Patent ID: 7712347
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A method to detect microbridge null performance in a microbridge sensor, the microbridge sensor including a heater element and a microbridge including a plurality of temperature sensitive resistors, the method comprising: not applying power to the heater element and the microbridge; waiting a time period without applying power to the heater element and the microbridge; applying diagnostic power to the microbridge after the waiting step at a diagnostic power level that is reduced relative to an operational power level, resulting in a reduced bias current in the plurality of temperature sensitive resistors relative to when the operational power level is applied; measuring a microbridge null offset voltage while the reduced bias current is being applied to the plurality of temperature sensitive resistors of the microbridge; and applying operational power to the microbridge at the operational power level, resulting in an increased bias current in the plurality of temperature sensitive resistors relative to when the diagnostic power level was applied.