A Single Substrate Thick Film Temperature Datalogger

During the transport of perishable goods it is important to ensure that optimum temperature storage conditions are observed. To ensure compliance to these conditions a miniature temperature data logger has been developed that can be included in the consignment to sample and record the temperature of the goods in storage and transit. The recorded information can later be retrieved and processed by computer when the goods reach their destination. To meet the required specifications (size and weight in particular) the data logger was constructed using thick film hybrid circuitry built onto a porcelain enamelled steel (PES) substrate plus the use of a custom gate array. The design concept of the data logger and its construction are described and various problems experienced with the PES technology are discussed.