The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 22, 1994
Filed:
Feb. 01, 1990
Guenter Voss, Much, DE;
Leybold AG, , US;
Abstract
For use in a measuring and analysis instrument, a sensor including a sensor element responsive to changes in a quantity to be measured by the instrument. The sensor element is formed from a deformation heat-recoverable material having a predetermined range of temperatures in which recovery occurs. The sensor may include a control mechanism for maintaining the temperature of the sensor element substantially within the predetermined range. The sensor element forms a part of a circuit including a power source, and the control mechanism may include apparatus for selectively heating the sensor element. The sensor element is operatively connected to a signal device for sensing a physical characteristic of the sensor element and generating signals corresponding to the characteristic sensed. The signal device may include a temperature sensor, a force sensor, or a light sensor. A volt meter or ammeter may be used to measure the level of electrical energy required to maintain the sensor element at a constant temperature, thus serving as an analogue for measuring the temperature directly.