What is a temperature sensor?

An analog temperature sensor is a chip that explains the ambient temperature while using solid-state techniques to determine temperature. Instead, of using mercury (like old thermometers), bimetallic strips (like in some home thermometers or stoves) or even thermistors (temperature sensitive resistors) this device is built to withstand high temperatures. Technically speaking, a temperature sensor is actually the voltage drop between the base and emitter of a transistor.

To sense the temperature and transmit an output representative of the sensed temperature, a temperature transmitter device is used. Temperature transmitters are used in controlling industrial processes by sensing a temperature of the process and transmitting the information to a remote location. 

The temperature transmitter includes housing and a temperature probe which is attached to the housing. In order to monitor a process temperature, the transmitter includes a sensor, such as an RTD or a thermocouple. The temperature transmitter is located in a remote location and coupled to a control room over 4-20 mA current loop. Thus when a temperature sensor is placed in the process fluid, it provides an output related to temperature of the process fluid.

The primary sensing element generates a pressure transducers output signal. A pressure transducer is a fundamentally any device that converts an applied pressure into an electrical signal. There have been many different types of pressure transducers developed over the years such as bonded foil, thick film, thin film and semi-conductor strain gauge. All of these sensing technologies are pressure transducers and they provide an electrical signal which varies with change in pressure when connected to a power supply.