Semiconductor thermometer

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Semiconductor thermometers are usually produced in the form of ICs, Integrated Circuits. There are many types, sizes and models. Most are quite small and their fundamental design results from the fact that semiconductor diodes have voltage-current characteristics that are temperature sensitive. That means that semiconductor triodes or transistors are also temperature sensitive. Needless to say, there devices have temperature measurement ranges that are small compared to thermocouples and RTDs, but, they can be quite accurate and inexpensive and very easy to interface with other electronics for display and control.

Literally a whole mini-industry has sprung up around these seemingly simple devices. Semiconductor technology enables devices to be produced efficiently and cheaply and to have properties designed to easily interface with many other types of semiconductor devices, such as amplifiers, power regulators, buffer output amplifiers and, least we forget, microcomputers.

The major uses are where the temperature range is limited to within a minimum temperature of about -25°C to a maximum of about 200°C. Cost, accuracy, simplicity of interfacing with other circuit elements and size are factors in selecting a device to do a job and meet the both the accuracy and cost budgets. Check the links below to the various sources of information on semiconductor thermometers or related devices.
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