Abstract: A bandgap voltage reference and temperature sensor is used to determine accurately the temperature of the cold junction of a thermocouple for algebraic combination with the thermocouple signal to provide precision temperature measurements with thermocouple speed. In a discrete component embodiment copper slugs function as thermal inertial elements to equalize the thermal response rates of the temperature sensor and thermocouple. In an IC embodiment the cold junction is located on the chip in close proximity to the temperature sensor component in the chip thereby avoiding any thermal differential between cold junction and sensor.