Temperature sensor apparatus and method

Abstract

A system and method for determining a temperature including: a temperature sensor including: a substrate resistance configured to be primarily responsive to a temperature of a substrate; and a membrane resistance configured to be primarily responsive to a temperature of a membrane. The substrate resistance and the membrane resistance are arranged in a series circuit configured to facilitate measurement of a voltage responsive to a temperature change. The system also includes a controller in operable communication with the temperature sensor. The method includes: receiving a temperature signal, the temperature signal indicative of a composite temperature variation including a first varying portion and a second varying portion; configuring the temperature signal to eliminate the second varying portion; and generating a temperature value based on the configuring wherein the temperature value is substantially based on the first varying portion.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A method of determining a temperature comprising: 
 receiving a temperature signal, said temperature signal indicative of a composite temperature variation including a first varying portion and a second varying portion;    configuring said temperature signal to eliminate said second varying portion; and    generating a temperature value based on said configuring wherein said temperature value is substantially based on said first varying portion.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said temperature signal comprises a differential voltage.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said configuring includes scaling said temperature signal and combining said scaled temperature signal with an additional signal to cancel said second varying portion.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said scaling includes a gain based on a thermal coupling and indicative of a relative proportion of said first varying portion and said second varying portion.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said temperature signal comprises a voltage from a bridge, said bridge formed with two pairs of resistances, a first pair corresponding to a substrate resistance, and a second pair corresponding to a membrane resistance.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said first varying portion corresponds to variations of about 1 to 100 milliseconds and said second varying portion corresponds to variations in excess of about 200 milliseconds.  
   
   
       31 . A system for determining a temperature comprising: 
 a means for receiving a temperature signal, said temperature signal indicative of a composite temperature variation including a first varying portion and a second varying portion;    a means for configuring said temperature signal to eliminate said second varying portion; and    a means for generating a temperature value based on said configuring wherein said temperature value is substantially based on said first varying portion.