Temperature sensor and method of manufacturing the same

Details Temperature sensor and method of manufacturing the same Temperature sensor and method of manufacturing the same

1999-12-27

2001-10-02

Easthom, Karl D. (Department: 2832)

Electrical resistors

Resistance value responsive to a condition

Ambient temperature

C338S025000, C338S229000, C374S185000, C374S208000, C374S209000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06297723

ABSTRACT:

THIS APPLICATION IS A U.S. NATIONAL PHASE APPLICATION OF PCT INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PCT/JP99/00044.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to temperature sensors and methods of manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Among various kinds of sensors heretofore known for detecting temperature, a type of temperature sensor that uses a thin film thermistor element as a temperature-sensing element is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Reissued Publication, No. H08-835932, and the like.
FIG. 19
is a schematic cross sectional view depicting a structure of a temperature sensor of such kind. A temperature-sensing element
51
comprises a thin film of sintered ceramic formed on a substrate. Connecting parts for electric resistance of the temperature-sensing element
51
are formed of platinum film, and connected to lead wires
65
and
66
made of platinum. The lead wires
65
and
66
are housed within a metal housing
63
of a cylindrical shape, while being isolated with each other by electrical insulating glasses
61
and
62
. The cylindrical metal housing
63
is fixed to a flange
64
. The temperature sensor detects temperature electrically as a resistance of the temperature-sensing element
51
.
In the case of adapting a sensor of this kind for an exhaust gas purification system of automobile, as has been studied for the purpose of environmental protection, the sensor can constitute a characteristically suitable temperature sensor, including reliability. However, it makes an extremely expensive temperature sensor in respect of cost effectiveness, since it uses platinum wires for the lead wires
65
and
66
. Because the platinum wires actually used for one temperature sensor has weighed approximately 0.54 gr, the temperature sensor has cost approximately 800 yen for the platinum alone based on the platinum price (approx. 1,500 yen/gr) as of July, 1997. The prior art techniques thus have had a problem of making temperature sensors very expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to solve the above-cited problem of the prior art, and aims at providing a low-cost high-performance temperature sensor with high yield.
In order to solve the above-cited problem, a temperature sensor of the present invention includes: (a) a metal cylinder; (b) a ceramic substrate inserted in the metal cylinder, and provided with a temperature detecting element in a form of film and electrodes in a form of film for electrically tapping off an output of the temperature detecting element; (c) a supporting means having a function of reducing stress for supporting the ceramic substrate in the metal cylinder; and (d) a protective cap provided on one end of the metal cylinder for protecting the temperature detecting element provided on the ceramic substrate.
The above structure is able to realize a low-cost high-performance temperature sensor with high yield.


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Japanese language search report for Int'l Appln. No. PCT/JP99/00044 dated Mar. 23, 1999.
Copy of Form PCT/ISA/210, Mar 23, 1999.

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