HUMIDITY SENSOR CIRCUIT

MMD24S

MMD24B

HUMIDITY SENSOR CIRCUIT

(1)Structure of Humidity Sensor

The humidity sensor includes two thermistors as shown in the illustration. One thermistor is housed in the closed vessel filled with dry air while another in the open vessel. Each sensor is provided with the protective cover made of metal mesh to be protected from the external airflow.

ventilation opening for sensing

Thermistors

 

Sensing part

Sensing part

(Open vessel)

(Closed vessel)

(2)Operational Principle of Humidity Sensor

The figure below shows the basic structure of an absolute humidity sensor. A bridge circuit is formed by two thermistors and two resistors (R1 and R2).

The output of the bridge circuit is to be amplified by the operational amplifier.

Each thermistor is supplied with a current to keep it heated at about 150οC (302οF), the resultant heat is dissipated in the air and if the two thermistors are placed in different humidity conditions they show different degrees of heat conductivity leading to a potential difference between them causing an output voltage from the bridge circuit, the intensity of which is increased as the absolute humidity of the air increases. Since the output is varied every minute, it is amplified by the operational amplifier.

R3

 

 

 

Absolute humidity vs,

 

 

 

 

S

 

Operational

output voltage characteristic

R

amplifier

voltageutput

 

 

 

Output

 

 

+

voltage

C

R2

 

S : Thermistor

 

 

 

O

 

 

 

open vessel

 

 

 

 

C : Thermistor

 

 

 

 

closed vessel

 

 

 

 

 

Absolute humidity (g/m 2)

the resistance values results in that there is the same potential at both F-3 terminal of the absolute humidity sensor and AN6 terminal of the LSI. The voltage of AN7 terminal will indicate about +2.5V.This initial balancing is set up about 16 seconds after the unit is put in the Sensor Cooking mode. As the sensor cooking proceeds, the food is heated to generate moisture by which the resistance balance of the bridge circuit is deviated to increase the voltage available at AN6 terminal of the LSI.

Then the LSI observes that voltage at AN7 terminal and compares it with its initial value, and when the comparison rate reaches the preset value (fixed for each menu to be cooked), the LSI causes the unit to stop sensor cooking; thereafter, the unit goes in the next operation automatically.

When the LSI starts to detect the initial voltage at AN7 terminal 16 seconds after the unit has been put in the Sensor Cooking mode, if it is not possible to balance the bridge circuit due to disconnection of the absolute humidity sensor, ERROR will appear on the display and the cooking is stopped.

VA : +15V

 

 

 

 

VC : +5V

 

 

R40

430

 

 

 

 

D40

D41

 

 

 

 

 

C. Thermistor in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

closed vessel

 

 

 

 

 

 

F2

 

 

 

S. Thermistor in

 

 

 

 

 

 

K

 

open vessel

 

 

 

 

86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R4

3

+

8

 

 

 

F3

 

 

 

0.1µF

1

63

AN7

 

 

K

 

-

IC5

 

 

C

 

 

7

 

 

R50 10K

R52 47K

 

 

.5

2

 

4

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F1

R4

 

 

C42

 

 

 

 

 

LSI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R43 1.8K

 

 

R44 360K

 

(IC1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R51 47K

 

 

 

 

64 AN6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R45 620K

 

 

 

 

52

SW1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P00

 

 

 

 

R46 300K

 

 

 

 

51

SW2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P01

 

 

 

 

R47 150K

 

 

 

 

50

SW3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P02

 

 

 

 

R48 75K

 

 

 

 

49

SW4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P03

 

 

 

 

R49 37.4K

 

 

 

 

48

SW5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P04

(3)Detector Circuit of Humidity Sensor Circuit

This detector circuit is used to detect the output voltage of the absolute humidity circuit to allow the LSI to control sensor cooking of the unit. When the unit is set in the sensor cooking mode, 16 seconds clearing cycle occurs than the detector circuit starts to function and the LSI observes the initial voltage available at its AN6 terminal.

With this voltage given, the switches SW1 to SW5 in the LSI are turned on in such a way as to change the resistance values in parallel with R45 ~ R49. Changing

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Sharp MMD24S, MMD24B manual Humidity Sensor Circuit, ventilation opening for sensing, Structure of Humidity Sensor