Thermal Noise Generated In Conductor Patents (Class 374/175)
  • Patent number: 11519791
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a sealing device for sealing a cold-end part of a thermocouple wire arrangement based on a mineral-insulated cable, the sealing device comprising: a sealing element including an electrically insulating material, the sealing element defining a through-hole for passing through a respective thermocouple wire of the mineral-insulated cable; a sealing ring arranged at an outer rim of the sealing element for fixing the sealing device to a sheath or a support tube of the mineral-insulated cable; and an electric temperature sensing element for sensing an absolute temperature of the cold-end part. The temperature sensing element has at least one temperature-dependent electrical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Tomá{hacek over (s)} Gajdarus
  • Patent number: 10983175
    Abstract: A contact element adapted for connection with or within a terminal measuring device for inspecting terminal dimensions, comprising a contact head corresponding to and connectable to a terminal to be inspected, the contact head having a contact portion containing a technical ceramic for contacting the terminal to be inspected. The present invention also relates to a terminal measuring system comprising such contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Christian Auerbacher
  • Patent number: 10852200
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for measuring temperature accurately by measuring Johnson noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Metrosol Limited
    Inventor: Paul Bramley
  • Patent number: 10542220
    Abstract: A method of an image sensor device includes: using a pixel array of the image sensor device to sense and generate at least one dark image; computing pixel statistics according to the at least one dark image; and, determining which one of a plurality of temperature ranges a temperature of the image sensor device falls within according to the pixel statistics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Kei Tee Tiew, Shan Chong Tan
  • Patent number: 7862232
    Abstract: A temperature sensor and device and system including same, comprise a switched capacitor circuit configured to generate a noise voltage in response to switching and circuitry configured to generate a relative temperature output signal proportional to an absolute temperature output signal in response to the noise voltage. The device includes a temperature sensor, temperature sensitive device logic and temperature compensation logic configured to receive the absolute temperature and generate an adjustment signal to adapt the temperature sensitive device logic in response thereto. A related method for sensing temperature includes amplifying a noise voltage from a switched capacitor circuit in a plurality of parallel amplifier channels and removing amplifier noise from each of the plurality of parallel amplifier channels to form a relative output signal proportional to an absolute temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nail Khaliullin
  • Publication number: 20100061421
    Abstract: The radiometric thermometer includes a microwave sensor and electronic means for processing the electrical signal delivered by the sensor. The electronic means includes means for preamplifying the electrical signal delivered by the microwave sensor; variable-gain amplification means with automatic gain control, which means amplify the signal delivered by the preamplification means, the amplification means having an automatic gain control signal that allows the gain to be automatically adjusted on the basis of the signal output by the amplification means, and electronic temperature measurement means for measuring temperature on the basis of the automatic gain control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Van De Velde, Eugene Constant, Sylvain Jonniau, Roger Ringot
  • Patent number: 7298151
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the thermal noise integrated on a storage element are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a sampling circuit comprising a sampling capacitor to store a charge, the sampling capacitor being exposed to an ambient temperature. The sampling circuit further comprises circuitry to sample the charge onto the capacitor, wherein thermal noise is also sampled onto the capacitor, and wherein the circuitry is constructed such that the power of the thermal noise sampled onto the capacitor is less than the product of the ambient temperature and Boltzmann's constant divided by a capacitance of the sampling capacitor. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of controlling thermal noise sampled onto a capacitor. The method comprises an act of independently controlling the spectral density of the thermal noise and/or the bandwidth of the thermal noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Kapusta, Jr., Katsufumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7140766
    Abstract: A device, method and system for sensing the temperature or temperature change of an environment. A typically in-vivo device includes an image sensor. The device may sense the dark current noise of the image sensor, and calculate the temperature or a temperature change of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Given Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Arkady Glukhovsky, Gavriel Meron, Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Patent number: 6607301
    Abstract: A device, method and system for sensing the temperature of an environment. An image sensor may be introduced into an environment having an image sensing module. The dark current noise of the image sensor may be sensed, and the temperature of the image sensor (and environment) calculated. Such a device, system and method may be used in, for example, a medical imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Given Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Arkady Glukhovsky, Gavriel Meron, Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Patent number: 6554470
