Temperature sensing tape

A temperature sensing tape comprising:

• an electrically insulating substrate;
• a first conductor disposed on the electrically insulating substrate and terminating in a first electrode, the first electrode comprising a first plurality of tines;
• a second conductor disposed on the electrically insulating substrate and terminating in a second electrode, the second electrode comprising a second plurality of tines;
• a variable resistance material comprising a curable compound;
• and
• an adhesive material for facilitating adhesion of the electrically insulating substrate to an electrical device;
• wherein the temperature sensing tape is made by:
• forming the electrically insulating substrate on a strip of dielectric material, the dielectric material having the adhesive material on one or both sides;
• disposing the first conductor and the first electrode on the electrically insulated substrate, the first conductor and the first electrode being formed from a single, contiguous piece of electrically conductive material;
• disposing the second conductor and the second electrode on the electrically insulated substrate, the second conductor and the second electrode being formed from a single, contiguous piece of electrically conductive material, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed in a confronting, spaced-apart relationship and the first plurality of tines is disposed in an interdigitated relationship with the second plurality of tines to define a gap therebetween;
• curing the compound of the variable resistance material to form a solid mass;
• and
• depositing the solid mass on the first plurality of tines and the second plurality of tines such that the variable resistance material partially bridges the gap, the first conductor, the second conductor, and the variable resistance material defining a temperature sensing element, wherein the temperature sensing tape comprises a plurality of temperature sensing elements disposed on the electrically insulated substrate and electrically connected to one another in series, the temperature sensing tape being capable of being rolled and stored as a conventional roll of tape.