Introduction to Temperature Sensors

1. What is a temperature sensor?

    A temperature sensor is an electronic component that detects and measures temperature changes and converts them into electrical signals. These sensors are widely used in industrial automation, medical devices, household appliances, automotive electronics, and environmental monitoring—making them indispensable in modern smart technology.

2. Common Types

  2.1 NTC/PTC

    NTC Thermistors (Negative Temperature Coefficient) decrease in resistance as temperature rises, ideal for temperature measurement and compensation.
    PTC Thermistors (Positive Temperature Coefficient) increase in resistance with rising temperature, suitable for overheat protection.

  2.2 Thermocouples

    Constructed from two dissimilar metals that generate a thermoelectric voltage at the junction, thermocouples are ideal for high-temperature and rapid-response industrial applications.

  2.3 RTDs

    Made primarily from platinum, RTDs offer high accuracy and linearity, making them suitable for precise temperature measurements.

  2.4 Digital Sensors

    These sensors, such as the DS18B20, directly output digital signals, making them ideal for microcontroller communication in IoT and consumer electronics.

3. Key Specifications

    Temperature Range (T_range): The minimum and maximum measurable temperatures.

    Accuracy (±ΔT): The maximum deviation between measured and actual temperature.

    Response Time (τ): The time it takes for the sensor to respond to temperature changes.

    Packaging: Forms such as glass-encapsulated (MF52A), epoxy, plastic, or SMD define the installation method and application scenario.

4. Application Fields

    Smart Homes: used for temperature control of air conditioners, refrigerators, and floor heating systems.

    Medical Devices: used for body temperature monitoring, medical probes, etc.

    Industrial Automation: controls heating/cooling processes to achieve precise temperature control.

    Automotive Electronics: such as battery management systems (BMS) and engine temperature control.

    Wearables: enables real-time monitoring of human body temperature.

5. Future Trends

    As IoT, smart manufacturing, and health monitoring technologies advance, temperature sensors are evolving toward miniaturization, digitalization, high sensitivity, and multi-functionality. The trend of sensor fusion (e.g., temperature + humidity + pressure) is also emerging, expanding their use cases even further.

We offer a wide range of temperature sensors in various specifications and packaging options, with support for custom solutions to meet your precise measurement needs in diverse applications.