Compact, lightweight temperature transducer requires no amplification of its output signal and is time stable. It uses the temperature-dependent characteristics of a silicon transistor to provide a zero-to-five-volt signal proportional to temperature

Follett, W. H.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

30	 10	 10	 30	 50	 70	 90	 110 
Temp. (°C) 
Regulated 
Source 
Output
Volts
0  
50 
November 1965
	 Brief 65-10362 
NASA TECH BRIEF
	 F 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued by the Technology Utilization Division to summarize specific 
technical innovations derived from the space program. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical information, Springfield, Virginia, 22151. 
Temperature Transducer Has High Output, Is Time Stable 
The problem: To design a small, lightweight, tem-
perature transducer with relatively linear output that 
requires no amplification of its output signal. Pre-
vious devices have used a semiconductor element in 
conjunction with a thermistor; but the thermistor is 
not time stable. The output signal, after required 
amplification, was not linearly proportional to the 
temperature being measured. 
The solution: A compact, lightweight transducer 
that uses the temperature-dependent characteristics 
of a planar silicon transistor to provide a zero-to-five-
volt signal proportional to temperature. 
How it's done: The major element of the trans-
ducer is the transistor whose base is held at a constant 
voltage by a regulated source operating through a 
voltage divider R 1 , R2 . The regulated source is also
connected through the emitter resistor R 3 . Output of 
the transducer is developed across the collector re-
sistor R4 to register the voltage change with tem-
perature on an appropriate instrument. Principle of 
operation is the characteristic change of base-emitter 
voltage with changing temperature of a planar silicon 
transistor. The graph shows the relatively linear rise 
in output voltage with increase in temperature acting 
on the transducer. 
Notes: 
1. Transducer output is sufficient for telemetry pur-
poses to the extent that no preamplification is 
required. 
2. The transducer is disk-shaped and is approximately 
½ inch in diameter by ½ inch thick. Weight, with 
36-inch leads, is approximately 6 grams. 
(continued overleaf) 
-O
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19650000360 2020-03-11T17:24:38+00:00Z
3. Twelve of these transducers are presently providing 
temperature data on various experiments and 
components now flying aboard the Orbiting Solar 
Observatory (OSO-132).
Patent status: Title to this invention has been 
waived under the provisions of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Act (42 U.S.C. 2457 (f)), to Ball 
Brothers Research Corporation, Boulder Industrial 
Park, Boulder, Colorado. 
Source: William H. Follett of Ball Brothers

Research Corporation under contract

to Goddard Space Flight Center

(G FSC-446)
S 
. Brief'65-10362	 Category 01


Temperature transducer has high output, is time stable

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