltage operation (2.7 V to 5.5 V) Calibrated directly in °C 10 mV/°C scale factor (20 mV/°C on TMP37) ±2°C accuracy over temperature (typ) ±0.5°C linearity (typ) Stable with large capacitive loads Specified !40°C to +125°C, operation to +150°C Less than 50 µA quiescent current Shutdown current 0.5 µA max Low self-heating
APPLICATIONS Environmental control systems Thermal protection Industrial process control Fire alarms Power system monitors CPU thermal management
GENERAL DESCRIPTION The TMP35/TMP36/TMP37 are low voltage, precision centi-grade temperature sensors. They provide a voltage output that is linearly proportional to the Celsius (centigrade) temperature. The TMP35/ TMP36/TMP37 do not require any external calibration to provide typical accuracies of ±1°C at +25°C and ±2°C over the !40°C to +125°C temperature range.
The low output impedance of the TMP35/TMP36/TMP37 and its linear output and precise calibration simplify interfacing to temperature control circuitry and ADCs. All three devices are intended for single-supply operation from 2.7 V to 5.5 V maxi-mum. The supply current runs well below 50 µA, providing very low self-heating—less than 0.1°C in still air. In addition, a shutdown function is provided to cut the supply current to less than 0.5 µA.
FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM !"#$%&'("$)*$+'+",
"*-)#.-)/*01
)234+5)23465)234(
00337-001
Figure 1.
PIN CONFIGURATIONS
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1A$B$1*$A*11:A)
"*-)
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!"#
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Figure 2. RJ-5 (SOT-23)
7
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1A$B$1*$A*11:A)
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Figure 3. R-8 (SOIC_N)
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Figure 4. T-3 (TO-92)
The TMP35 is functionally compatible with the LM35/LM45 and provides a 250 mV output at 25°C. The TMP35 reads temperatures from 10°C to 125°C. The TMP36 is specified from !40°C to +125°C, provides a 750 mV output at 25°C, and operates to 125°C from a single 2.7 V supply. The TMP36 is functionally compatible with the LM50. Both the TMP35 and TMP36 have an output scale factor of 10 mV/°C.
The TMP37 is intended for applications over the range of 5°C to 100°C and provides an output scale factor of 20 mV/°C. The TMP37 provides a 500 mV output at 25°C. Operation extends to 150°C with reduced accuracy for all devices when operating from a 5 V supply.
The TMP35/TMP36/TMP37 are available in low cost 3-lead TO-92, 8-lead SOIC_N, and 5-lead SOT-23 surface-mount packages.
See, e.g., part number TMP36GT9Z-NDfrom www.digikey.com.$1.42 each (Qty 1) in Feb 2013
See http://learn.adafruit.com/
tmp36-temperature-sensor/
overview for instructions on how to usethe TMP36.
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 3
Thermistors (1)
A thermistor is an electrical resistor used to
measure temperature. A thermistor designed such
that its resistance varies with temperature in a
repeatable way.
A simple model for the relationship between
temperature and resistance is
∆T = k∆R
A thermistor with k > 0 is said to have a positive
temperature coefficient (PTC). A thermistor with
k < 0 is said to have a negative temperature
coefficient (NTC).
Photo from YSI web site:www.ysitemperature.com
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 4
Thermistors (2)
• NTC thermistors are semiconductor materials with a well-defined variation electrical
resistance with temperature
• Mass-produced thermistors are interchangeable: to within a tolerance the thermistors
obey the same T = F (R) relationship.
• Measure resistance, e.g., with a multimeter
• Convert resistance to temperature with calibration equation
Note: The Arduino cannot measure resistance. We will use a voltage divider to
measure the change in resistance with temperature.
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 5
Thermistors (3)
Advantages
• Output is directly related to absolute temperature – no reference junction needed.
• Relatively easy to measure resistance
• Sensors are interchangeable (±0.5 C)
Disadvantages
• Possible self-heating error
. Each measurement applies current to resistor from precision current source
. Measure voltage drop ∆V , then compute resistance from known current and ∆V .
. Repeated measurements in rapid succession can cause thermistor to heat up
• Can be more expensive than thermocouples for comparable accuracy: $10 to $20/each
versus $1/each per junction. Thermistors costing less than $1 each are available from
electronic component sellers, e.g. Digikey or Newark.
• More difficult to apply for rapid transients: slow response and self-heating
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 6
Thermistors (4)
Calibration uses the Steinhart-Hart equation
T =1
c1 + c2 lnR + c3(lnR)3
Nominal resistance is controllable by
manufacturing.
Typical resistances at 21 C:
10 kΩ, 20 kΩ, . . . 100 kΩ. 5 10 15 20 25 300
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Resistance (kΩ)
T (°
C)
Data
Curve Fit
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 7
Resistance Measurement
Resistance can be measured if a precision current
source is available.
If I is known and V is measured, then R is obtained
with Ohm’s law
R =V
I
R V
I
For a typical ohmmeter, the current source and voltage
measurement are inside the device, and leads connect
the current source to the resistance element.
RVI
leadsohmmeter
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 8
Direct Resistance Measurement of Thermistors (1)
Two-wire resistance measurement: RT =V
I.
Ohmmeter
Thermistor
RTV
Resistance in the lead wires can lead to inaccurate temperature measurement.
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 9
Direct Resistance Measurement of Thermistors (2)
Four-wire resistance measurement eliminates the lead resistance1
Ohmmeter
Rlead
ThermistorRleadRT
Rlead
Rlead
V
1Sketch adapted from Hints for Making Better Digital Multimeter Measurements, Agilent Technologies Corporation,www.agilent.com.
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 10
A Voltage Divider for Thermistors (1)
Using an Arduino, we do not have ready access to a
precision voltage source. We could assemble a board
using high precision voltage sources, but for less effort
we could just buy a temperature measurement chip
like the LM334 or TMP36.
Instead, we will use our familiar strategy of measuring
resistance with a voltage divider.
thermistor
10 kΩ
5V
Analog input
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 11
Arduino code for Thermistor measurement
int thermistor_reading( int power_pin, int read_pin)
int reading;
digitalWrite(power_pin, HIGH);
delay(100);
reading = analogRead(read_pin);
digitalWrite(power_pin, LOW);
return(reading);
float thermistor_reading_ave( int power_pin, int read_pin, int nave)
int i, reading;
float sum;
digitalWrite(power_pin, HIGH);
delay(10);
for (i=1; i<=nave; i++)
sum += analogRead(read_pin);
digitalWrite(power_pin, LOW);
return(sum/float(nave));
EAS 199B: Engineering Problem Solving page 12