Patent ID: 7003418
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A temperature compensation method for a physical property sensor, said method comprising the steps of: locating a bridge circuit on a physical property sensor substrate wherein said bridge circuit comprises a plurality of components, including at least one heating element and a plurality of resistors, including a plurality of compensating resistors, wherein said plurality of compensating resistors includes a temperature independent resistor for compensating a temperature coefficient of resistance of said at least one heating element; simultaneously driving an imbalance of said bridge circuit to a zero value and a supply voltage thereof to a level required to stabilize said heating element at a required temperature rise above an ambient temperature, wherein said heating element comprises a thin-film heating material, adjusting the resistance value of said temperature independent resistor to compensate said temperature coefficient of resistance of said heating element(s); and dynamically compensating for a temperature coefficient of resistance of said thin-film heating material and a temperature dependence of said plurality of resistors and said heating element(s) of said bridge circuit components and a temperature dependence of a physical property thereof, utilizing said plurality of compensating resistors of said bridge circuit.