IP Library Granted Patent US 11,942,903
Granted Patent B1
US 11,942,903 · App. 17/130,365 · Granted Mar 26, 2024

Monolithic differential pair thermocouple amplifier

Inventors: James A. Holmes (Fayetteville, AR); A. Matthew Francis (Elkins, AR)
H03F1/302H01L27/082H01L29/1608H03F3/4508H10N10/17H03F2200/447
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,942,903
App. No.
17/130,365
Granted
Mar 26, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

Two Silicon Carbide negative positive negative transistors realized on a monolithic substrate as a differential pair to keep their base-emitter junctions at nearly the same temperature such that their kT/q sensitivities tract together with their base connections electrically connected to the cold junction terminals of a thermocouple to create an amplified differential voltage across output load resistors while operating at high temperature.

Claims (24)

1. A monolithic substrate differential pair the amplifier apparatus for use with a thermocouple including a thermocouple hot junction with a hot junction minus output and a hot junction positive output, and a thermocouple cold junction with a cold junction minus output and a cold junction positive output, comprising:

a first mounting substrate;

the thermocouple hot junction mounted on the first mounting substrate;

a ceramic isolation base mounted to the first mounting substrate;

the thermocouple cold junction mounted to the ceramic isolation base;

a silicon carbide monolithic substrate mounted to the ceramic isolation base; and

a differential pair circuit with a first silicon carbide negative positive negative transistor and a second silicon carbide negative positive negative transistor mounted in thermal sensitive proximity on the monolithic substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the differential pair circuit further comprising:

direct current power connection and a direct current ground connection on the ceramic isolation base.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , the differential pair circuit further comprising:

the first silicon carbide negative positive negative transistor including a first base, a first collector, and a first emitter;

the second silicon carbide negative positive negative transistor including a second base, a second collector, and a second emitter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , the differential pair circuit further comprising:

the first collector connected to a first collector resistor to direct current power; and

the second collector connected to a second collector resistor to direct current power.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , the differential pair circuit further comprising:

the first emitter connected to direct current ground; and

the second emitter connected to direct current ground.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , the differential pair circuit further comprising:

a first base capacitor connected from the first base to direct current ground.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the differential pair circuit further comprising:

a second base capacitor connected from the second base to direct current ground.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 , the differential pair circuit further comprising:

an input capacitor connected between direct current power and direct current ground.

Assignments (1)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Aug 21, 2025
From: OZARK INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, INC.
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 072502/0501 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62953324 · Dec 24, 2019