Abstract: A method of compensating a temperature measurement of a thermal device in a user environment as a function of a thermal transfer of the thermal device in a temperature measurement system. The method includes inputting thermal transfer parameters associated with heat transfer characteristics of the thermal device stored by a thermal transfer indicia. The method further includes measuring a signal of the thermal device during the temperature measurement and compensating the measured thermal device signal as a function of the thermal transfer function based on one of a plurality of predetermined specific thermal environments and one of a plurality of predetermined specific thermal errors associated with the thermal device.

Abstract: A set of electrical connector pins for a thermocouple includes two materially similar conductor pairs, each conductor pair having conductors composed of a different material, and carried by an electrically insulating connector housing. The different materials of the conductor pairs provide a partial compensation to the thermocouple EMF developed between the hot junction and the cold junction when engaged thereto for the different type thermocouples. The conductors of each pair are operable to engage with two thermoelement conductors that form a thermocouple of differing types. The thermocouples provide a hot junction electrical interconnection therebetween at one end and are coupled to a cold junction at another end.

Abstract: A temperature sensor includes an autonomous sensing element and a plurality of conductive wires connected to the sensing element. An electrical insulator surrounds the sensing element and the conductive wires for firmly holding the sensing element and conductive wires. The insulator includes substantially crushed and compacted powder insulation. A tube encases the insulator in a compressed manner and has a first end, a second end, a first portion having a first inside diameter located in the proximity of the first end and a second portion having a second inside diameter. The second inside diameter being greater than the first inside diameter. The sensing element is positioned within the second portion of the tube. Methods of manufacturing a temperature sensor are also included.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a temperature sensing system having a temperature sensor, a field processing module coupled to the temperature sensor, a bitbus, a fieldbus, and an auxiliary processing module communicating with the bitbus and the fieldbus. The method includes generating a temperature characteristic at the temperature sensor, processing the temperature characteristic at the field processing module, and generating field operating data including a temperature diagnostic parameter as a function of the temperature characteristic. The method also includes communicating the field operating data including the temperature diagnostic parameter over the bitbus from the field processing module to the auxiliary processing module, generating at the auxiliary processing module auxiliary field data as a function of the received field operating data, and communicating the auxiliary field data over the fieldbus.

Abstract: A distributed operations system having integrated diagnostics, a bitbus and a fieldbus and includes a field device for generating a field operating characteristic and a field processing module for receiving the field operating characteristic from the field device. The field processing module includes a field diagnostic component and a field communication component configured for communication over the bitbus. The field processing module is configured for generating field operating data including a field diagnostic parameter as a function of the field operating characteristic. An auxiliary processing module is configured for communicating with the bitbus and receiving the field operating data. The auxiliary processing module includes an auxiliary diagnostic component and an auxiliary communication component having a fieldbus interface and a gateway component.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a distributed operational system having a field device, a field processing module coupled to the field device, a bitbus, a fieldbus, and an auxiliary processing module communicating with the bitbus and the fieldbus. The method includes generating a field operating characteristic at the field device, processing the field operating characteristic at the field processing module, and generating field operating data including a field diagnostic parameter as a function of the field operating characteristic. The method also includes communicating the field operating data including the field diagnostic parameter over the bitbus from the field processing module to the auxiliary processing module. The method further includes generating at the auxiliary processing module auxiliary field data as a function of the received field operating data and communicating the auxiliary field data over the fieldbus.

Abstract: A temperature sensing and diagnostics system having a temperature sensor for generating a temperature characteristic and a bitbus includes a field processing module and an auxiliary processing module. The field processing module is adapted for coupling to the temperature sensor and for receiving the temperature characteristic from the temperature sensor. The field processing module includes a field diagnostic component and a field communication component configured for communication over the bitbus and is adapted to generate field operating data including a temperature diagnostic parameter as a function of the temperature characteristic. The auxiliary processing module is configured for communicating with the bitbus and for receiving the field operating data and includes an auxiliary diagnostic component and an auxiliary communication component having a fieldbus interface and a gateway component.

Abstract: A method of compensating a temperature measurement of a thermal device in a user environment as a function of a thermal transfer of the thermal device in a temperature measurement system. The method includes inputting thermal transfer parameters associated with heat transfer characteristics of the thermal device stored by a thermal transfer indicia. The method further includes measuring a signal of the thermal device during the temperature measurement and compensating the measured thermal device signal as a function of the thermal transfer function based on one of a plurality of predetermined specific thermal environments and one of a plurality of predetermined specific thermal errors associated with the thermal device.

Abstract: A thermal device system including a device for measuring a temperature within a user environment and providing a device output signal indicative of the device measured temperature. The system also includes a thermal transfer indicia associated with the device. The thermal indicia provide thermal transfer parameters for compensating the device measured temperature as a function of the thermal transfer between the device and the user environment. The thermal transfer parameters are associated with predetermined thermal transfer information for characterizing a transfer of thermal energy between the device and the user environment. Also a method of compensating a temperature measurement of a thermal device in a user environment as a function of a thermal transfer of the thermal device in a temperature measurement system.

