Patent ID: 7946762

Claim:
A thermocouple for use in a semiconductor processing reactor, said thermocouple comprising: a sheath; a support member at least partially disposed within said sheath, said support member having a first bore and a second bore formed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said support member; a first cut-out formed into said support member that intersects with said first bore at a location spaced apart from an end of said support member such that said first bore extends less than a length of said support member; a first wire disposed within said first bore; a second wire disposed within said second bore, said second wire formed of a dissimilar metal than said first wire; a second cut-out formed in said support member, wherein said first wire exiting said first bore at an intersection between said first bore and said first cut-out and said second wire exiting said second bore at an intersection between said second bore and said second cut-out; a junction formed between an end of said first wire and an end of said second wire, wherein said junction is located adjacent to an end of said support member; a first loop formed by a portion of said first wire adjacent to a location at which said first wire exits said first bore adjacent to an end of said support member opposite said junction; and a second loop formed by a portion of said second wire adjacent to a location at which said second wire exits said second bore adjacent to an end of said support member opposite said junction; wherein said first and second loops are configured to allow said first and second wires to freely thermally expand in a longitudinal manner within said support member.