# US 12,601,644 B2 · Thermometer with a diagnostic function

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- Number: US 12,601,644 B2
- Document ID: US12601644B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/258,061
- Filed: 2021-11-26
- Published: 2024-02-15
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-16
- Assignees: Endress + Hauser Wetzer GmbH + Co. KG
- Applicants: Endress+Hauser Wetzer GmbH+Co. KG
- Inventors: Marc Schalles
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601644B2

## CPC

- G01K 15/007: {Testing}
- G01K 3/10: in respect of time, e.g. reacting only to a quick change of temperature
- G01K 13/02: for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
- G01K 7/02: using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples
- G01K 7/18: the element being a linear resistance, e.g. platinum resistance thermometer (G01K7/26 takes precedence)
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)

## Abstract

A device for determining and/or monitoring the temperature of a medium includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature and an electronics module, wherein the temperature sensor includes a temperature-sensitive sensor element in electrical contact with the electronics module via at least one connection line. The device further includes a diagnostic unit with a separate device for temporal variation of a power of an input signal, by which the temperature sensor or at least one component of the device can be acted upon, and which diagnostic unit is configured to determine, based on an output signal of the temperature sensor in response to the input signal, a statement about a thermal coupling of the device to the medium. A method for operating the corresponding device is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for determining and/or monitoring a temperature of a medium, the device comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the medium, wherein the temperature sensor includes a temperature-sensitive sensor element;
an electronics module, wherein the temperature-sensitive sensor element is in electrical contact with the electronics module via at least one connection line, wherein:
the at least one connection line includes a first connection line and a second connection line,
the temperature sensor is electrically contacted via the first connection line and the second connection line,
the first connection line is divided into a first section and a second section,
the first section, which faces the sensor element, consists essentially of a first material,
the second section, which faces away from the sensor element, consists essentially of a second material, which differs from the first material,
the second connection line consists essentially of the second material,
the first section of the first connection line and at least a part of the second connection line form a first differential temperature sensor in the form of a thermocouple in a region of the temperature-sensitive sensor element; and
a diagnostic unit configured for temporal variation of a power of an input signal, by which the temperature sensor or at least one component of the device can be acted upon, wherein the diagnostic unit is further configured to determine, based on an output signal of the temperature sensor in response to the input signal, a statement about a thermal coupling of the temperature sensor to the medium.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a measuring insert in which the temperature sensor is disposed, or a measuring insert and a dipping body configured to receive the measuring insert, or
wherein the device is configured to enable at least the temperature sensor to be fastened indirectly or directly to an outer wall of a container in which the medium is disposed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a heating element configured to heat a region surrounding the temperature sensor,
wherein the diagnostic unit is configured to apply the input signal of variable power to the heating element and, from the output signal of the temperature sensor, to determine the statement about the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor to the medium.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic unit comprises an energy store.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the energy store is a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method for operating the device according to claim 1 for determining and/or monitoring the temperature of the medium, the method comprising:
varying the power of the input signal, by which the temperature sensor or at least one component of the device can be acted upon; and
determining the statement about the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor to the medium based on the output signal of the temperature sensor in response to the input signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the device further comprises a heating element configured to heat a region surrounding the temperature sensor,
wherein the diagnostic unit is configured to apply the input signal to the heating element, and wherein the statement about the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor to the medium is determined from the output signal of the temperature sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein:
a measured value for the temperature of the medium is determined based on the output signal of the temperature sensor;
a heat flow, or a variable related to the heat flow, is determined in the region of the temperature sensor from the first differential temperature sensor;
a measured value deviation for the measured value for the temperature is determined based on a model of the heat flow in the region of the temperature sensor; and
the measured value for the temperature is corrected by the measured value deviation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein at least one parameter value of a parameter of the model is determined based on the statement about the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor to the medium.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein, for at least one parameter of the model, a plurality of parameter values is predetermined or stored as a function of the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor, and wherein the at least one parameter value for the parameter is selected from the plurality of parameter values as a function of the statement determined about the thermal coupling, or
wherein the at least one parameter value is determined based on the statement about the thermal coupling.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein a frequency or amplitude modulation is performed for the temporal variation of the power of the input signal, or
wherein a pulsed input signal is applied, wherein individual pulses are varied at least with respect to a characteristic signal variable.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the characteristic signal variable is frequency or amplitude.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprises determining the temperature of the medium in a measurement operating mode,
wherein, in a diagnostic operating mode, the statement about the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor to the medium is determined, and
wherein the measurement operating mode and the diagnostic operating mode are performed simultaneously or alternately, or wherein the diagnostic operating mode is initialized as required by a user of the device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the statement about the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor to the medium determined based on a heating behavior, a cooling behavior, a response time, or a variable of the temperature sensor derived from at least one of the foregoing variables.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the heating behavior, the cooling behavior, the response time, or the derived variable of the temperature sensor respectively include a time profile of the heating behavior, the cooling behavior, the response time, or the derived variable of the temperature sensor, respectively, and
wherein a change in the thermal coupling is determined based on a change in the heating behavior, the cooling behavior, the response time, or the derived variable.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the statement about the thermal coupling is a statement about at least one of a heat transfer coefficient, a heat transport resistance, a thermal conductivity resistance, and a heat transfer value in a region of the device or of a transition between the device and a container containing the medium, or
wherein the statement about the thermal coupling concerns a change in a mechanical or thermal contact of at least two components of the device or of the device and the container.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the region of the device is a region of the temperature sensor.