Sensistor is a

resistor A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias active e ...

whose resistance changes with

temperature Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses quantitatively the perceptions of hotness and coldness. Temperature is measured with a thermometer. Thermometers are calibrated in various temperature scales that historically have relied o ...

. The resistance increases exponentially with temperature, that is the

temperature coefficient A temperature coefficient describes the relative change of a physical property that is associated with a given change in temperature. For a property ''R'' that changes when the temperature changes by ''dT'', the temperature coefficient α is def ...

is positive (e.g. 0.7% per degree

Celsius The degree Celsius is the unit of temperature on the Celsius scale (originally known as the centigrade scale outside Sweden), one of two temperature scales used in the International System of Units (SI), the other being the Kelvin scale. The d ...

). Sensistors are used in

electronic circuit An electronic circuit is composed of individual electronic components, such as resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors and diodes, connected by conductive wires or traces through which electric current can flow. It is a type of electric ...

s for compensation of temperature influence or as sensors of temperature for other circuits. Sensistors are made by using very heavily doped

semiconductor A semiconductor is a material which has an electrical conductivity value falling between that of a conductor, such as copper, and an insulator, such as glass. Its resistivity falls as its temperature rises; metals behave in the opposite way ...

s so that their operation is similar to PTC-type thermistors. However, very heavily doped semiconductor behaves more like a metalDharma Raj Cheruku, Battula Tirumala Krishna, Electronic Devices and Circuits, 2nd edition, 2008, Delhi, India, and the resistance change is more gradual than it is the case for other PTC thermistors.

References

{{reflist Sensors

See also

References