Systems and methods for determining a temperature of a ferroelectric sensor

1. A method for determining a temperature of a ferroelectric sensor, the ferroelectric sensor having operational characteristics defined by a polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop, the method comprising:

applying a symmetrical periodic voltage waveform to the ferroelectric sensor so as to induce the ferroelectric sensor to traverse the polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop;

monitoring voltages across the ferroelectric sensor and polarization states of the ferroelectric sensor over a first time interval to determine a first zero field polarization state and a first coercive field voltage; and

determining a first temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the first coercive field voltage.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring voltages across the ferroelectric sensor and polarization states of the ferroelectric sensor over a second time interval to determine a second zero polarization state and a second coercive field voltage, the second time interval being after the first time interval; and

determining a second temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the second coercive field voltage; and

determining a difference temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the first and second temperature values.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the first temperature value in a memory device.

4. A system for determining a temperature of a ferroelectric sensor, the ferroelectric sensor having operational characteristics defined by a polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop, the system comprising:

a voltage source configured to apply a symmetrical periodic voltage waveform to the ferroelectric sensor so as to induce the ferroelectric sensor to traverse toe polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop;

a controller configured to monitor voltages across the ferroelectric sensor and polarization states of the ferroelectric sensor over a first time interval to determine a first zero field polarization state and a first coercive field voltage; and

the controller further configured to determine a first temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the first coercive field voltage.

5. A method for determining a temperature of a ferroelectric sensor, the ferroelectric sensor having operational characteristics defined by first and second polarization versus voltage hysteresis loops, the method comprising:

applying a symmetrical periodic voltage waveform to the first and second ferroelectric sensor so as to induce the ferroelectric sensor to traverse the polarization versus voltage hysteresis loops;

monitoring voltages across the ferroelectric sensor and polarization states of the ferroelectric sensor during a traversal of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop;

determining a first area of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop based on the monitored voltages and polarization states during the traversal of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop; and

determining a first temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the first area of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

monitoring voltages across the ferroelectric sensor and polarization states of the ferroelectric sensor during a traversal of the second polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop;

determining a second area of the second polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop based on the monitored voltages and polarization states during the traversal of the second polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop; and

determining a second temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the second area of the second polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop; and

determining a difference temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the first and second temperature values.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising storing the first temperature value in a memory device.

8. A system for determining a temperature of a ferroelectric sensor, the ferroelectric sensor having operational characteristics defined by first and second polarization versus voltage hysteresis loops, the system comprising:

a voltage source configured to apply a symmetrical periodic voltage waveform to the ferroelectric sensor so as to induce the ferroelectric sensor to traverse the first and second polarization versus voltage hysteresis loops;

a controller configured to monitor voltages across the ferroelectric sensor and polarization states of the ferroelectric sensor during a traversal of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop;

the controller further configured to determine a first area of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop based on the monitored voltages and polarization states during the traversal of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop; and

the controller further configured to determine a first temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the first area of the first polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop.