Thermistors: In search of new applications, manufacturers cultivate advanced NTC techniques

Abstract

As leading sensors of ambient conditions, temperature sensors act as important sensing devices. They are essential in a large variety of products. A variety of temperature sensors is available on the market to meet specific application needs. The most common include thermocouples, resistive temperature detectors (RTD), thermistors, and silicon‐based sensors. But of all of these temperature sensors, the thermistor is the only one that holds the esteemed position owing to its high sensitivity, accuracy and low cost. Temperature measurement systems utilizing thermistors are less expensive to produce because few additional components are required, especially in the present era of embedded systems. With the recent advances in manufacturing techniques, the drawbacks of conventional thermistors, like aging, interchangeability, unreliability etc., are almost eliminated. Booming demand for DVD players and portable communication appliances have pushed up the popularity of NTC thermistors. This article reviews the latest trends in thermistor manufacturing and the associated applications.