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus to measure p-n junction device temperature by testing a device with M-Levels of applied collector current, sensing changes in output characteristics, and calculating the device current offset error and leakage current error due to parasitic parallel resistance where the leakage current error due to parasitic parallel resistance may be treated and eliminated as current offset error. Application of M levels of excitation values, where M is greater than or equal to four, eliminates device series parasitic effects, comprised of voltage offset and a series parasitic resistance, and parallel parasitic effects, comprised of current offset error and leakage current error due to parasitic parallel resistance, from temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, William Robert Rypka, Emy Tan, Mansour Izadinia
  • Patent number: 6453218
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the thermal sensing and regulating of a RAM device using temperature sensing circuitry, embedded directly in the device, is presented. A predetermined voltage is passed through a temperature sensitive diode to create an analog signal. The analog signal is converted into digital temperature data by a A/D converter. The digital temperature data is then transmitted to a controlling host, without interfering with the normal operation of the device, by either transmitting the data in an out-of-band signal or during the clock refresh cycle. The controlling host, upon receipt of the temperature data, checks to see if the temperature level of the device has exceeded a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: George Vergis
  • Patent number: 6439763
    Abstract: A radiometer calibrating system utilizes an adjustable noise source for calibrating a radiometer. The noise source includes a transistor configured as a noise equivalent circuit having a gate port, drain port and source port. A source inductance providing series feedback for the noise source has one end coupled to the source port of the noise equivalent circuit and another end connected to the ground. A bias circuit controls the amount of DC bias applied to the noise equivalent circuit. In order to match the impedances in the noise source, an output impedance matching network is connected to the drain port and an input impedance matching network is connected to the gate port of the noise equivalent circuit. The output and input impedance networks have an output port and input port, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Roeder, Matthew C. Smith, Lawrence P. Dunleavy, Steven M. Lardizabal
  • Patent number: 6357912
    Abstract: A current sensing noise thermometer is described, in which a low noise amplifier is used to measure the noise current in a sensor resistor and the sensor resistor is connected in series with a superconducting coil, or a coil assembly including at least one superconductor. The superconductor of the coil assembly is preferably positioned inside the coil, and the superconducting transition temperature of the superconductor is used to calibrate the thermometer. Preferably, the sensor resistor is grounded to enable particularly low temperatures to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Royal Holloway & Bedford New College
    Inventor: Junyun Li
  • Patent number: 6217210
    Abstract: A radiometer calibrating system utilizes an adjustable noise source for calibrating a radiometer. The noise source includes a transistor configured as a noise equivalent circuit having a gate port, drain port and source port. A source inductance providing series feedback for the noise source has one end coupled to the source port of the noise equivalent circuit and another end connected to the ground. A bias circuit controls the amount of DC bias applied to the noise equivalent circuit. In order to match the impedances in the noise source, an output impedance matching network in connected to the drain port and an input impedance matching network is connected to the gate port of the noise equivalent circuit. The output and input impedance networks have an output port and input port, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignees: Raytheon Company, University of South Florida
    Inventors: Robert S. Roeder, Matthew C. Smith, Lawrence P. Dunleavy, Steven M. Lardizabal
  • Patent number: 5909963
    Abstract: A method for determining a temperature of a body by measuring emitted thermal noise includes measurement of thermal noise with a double radiofrequency signal amplification chain, one of whose branches continuously measures a thermal noise signal generated by a predetermined reference source. The heterodyne frequency transposition of the radiofrequency signal frequencies of the thermal noise processed in the two branches is changed with two converter circuits whose continuous signals are transmitted to a unit for control, processing and evaluation to determine in real time a temperature of a body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Bruker SA
    Inventors: Michel Weiss, Laurent Martinache, Olivier Gonella
  • Patent number: 5741071
    Abstract: Radiometer for the determination of a temperature of a body by measuring emitted thermal noise and measurement process using this radiometer. The radiometer includes a double radiofrequency signal amplification chain (1) for thermal noises, one of whose branches (2') continuously measures a thermal noise signal generated by a predetermined reference source (3), two converter circuits (5, 5', 6, 6') whose continuous signals are transmitted to a unit (8) for control, processing and evaluation, and means (9, 10, 11) for changing the heterodyne frequency transposition of the radiofrequency signal frequencies of the thermal noise processed in the two branches (2 and 2').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Sadis Bruker Spectrospin Societe Anonyme de Diffusion de l'Instrumentation Scientifique Bruker Spectrospin
    Inventors: Michel Weiss, Laurent Martinache, Olivier Gonella
  • Patent number: 5354130