Abstract: An apparatus and system is presented for partially compensating the cold junction of a thermocouple system using low cost semi-compensated conductors of system components accommodating various thermocouple types. The thermocouple system, comprises a thermocouple portion comprising two thermocouple types, each type composed of two different thermoelectric materials joined to form a hot junction, a semi-compensation portion comprising two substantially similar conductor pairs, each composed of a different material, wherein one conductor of each pair is composed of a material different than the thermoelectric materials of the respective thermocouple type of the thermocouple portion.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for detecting the degradation of a thermocouple circuit prior to failure and the prediction of certain impending thermocouple failures. The detection system monitors the loop resistance of the measurement circuit and isolates the heat affected loop resistance changes from the degraded circuit changes. The monitoring circuit is divided into a sheathed portion, generally exposed to the temperature measurement, and an unsheathed portion of the monitoring system generally at ambient temperature. An algorithm is provided for standard instrumentation systems to predict certain types of impending failure in thermocouple temperature measurement circuits.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring carbon dioxide production during a dough leavening process to improve the efficiency and quality of the baking process. A yeast dough is placed in an oven for rising and baking. A carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the oven to sense the carbon dioxide in the oven atmosphere, and a monitoring device monitors the signal from the carbon dioxide sensor to provide an output indicative of the substantial end of the rising stage, and may automatically control the oven to begin baking.

Abstract: Drift compensation systems and methods are presented for compensating the drift of a sensor within a manufacturing lot. The system comprises a sensor test sample manufactured from a lot of material having substantially similar chemical or metallurgical properties, a drift characterization tester, wherein the test sample is exposed to a predetermined thermal environment. Measurements of the test sample output are analyzed to provide a drift function describing the relationship between time and temperature from the thermal exposure measurements of the test sample in the drift characterization tester. Parameters associated with the drift function and the sensor test sample are stored in a memory storage component associated with a second sensor. The second sensor is manufactured from the same lot of material as the sensor test sample. A sensor system is manufactured comprising the second sensor and the memory storage component.

Abstract: An apparatus and system is presented for partially compensating the cold junction of a thermocouple system using low cost semi-compensated conductors of system components accommodating various thermocouple types. The thermocouple system, comprises a thermocouple portion comprising two thermocouple types, each type composed of two different thermoelectric materials joined to form a hot junction, a semi-compensation portion comprising two substantially similar conductor pairs, each composed of a different material, wherein one conductor of each pair is composed of a material different than the thermoelectric materials of the respective thermocouple type of the thermocouple portion.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for detecting the degradation of a thermocouple circuit prior to failure and the prediction of certain impending thermocouple failures. The detection system monitors the loop resistance of the measurement circuit and isolates the heat affected loop resistance changes from the degraded circuit changes. The monitoring circuit is divided into a sheathed portion, generally exposed to the temperature measurement, and an unsheathed portion of the monitoring system generally at ambient temperature. An algorithm is provided for standard instrumentation systems to predict certain types of impending failure in thermocouple temperature measurement circuits.

Abstract: A smart temperature sensing system and method for improved performance of smart temperature sensors when used in conjunction with an indicating instrument. This sensing system uses a microprocessor-based interface to send a signal to the indicating instrument via an existing communications port. The sent signal may consist of a calibration offset value to correct the indicated temperature in the instrument. This offset value is determined from data resident within a memory device in the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A smart temperature sensing system and method for improved performance of smart temperature sensors when used in conjunction with an indicating instrument. This sensing system uses a microprocessor-based interface to send a signal to the indicating instrument via an existing communications port. The sent signal may consist of a calibration offset value to correct the indicated temperature in the instrument. This offset value is determined from data resident within a memory device in the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring carbon dioxide production during a dough leavening process to improve the efficiency and quality of the baking process. A yeast dough is placed in an oven for rising and baking. A carbon dioxide sensor is connected to the oven to sense the carbon dioxide in the oven atmosphere, and a monitoring device monitors the signal from the carbon dioxide sensor to provide an output indicative of the substantial end of the rising stage, and may automatically control the oven to begin baking.

Abstract: A thermocouple leadwire which is flat yet flexible, is provided with a woven overbraid connecting individually insulated single wires (singles) forming thermocouple pairs having differ. The overbraid keeps the singles substantially aligned and forms a substantially flat leadwire which is easily connected to a bracket on a wafer sensor and/or to one or more connectors for connecting the leadwire to a processor.

Abstract: A dew point sensor includes a micro-cantilever beam formed on a substrate. A cooling device and a temperature sensor are in thermal contact with the micro-cantilever beam and a control circuit is coupled to the micro-cantilever beam, the cooling device and the temperature sensor. The control circuit controls and monitors a resonance of the micro-cantilever beam, controls a temperature of the cooling device and receives a temperature indication from the temperature sensor. Using the above information, the dew point temperature is determined by identifying the temperature of the micro-cantilever beam when its resonance changes due to a change in mass caused by the formation of dew on the micro-cantilever beam when the dew point is reached. A method of determining the dew point is also disclosed. The method includes exciting a micro-cantilever beam in a vibratory mode and decreasing a temperature of the micro-cantilever beam.