DEPARTMENT: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.

MODULE NAME: ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS MEASUREMENTS

MODULE CODE: EET04205
LEVEL: NTA 4

GROUP NO 5
S/NO NAMES REG.NO
1. SADIKI MASOUD 201631173
2. MOHAMED ABRAHAMANI 201631139
3. GOODLUCK .S .ILAGILA 201681015
4. CHRISTINA. E .NDENDE 201631030
5. STEVEN .S. PIUS 201631189
6. MUSSA KITUNDU 201631144
7. STEPHEN MUGANYIZI 201631188
8. MICHAEL .J .NDEGE 201631137
9. MAGRETH .O. MLIGO 201631125
10. SHADRACK K MWITA 201531100
11. BRAYAN K BRIGHTON 201681006
12. HASSAN HAMZA 201561026
13. MWANAISHA BAGGO 201631145
14. BONAVENTURE MHOMDA 201631102
15. MICHAEL MWAKASEKELE 201681031
16. GETRUDA MGONJA 201631081
17. ABSOLUM CHOBO 201631003
18. SAID KIJANGWA 201631174
19. JULIUS MGAYA 201681022
20. POPE JOHN 201231220
21. MICHAEL JUNIUS MHAYO 201531078
 IC TEMPERATURE SENSOR.
An IC Temperature Sensor is a two terminal integrated circuit temperature
transducer that produces an output current proportional to absolute
temperature. The sensor package is small with a low thermal mass and a
fast response time. The most common temperature range is 55 to 150°C (-
58 to 302°F). The solid state sensor output can be analog or digital.

Major characteristics
Major characteristics of IC Temperature Sensor include:

 They provide reasonably linear output.

 They are available in moderately small sizes
 They are not capable enough to measure high temperatures. Their temperature
range is typically limited between -58 to 302°F.
 They give fairly accurate temperature readings if properly calibrated.
 They offer very small interchangeability.
 IC Temperature Sensors are not suitably designed for making well thermal
contact with external surfaces.
 Use of these temperature sensors enables simple interfacing with other electronic
devices like amplifiers, regulators, Digital signal processors, and microcontrollers
etc.
 These types of temperature sensors are considered ideal for embedded applications
where they are installed within the equipment itself.
 Unlike other temperature sensors like thermocouples and RTDs, their electrical and
mechanical performance is not very robust.

Types of IC Temperature Sensors.

IC Temperature Sensors can be broadly classified into following major five types:
A. Voltage Output Temperature Sensors.
These types of sensors usually need a source of power supply for excitation. They give
an effective linear output in the form of voltage signals. Besides, they offer quite low
output impedance.
 B. Current Output Temperature Sensors
As opposed to voltage output temperature sensors, the output impedance of these
sensors is very high. They usually function as constant current regulators which are
designed to pass 1 micro-amp per degree Kelvin. They also need an input voltage
which can vary between 4 and 30 V.
C. Digital Output Temperature Sensors
These are the foremost sensors designed for the integration of a sensor and an analog
to digital converter on an IC chip. These sensors don’t provide standard digital
interfaces. Hence, they cannot be employed for measurement with standard measuring
devices. Some of them are specially fabricated to enable their use with microprocessors
for thermal management.
D. Resistance Output Temperature Sensors
These are simple temperature sensors designed with the help of typical semiconductor
manufacturing equipment. The usual temperature resistance characteristics of
semiconductor materials make their use simpler. Besides, these sensors offer high
class tolerance to ion migration hence found to be additionally stable as compared to
other semiconductor temperature sensors. However, extra care must be exercised while
employing these sensors owing to their other characteristics.
E. Diode Temperature Sensors
These sensors are made up by using regular PN junction diodes. These are the most
inexpensive type of temperature sensors which are competent enough to provide very
adequate results if constant and steady excitation current is supplied to them. Also, they
need a two points calibration for satisfactory operation. An ordinary semiconductor
diode provides a sensibly linear forward biased voltage whose temperature coefficient is
around 2.3mV/°C. A typical diode temperature sensor is shown in the figure below.
Selection Criterial

While selecting a semiconductor temperature sensor for a particular application, one

must keep in mind following key points:

1. Select the level of accuracy needed

2. Choose the desired range of temperature
3. Consider the costing requirements
4. Identify the input capabilities of the measuring devices

Strengths and Weaknesses of IC Sensors

Strengths:

 Analog or Digital outputs available

 Low cost
 Direct voltage, current or digital output needing no additional circuitry
 Linear output, no curve fitting
 Direct reading of temperature (1.000 = 100C and 298AµA = 298K or
25°C) on some analog devices
 Various communication interfaces

Weaknesses:

 Narrow temperature range: -55 to 150°C Max

 Wider interchangeability than most RTDs and thermistors
 Wide variation in accuracy between different models
 Small package sizes can be a barrier to low cost applications in
some immersion designs

Where are IC Sensors used?

