Compact instrument, composed of integrated circuits and a temperature-sensitive platinum resistor, measures temperature over a wide dynamic range. Ultimate accuracy is limited by nonlinearity of the platinum resistor. With proper calibration and current regulation to within 0.01 percent, a measurement accuracy of 0.05 percent can be achieved

Mc Fadin, L. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1970	 Brief 70-10303 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
_4V 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, 
Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief progam may be directed to the Tech-
nology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Simple, Accurate Temperature-Measuring Instrument 
Operational	 Platinum 
Amplifier	 Resistance 
A simple, compact instrument, composed of inte-
grated circuits and a temperature-sensitive platinum 
resistor, RT, measures temperature over a wide dy-
namic range. The platinum resistor is placed in a feed-
back loop of the operational amplifier, Q 1 , shown in 
the figure. Current through the resistor is sensed by Q1 
which varies the voltage drop across RT in order to 
maintain a constant voltage across R 1 . The voltage 
variation of the temperature sensor, which is propor-
tional to the temperature change, is amplified by a 
differential amplifier and displayed on a digital 
voltmeter. Ultimate accuracy of the instrument is 
limited by the nonlinearity of the platinum resistor. 
With proper calibration and current regulation to 
within 0.01%, a measurement accuracy of 0.05% can be 
achieved. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center, Code BM7 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: B70-10303
Patent status: 
This invention is owned by NASA, and a patent 
application has been filed. Royalty-free, nonexclusive 
licenses for its commercial use will be granted by 
NASA. Inquiries concerning license rights should be 
made to: 
Patent Counsel 
Mail Code AM 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Source: Louis W. McFadin 
Manned Spacecraft Center

(MSC-12327) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
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Simple, accurate temperature-measuring instrument

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