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Thermocouples are about the best example of a mature sensor type in terms of available standards. As you can see below, there are many applicable standards just in the USA. ISO and other overseas organizations have additional standards. Hopefully, we can add those to the lists below, but one can always perform a Web search for local details. We shall be searching the Web and the Net for more information.


This site is a valuable resource - search patents by direct number or classification code or genre. Of particular interest is a new patent (US 5,288,336) describing an efficient and inexpensive technology for both power generation and cooling.


NIST reference functions and tables of thermocouple electromotive force (emf) versus temperature have been adopted as standards by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) [1] and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) [2]. All letter-designated thermocouple types are manufactured to match these standards to within specified tolerances. Furthermore, calibrations of individual thermocouples are often expressed in terms of the deviation in emf of the test thermocouple from the emf value given by the reference function. This database reproduces a subset of the tables and reference functions of NIST Monograph 175, "Temperature Electromotive Force Reference Functions and Tables for the Letter-Designated Thermocouple Types Based on the ITS-90" [3], by G. W. Burns, M. G. Kaeser (formerly Scroger), G. F. Strouse, M. C. Croarkin, and W. F. Guthrie. All temperatures used by this database are given on the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) [4], and all emf values are given in units of the 1990 SI volt [5]. Details of the ITS-90 are given in Appendix A .


Thermoelectric related info. Abstracts only, unless you subscribe to EB.


Thermocouple reference data, polynomials, physical properties, and more. Important reference site.


Objectives: Assessment of performance and reliability of thermoelectric coolers (TEC) for the thermal control of conventional and high temperature (up to 200 °C) electronics.