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for measuring the temperature of an electrically conductive material, said method being based on the measurement of the thermal noise of the material. In the method, the fluctuation of the magnetic field generated by the random motion of the charge carriers in the conductive material is measured using a resonant circuit (3) without contact with the material (1) under measurement. The apparatus comprises a sensor (5) provided with a resonant circuit (3), the reactance element of which is placed at a distance (s) from the material (1) whose temperature is to be measured, and a preamplifier (2), said sensor (5) being mounted inside a frame (20) made of a conductive material, such as copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus
    Inventors: Heikki Seppa, Lauri Holappa
  • Patent number: 5228780
    Abstract: A dual-mode Johnson noise and DC resistance thermometer capable of use in control systems where prompt indications of temperature changes and long term accuracy are needed. A resistance-inductance-capacitance (RLC) tuned circuit produces a continuous voltage signal for Johnson noise temperature measurement. The RLC circuit provides a mean-squared noise voltage that depends only on the capacitance used and the temperature of the sensor. The sensor has four leads for simultaneous coupling to a noise signal processor and to a DC resistance signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Shepard, Theron V. Blalock, Michael J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5146780
    Abstract: A vacuum-isolation vessel for measurement of thermal noise in microphones s an outer vessel and an inner vessel suspended within the outer vessel. A high vacuum is created between the inner and outer vessels to provide acoustical isolation. The suspension assembly coupled between the inner and outer vessels provides a substantially vibration-free environment. Thus, thermal noise in a microphone mounted within the inner vessel is accurately measured, especially at low thermal noise levels and at low frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Allan J. Zuckerwar, Kim Chi T. Ngo
  • Patent number: 4911009
    Abstract: A thermal air flow meter for measuring the flow rate of intake air supplied to an internal combustion engine comprises a thermal sensor disposed in an intake air passage, a drive circuit including a circuit pattern formed on a circuit board for driving the thermal sensor, a shielding case having at least a bottom wall on which the circuit board is mounted and side walls, a through capacitor disposed on one of the side walls of the shielding case, a conductor extending through the capacitor so that the conductor is electrically connected in an AC mode through the capacitor to the shielding case and having one end connected to a corresponding terminal of the drive circuit and the other end connected to an external terminal, a metal case in which the shielding case is mounted and a connecting member electrically connecting the shielding case to the metal case at an area on the bottom wall selected between an edge of the bottom wall connected to the one side wall and an edge of the pattern formed on the circuit b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Maeda, Tadao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4875042
    Abstract: This multi channel temperature controller includes several temperature sensors, an electronic multiplexer which receives output signals from these temperature sensors and which sequentially supplies these signals to its output according to the switching action of a selection signal, and an amplifier which receives the output of the electronic multiplexer. Thereby, noise such as due to thermal electro motive force generated in the contacts of prior art sets of reed relays for switching over such temperature sensor output signals can be eliminated. Further, optionally, there may be provided several input circuits, one interposed between each of these temperature sensors and the electronic multiplexer, and each including a capacitor which has electrostatic capacitance substantially greater than the electrostatic capacitance existing between its input circuit and the corresponding temperature sensor. Thereby, common mode voltage noises are eliminated or minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Seiji Oku, Tooru Shimamura, Kazutomo Naganawa, Toshiya Tanamura
  • Patent number: 4763665
    Abstract: A thermistor assembly for use in an environment of microwave radiation employs an interface metallic layer on the surface of a plastic insulation its conductors and a metal foil wrapped upon the thermistor head. The metal foil overlaps the interface metallic layer on the conductors. A surface metallic layer is electroplated on both the interface metallic layer and the metal foil to unite both into a single electrically conducting layer effective to exclude microwave radiation from the interior thereof and thus to avoid direct microwave heating of the thermistor or the electrical conductors in the vicinity of the thermistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Victory Engineering Company
    Inventors: Frank Mascuch, Arthur Winter, Satish Laroia
  • Patent number: 4627744
    Abstract: A temperature sensor utilizes a resistive element and a thermocouple. One or more leads of the thermocouple are surrounded (electrically insulated) by a conductor or conductors constituting the connections to the resistive element. The conductors are made of a nonmagnetic material. In one embodiment, the second thermocouple lead is constructed as a hollow pipe which constitutes a protective outer casing for the necessary unit, as well as a connection to the resistive element. Embodiments utilizing a plurality of thermocouples are illustrated, as is a similarly constructed cable for connecting the sensor unit to measuring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Kernforschungsanlage Julich GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Brixy, Hubert Hoewener
  • Patent number: 4479026
    Abstract: A noise thermometer of the type in which a resistive sensing element is exposed to elevated temperatures and has a measuring circuit connected thereto so that the noise voltage output of the sensing element is detected. According to the invention this element is a rectangular parallelopiped, elongated or cubical, of lanthanum chromite, LaCrO.sub.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Kernforschungsanlage Julich GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Brixy, Detmar von Mallinckrodt, Volker Justus