US 5,492,482 A · Compact thermocouple connector

Abstract

A compact isothermal connector for a thermocouple temperature measurement system has electrical contacts with thermal mass sufficiently larger than the thermal mass of the corresponding contacts of a corresponding thermocouple connector to provide for improved settling times and measurement accuracy. The contacts are thermally coupled to a multi-layer printed circuit board containing layers of embedded thermally conducting material to achieve sufficient thermal coupling between the contacts. The contacts have sufficient thermal mass to achieve a desired settling time. A temperature sensor is thermally coupled to the printed circuit board and to each electrical contact to sense the temperature of the isothermal connector and provide the temperature information to a temperature measuring instrument to correct for measurement errors from the connector junction voltage.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A compact isothermal connector for coupling to a thermocouple connector, comprising:

(a) a multi-layer printed circuit board with at least one thermally conductive layer;
(b) a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on said multi-layer printed circuit board, said multi-layer printed circuit board providing thermal coupling and electrical isolation between each of said electrical contacts wherein:
each of said electrical contacts is to be coupled both thermally and electrically to a corresponding contact of said thermocouple connector, and
each of said electrical contacts has a thermal mass substantially greater than the thermal mass of said corresponding contact;
and
(c) a temperature sensor thermally coupled to said multi-layer printed circuit board for sensing the temperature of said electrical contacts wherein said multi-layer printed circuit board provides thermal coupling between said temperature sensor and each of said electrical contacts.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compact thermocouple connector

Life of this patent

Compact thermocouple connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims4