Thermal conductivity sensors and associated operating methods
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorIlie-Ionut CRISTEA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal conductivity sensor includes a measurement circuit configured to operate in a first circuit configuration during a heating phase of the measurement circuit and in a second circuit configuration during a measurement phase of the measurement circuit. The first circuit configuration is associated with a first power dissipation of the measurement circuit at a supply voltage. The second circuit configuration is associated with a second power dissipation of the measurement circuit at the supply voltage. The first power dissipation is greater than the second power dissipation.
Claims20
Thermal conductivity sensor, comprising:
- a measurement circuit configured to operate in a first circuit configuration during a heating phase of the measurement circuit and in a second circuit configuration during a measurement phase of the measurement circuit, wherein:
- the first circuit configuration is associated with a first power dissipation of the measurement circuit at a supply voltage,
- the second circuit configuration is associated with a second power dissipation of the measurement circuit at the supply voltage, and
- the first power dissipation is greater than the second power dissipation.
A method for operating a thermal conductivity sensor, the method comprising:
- applying a supply voltage to a measurement circuit of the thermal conductivity sensor;
- performing a heating phase of the measurement circuit in a first circuit configuration of the measurement circuit, wherein the first circuit configuration is associated with a first power dissipation of the measurement circuit at the supply voltage;
- and
- performing a measurement phase of the measurement circuit in a second circuit configuration of the measurement circuit, wherein the second circuit configuration is associated with a second power dissipation of the measurement circuit at the supply voltage,
- wherein the first power dissipation is greater than the second power dissipation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.