Accurate and fast response temperature measurement

A method of generating signals indicative of a dynamic external temperature, the method comprising:

• generating, via a resistive temperature detector (RTD), a first sensing signal indicative of a first temperature of the RTD;
• thermally coupling a first thermocouple junction to the RTD;
• thermally isolating a second thermocouple junction from the RTD;
• exposing the RTD and the first and second thermocouple junctions to the dynamic external temperature;
• generating, via a single thermocouple sensor formed by the first and second thermocouple junctions, a second sensing signal indicative of a temperature difference between the first temperature of the RTD and a second temperature of the second thermocouple junction;
• selecting, via a processor, between a precision mode and a fast-response mode based on a magnitude of the second sensing signal;
• and
• generating, via the processor, a weighted sum of the first sensing signal generated by the RTD and the second sensing signal generated by the thermocouple sensor, a weighted sum signal indicative of the dynamic external temperature to which the RTD and the first and second thermocouple junctions are exposed.

A temperature measurement system comprising:

• an electronic temperature processor;
• a first sensing module having a first thermal mass, the first sensing module including:
• a resistive temperature detector (RTD) configured to generate a first sensing signal indicative of a first temperature of the first sensing module;
• and
• a first wire lead of a first conductive material extending between and conductively coupling the electronic temperature processor and the first sensing module;
• a second sensing module having a second thermal mass less than the first thermal mass, the second sensing module including:
• a second wire lead of the first conductive material extending between and conductively coupling the electronic temperature processor and the second sensing module;
• and
• a third wire lead of a second conductive material dissimilar to the first conductive material, the third wire lead extending between and conductively coupling the first sensing module and the second sensing module;
• wherein the first wire lead, the second wire lead, and the third wire lead are configured to generate a second sensing signal indicative of a temperature difference, and
• wherein the electronic temperature processor is configured to select between a precision mode and a fast-response mode based on a magnitude of the second sensing signal.