A temperature transmitter is a device used to sense a temperature and transmit an output

representative of the sensed temperature. Process control transmitters are used to measure
process parameters in a process control system. Temperature transmitters are used in
controlling industrial processes by sensing a temperature of the process and transmitting
the information to a remote location. A process temperature transmitter provides an
output related to a sensed process substance temperature. The temperature transmitter
output can be communicated over the loop to a control room, or the output can be
communicated to another process device such that the process can be monitored and
controlled. The transmitter injects a current into the temperature sensor and the resultant
voltage drop across the temperature sensor is used to measure resistance. The voltage is
converted into a digital format using an analog to digital converter and provided to a
microprocessor. The microprocessor converts the measured voltage into a digital value
representative of temperature. The temperature transmitter generally includes a housing
and a temperature probe which attaches to the housing. In order to monitor a process
temperature, the transmitter includes a sensor, such as a resistance temperature device
(RTD) or a thermocouple. An RTD changes resistance in response to a change in
temperature. By measuring the resistance of the RTD, temperature can be calculated. A
thermocouple provides a voltage in response to a temperature change. Typically, the
temperature transmitter is located in a remote location and coupled to a control room over
a 4-20 mA current loop. A temperature sensor is placed in the process fluid and provides
an output related to temperature of the process flu

Temperature controller
In the fields of industrial and scientific process control, there are many situations in
which it is necessary to maintain precise control over one or more parameters, such as
temperature. The control of temperature is both necessary and commonplace in industry.
Temperature controllers are used abundantly to regulate temperatures across a
broad range of applications from controlling the temperature of a general working
area to heating and cooling specific devices to temperature extremes. As is well known,
semiconductor devices are widely used in various electronic components and devices
such as transistors, and integrated circuits
. The semiconductor devices are highly temperature-dependent. It is necessary to effect
highly accurate temperature control on certain semiconductor devices such as a
semiconductor laser which must be as free as possible from output power changes
dependent on temperature variations. Many different types of temperature controllers are
known. A temperature controller comprised of a temperature-sensing device and an
output-power adjusting device is often employed in an electrical heating device, such as a
tempura pot, a frying pan, and a chafing dish. In temperature controllers for temperature
conditioning apparatus such as a controller for controlling the operation of the burner of a
boiler, a sensor unit is inserted into the water jacket of the boiler. The sensor unit has a
temperature responsive element for controlling the operation of the heating apparatus and
often a thermal fuse which would protect the boiler from reaching too high a temperature.
Automatic temperature control requires a feedback control system in which the controlled
variable is the magnitude of the temperature. In automatic temperature control systems
the controlled temperature is measured by means of a temperature-measuring instrument
whose output or reading is compared to a desired or reference setting. If a difference
exists between the measured and desired temperature, a correction is applied to an
actuator which increases or decreases the amount of heat supplied to the process.

Thermocouple
A thermocouple is a bi-metallic junction device for electrically measuring temperature.
Thermocouples, by their nature, are point sensors because they thermoelectrically
produce an e.m.f. at a specific junction between two different metals. The bi-metallic
junction of the thermocouple produces a voltage across the junction in accordance with
the temperature of the thermocouple, wherein a voltmeter may be used to read and record
the voltage so as to monitor temperature. A thermocouple consists of a junction of two
dissimilar metals with wire leads connected to each half of the junction. The
thermocouple generates a thermoelectric voltage that is a function of the junction
temperature and the choice of the particular metals which form the junction. A
temperature difference between their ends results in the creation of a potential difference
or voltage between them with resulting current flow, and this voltage can be measured.
The thermocouple may be connected directly to a measuring instrument, making
the task of measuring the thermocouple junction voltage straightforward. More
commonly, the thermocouple is connected indirectly to the measuring instrument via
thermocouple extension wires and a thermocouple connector. In measurement
applications, a thermocouple may be inserted into a system for monitoring the
temperature of a given element for assisting the system in regulating the temperature.
Thermocouples are used in a variety of applications to sense temperature at a given
location. For example, In integrated circuit manufacturing, thermocouples are used, for
example, to measure the temperature in an oxidation furnace which may be used for
growing of oxide, drive-in of dopants, low pressure chemical vapor deposition,
annealing, and etc. All of these processes must be performed at specific temperatures. A
thermocouple is used to check the accuracy of the temperature setting of the furnace.

Signal conditioner
Modem sensing systems typically include a sensor, a microprocessor, and an A/D
converter coupled there between. Sensors typically provide a low-level signal which
needs to be amplified before being of use. Major error sources in such a system
include offset error and gain error. Transducers are used in a wide variety of
engineering applications to convert various physical quantities to an electrical signal.
Sensors are generally coupled in transducers through at least a rudimentary signal
conditioning circuit to electronic instrumentation for use in an application. The
conditioning circuit is typically an analog circuit, as opposed to a digital circuit. Signal
conditioning circuits are generally built around amplifiers and accurate amplifiers for use
in precision signal conditioners took the form of an operational amplifier or an
instrumentation amplifier.