Composite thermistor element
AssigneeNederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
InventorsPeter Zalar, Edsger Constant Pieter Smits
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Abstract
A composite thermistor element is described. The element includes a sensor material that is disposed between a pair of electrodes. The sensor material includes particles in a dielectric matrix. Each of the particles have: a core having a temperature dependent resistance, and a cover layer of an inorganic material. The particles form an electron conducting pathway between the electrodes having a temperature dependent resistance and a base-line resistance. Further aspects relate to a method of manufacturing the thermistor, the coated particles, a composition for use in the manufacturing of composite thermistors that includes the particles, and to a temperature sensor including the thermistor described herein.
Claims15
A composite thermistor element comprising:
- a sensor material disposed between a pair of electrodes,
- wherein the sensor material comprises particles dispersed in a matrix, the particles contacting each other to form an electron conducting pathway between the electrodes, and
- wherein the particles have:
- a core comprising a semiconducting ceramic material having temperature dependent resistance with a material specific temperature coefficient of resistance, and
- an insulating cover layer of an inorganic material having a thickness and resistivity in accordance with a predetermined baseline resistance component of an overall electrical resistance across the sensor material along the pathway between the electrodes, the overall resistance further including a temperature dependent component imposed by the core of the particles.
A method of manufacturing a composite thermistor element comprising:
- providing a powder of a semiconducting ceramic having temperature dependent resistance;
- coating the powder with an inorganic material to form particles having:
- a core comprising the semiconducting ceramic material, and
- an insulating cover layer of the inorganic material;
- and
- processing the composition to form a sensor material between a pair of electrodes, the sensor material comprising the particles dispersed in the matrix,
- wherein ones of the particles contact each other to form an electron conducting pathway between the electrodes, and
- wherein the thickness and resistivity of the cover layer is provided in accordance with a predetermined baseline resistance component of an overall electrical resistance across the sensor material, said overall resistance further including a temperature dependent component imposed by the core of the particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.