Abstract: A smart temperature sensing device 10 includes a sensor 16 and a memory 25 on a sensor unit 14. The memory contains a plurality of custom nonlinear calibration coefficients which uniquely characterize the sensor 16. A temperature system includes the smart temperature sensing device 10 and a FSAU 12 having a processor 28 which downloads the calibration coefficients and utilizes them in converting electrical signals from the sensor 16 into temperature values that represent the temperature at the sensor 16. A method of calibrating a sensor 16 includes measuring an output signal of the sensor 16 over a temperature range, thereby obtaining a plurality of paired data points. The paired data points are used in a curve-fitting algorithm to obtain coefficients to a polynomial that characterizes the nonlinear temperature-voltage relationship of the sensor 16. The coefficients are stored within the memory 25 until downloaded by the processor 28 for use in signal conversion.

Abstract: An interface for graphically programming a ramping controller coupled to and controlling an electric heater is implemented with a microcomputer. The interface presents to the user via a display device, a cartesian coordinate graph of temperature versus time onto which is plotted a desired temperature versus time (tvt) profile via an input device. The microcomputer translates the plotted tvt profile into controller logic to create a controller logic data file that is then uploaded into the ramping controller. The controller logic data file may be stored in memory. In addition to temperature, other functions or events may be plotted on the graph which are also translated into controller logic and uploaded to the ramping controller. Other features include data logging of heater parameters that may displayed in real time. The present invention eliminates cumbersome front panel entry of the data into the controller.