Temperature-stable heat pulse driver circuit for low-voltage single supply soil moisture sensors based on junction transistors

Author(s)

Dias, P. C. ^[1] ; Morais, F. O. ^[1] ; Franca, M. B. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Semicond Instruments & Photon, Sch Elect & Comp Engn, BR-13083820 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Londrina, Dept Elect Engn, BR-85057970 Londrina, PR - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ELECTRONICS LETTERS; v. 52, n. 3, p. 208-209, FEB 4 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

A temperature-stable heat pulse driver for low-voltage single supply soil moisture sensors based on junction transistors is presented. The temperature drift of the heat pulse, caused by the variations dVBE/dT in the transistors placed in the feedback loop, is fully compensated for. A circuit measures the variations dVBE/dT of the transistors in the feedback loop and generates a current which is proportional to the -(1/R0) dV(BE)/dT that, when passed through another resistor inside the feedback loop (R-1 = R-0), provides full temperature compensation. The topology of the circuit also provides an output voltage (the voltage used to define the heat pulse) which does not need to be calibrated, since it depends only on a reference voltage external to the feedback loop. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/01470-3 - Design and fabrication of an autonomous heat pulse probe soil water moisture sensor using semiconductor devices fabricated with sprayed semiconductor ink on alumina, integrated with a bite thermoelectric generator
• Grantee: Pedro Carvalhaes Dias
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate