US2002126733A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for testing a temperature sensor

22
Priority: Feb 23, 1999Filed: May 16, 2002Published: Sep 12, 2002
Est. expiryFeb 23, 2019(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John Blankenagel
H05K 1/0212G01K 15/00
22
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of a method and apparatus for testing a temperature sensor, an apparatus includes at least one component that affects ambient temperature. The at least one component is positioned on a circuit board so that when a current is applied to the at least one component the temperature of a temperature sensor is affected, where the temperature sensor is attached to a battery in contact with the circuit board. The response of the temperature sensor further includes the capability to be measured by external equipment. In accordance with another embodiment of a method and apparatus for testing a temperature sensor, a method of testing a temperature sensor attached to a battery, the battery being in contact with a circuit board, is as follows. The response to a temperature sensor is measured. Current is applied to the at least one heating component with sufficient proximity of the temperature sensor to affect its temperature. The response of a temperature sensor is measured after the temperature of a temperature sensor has been affected.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least one battery;    a temperature sensor connected to the battery;    at least one component that affects ambient temperature connected to the battery and positioned so that when a current is applied to the at least one heating component the temperature sensor is affected; and    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the response of said temperature sensor to changes in temperature is capable of being measured by external equipment.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least one battery;    a temperature sensor connected to the battery; and    at least one heating component connected to the battery and positioned so that when a current is applied to the at least one heating component the temperature sensor is heated.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the response of the temperature sensor to being heated is capable of being measured by external equipment.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heating component comprises a heater resistor.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heating component comprises a component a non-zero resistance.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the battery is part of a battery pack.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the battery pack comprises a rechargeable battery pack.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the response of the temperature sensor comprises a change in an electrical characteristic of the temperature sensor.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical characteristic comprises the resistance of the temperature sensor.  
     
     
         12 . A method of modifying the temperature of a temperature sensor connected to a battery, comprising: 
 applying current to at least one component that affects ambient temperature positioned on the battery so as to affect the temperature of the temperature sensor when current is applied.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one component that affects ambient temperature comprises a heating component.  
     
     
         14 . A method of testing a temperature sensor attached to a battery, comprising: 
 measuring the response of the temperature sensor;    applying current to at least one heating component positioned on the battery within sufficiently close proximity of the temperature sensor to affect its temperature; and    measuring the response of the temperature sensor after the temperature of the temperature sensor has been affected.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the battery is part of a battery pack.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one heating component comprises a heater resistor.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one heating component comprises a component a non-zero resistance.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the response of the temperature sensor comprises a change in an electrical characteristic of the temperature sensor.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electrical characteristic comprises the resistance of the temperature sensor.

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