 On circuit boards to monitor and control temperature.

 In computers to control CPU temperature.
 In telecommunications applications (cell phones & PDA).
 In some industrial immersion applications.

However, RTDS (resistance temperature detectors) are other temperature

sensors that can be discussed on in accordance to IC Temperature
sensors.
An RTD (resistance temperature detector) is a temperature sensor that operates
on the measurement principle that a material’s electrical resistance changes with
temperature.

The variation of resistance of the metal with the variation of the temperature
is given as,

Where, Rt and R0 are the resistance values at toC and t0oC temperatures. α
and β are the constants depends on the metals.
This expression is for huge range of temperature. For small range of
temperature, the expression can be,

Operations of RTD

An RTD takes a measurement when a small DC current is supplied to the sensor. The
current experiences the impedance of the resistor, and a voltage drop is experienced
over the resistor. Depending on the nominal resistance of the RTD, different supply
currents can be used. To reduce self-heating on the sensor the supply current should
be kept low. In general, around 1mA or less of current is used.

An RTD can be connected in a two, three, or four-wire configuration. The two-wire

configuration is the simplest and also the most error prone. In this setup, the RTD is
connected by two wires to a Wheatstone bridge circuit and the output voltage is
measured. The disadvantage of this circuit is that the two connecting lead wire
resistances add directly two the RTD’s resistance and an error is incurred.

2-Wire Configuration
The four-wire configuration consists of two current leads and two potential leads that
measure the voltage drop across the RTD. The two potential leads are high resistance
to negate the effect of the voltage drop due to current flowing during the measurement.

This configuration is ideal for canceling the lead wire resistances in the circuit as well as
eliminating the effects of different lead resistances, which was a possible problem with
the three-wire configuration. The four-wire configuration is commonly used when a
highly accurate measurement is required for the application.

3-Wire Configuration

If we know the values of US and UO, we can find RTD and then we can find
the temperature value using calibration equation. Now, assume R1 = R2:
 𝑅3 𝑈𝑠
𝑈𝑜 = 𝑈𝑠 ൬ ൰−൬ ൰
𝑅3 + RTD 2

If R3 = RTD; then UO = 0 and the bridge is balanced. This can be done

manually, but if we don’t want to do a manual calculation, we can just solve
the equation 3 to get the expression for RTD.

𝑈𝑠 − 2𝑈𝑜
RTD = 𝑅3 ൬ ൰
𝑈𝑠 + 2𝑈𝑜

This expression assumes, when the lead resistance RL = 0. Suppose, if RL is

present in a situation, then the expression of RTD becomes,

𝑈𝑠 − 2𝑈𝑜 4𝑈𝑜
RTD = 𝑅3 ൬ ൰ − 𝑅𝐿( )
𝑈𝑠 + 2𝑈𝑜 𝑈𝑠 + 2𝑈𝑜

So, there is an error in the RTD resistance value because of the RL

resistance. That is why we need to compensated the RL resistance as we
discussed already by connecting one line

The four-wire configuration consists of two current leads and two potential leads that
measure the voltage drop across the RTD. The two potential leads are high resistance
to negate the effect of the voltage drop due to current flowing during the measurement.

This configuration is ideal for canceling the lead wire resistances in the circuit as well as
eliminating the effects of different lead resistances, which was a possible problem with
the three-wire configuration. The four-wire configuration is commonly used when a
highly accurate measurement is required for the application.

4-Wire Configuration
In combination with the wiring diagrams shown, a more complex circuit is often
employed. There are many different options for circuits when working with an RTD. The
two most important features of this circuit are current generation and signal
conditioning.

For purposes of linearity, it is important that the current generation circuit supplies a
stable excitation to the RTD. Once a stable excitation current is applied to the RTD, the
signal conditioning path of the circuit cancels lead resistances, gains the signal and
converts the signal to digital using an ADC, which can then be read by a controller.