# US 2013/0156070 A1 · Miniaturized Thermocouple Scanner System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156070 A1 - Document ID: US20130156070A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/819,718 - Filed: 2011-08-30 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-31 - Assignees: Streamline Automation, LLC - Inventors: Alton Reich; James Shaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156070A1 ## CPC - G01K 7/02: using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples - G01K 1/026: {arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing} - G01K 7/021: {Particular circuit arrangements (G01K7/026, G01K7/12, G01K7/14 take precedence)} - G01K 7/13: Circuits for cold-junction compensation - G01K 2205/00: Application of thermometers in motors, e.g. of a vehicle - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract An apparatus and method for measuring, collecting, and processing the temperatures of a number of hot junctions in a thermocouple sensor array simultaneously comprises means for measuring the temperature of one or more reference junctions and means for collecting, processing, storing, and transmitting data collected from an array of thermocouple temperature sensors. The measured temperature(s) of the one or more reference junctions is used to correct the measured voltage in each of a plurality of thermocouple circuits to obtain accurate hot junction temperature measurements. The apparatus and method are particularly useful for collecting and processing temperature data from various locations within engines such as turbine, rocket, and internal combustion engines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for simultaneously determining a plurality of temperatures measured by a plurality of thermocouple sensors, said method comprising the steps of: a) measuring the voltages Erj of a plurality of thermocouple circuits, each circuit comprising a measurement junction and a reference junction for the plurality of thermocouple sensors; b) measuring the temperature Tr of the reference junction for each of the plurality of thermocouple circuits; c) calculating a voltage E0r of the reference junction from the measured temperature Tr for each of the plurality of thermocouple circuits; d) adding the calculated E0r voltage to the voltage Erj measured for each of the plurality of thermocouple circuits to generate adjusted thermocouple voltages E0j; and e) converting the adjusted thermocouple voltages E0j to corresponding measured temperatures; wherein measuring the temperature Tr of the reference junction for each of the plurality of thermocouple circuits comprises measuring the temperature of a common reference junction shared by the plurality of thermocouple circuits. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the reference junction is measured by a means selected from the group consisting of a thermocouple, a thermister, a resistance temperature detector, a resistance thermal detector, and a direct temperature sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shared reference junction is in physical contact with a common substrate having a temperature Tr. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermocouple sensors comprises between 4 and 128 thermocouple sensors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein converting step e) comprises converting analog signals from the thermocouple sensors into digital signals and communicating the digital signals to a Smart Transducer Interface Module (STIM) processor to produce digital data and sending the digital data to a Network Capable Application Processor (NCAP) configured for assembling, packaging, and transmitting said digital data to a server. ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein analog signals are converted into digital signals by an analog to digital converter having between 2 and 4 analog inputs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the analog signals are converted into digital signals by an analog to digital converter having at least 1 analog output. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, and further comprising the step of storing a local copy of a Thermocouple Electronic Data sheet for each of the thermocouples on the STIM. ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the STIM processor utilizes a field programmable gate array for serial communication of digital data to the NCAP. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, and further comprising triggering the temperature measurements to occur within a time window of less than 1 millisecond. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for simultaneously determining temperatures at multiple locations, said apparatus comprising: a) a plurality of thermocouple sensors, each comprising a thermocouple circuit comprising a measurement junction and a reference junction; b) means for measuring a reference junction temperature; c) a Smart Transducer Interface Module (STIM) comprising a STIM processor in electrical communication with the plurality of thermocouple circuits and said means for measuring a reference junction temperature; d) a Network Capable Application Processor (NCAP) in electrical communication with the STIM; and e) a server in electrical communication with the NCAP wherein: the plurality of thermocouple circuits share a common reference junction and the means for measuring a reference junction temperature is configured to measure the temperature of the common reference junction; the STIM is configured to receive analog data from the thermocouple sensors and said means for measuring reference junction temperatures, convert the analog data into processed digital data, and to transmit said processed data to the NCAP; the NCAP is configured to receive processed data from the STIM, apply synchronized time stamps to and package and transmit the processed data received from the STIM to the server; and the server is configured to receive data from the NCAP, parse the data, and store the data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein 8 or more thermocouple sensors and one means for measuring reference junction temperatures send analog data to the STIM. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein 4 or more measurement STIMs are in communication with the NCAP. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the STIMs and NCAP share common processing hardware and are integrated into a single unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, comprising at least 4 thermocouple sensors and at least one means for measuring reference junction temperatures in communication with the STIM. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the thermocouple sensors in communication with the STIM are different types of thermocouple sensors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus comprises more than one NCAP and each NCAP receives processed data from more than one STIM. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1, 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the method of claim 1.