Magnetic temperature sensor
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsTimothy Innes, David Spivey, Jr., Kevin Igoe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one example, the present disclosure describes a magnetic temperature sensor. For instance, in one example, an apparatus includes a first magnet, a magnetometer housing the first magnet, and a temperature converter coupled to the magnetometer. The first magnet includes a material having a magnetic field whose strength fluctuates in response to changes in temperature. The magnetic field induces an electric current in the magnetometer. The temperature converter then converts a measurement of the electric current to a corresponding measurement of temperature.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first magnet, wherein the first magnet comprises a material having a magnetic field whose strength fluctuates in response to changes in temperature;
- a magnetometer housing the first magnet, wherein the magnetic field induces an electric current in the magnetometer, wherein the magnetometer comprises a counter-wound inductive pickup coil that defines a generally cylindrical shell, and wherein the counter-wound inductive pickup coil includes at least a first pair of loops comprising a first loop for carrying the electric current in a first direction around the first magnet and at least a second loop for carrying the electric current in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction around the first magnet;
- and
- a temperature converter coupled to the magnetometer to convert a measurement of the electric current to a corresponding measurement of temperature.
A method, comprising:
- measuring an electric current induced in a magnetometer by a magnetic field whose strength fluctuates in response to changes in temperature, wherein the magnetometer comprises a counter-wound inductive pickup coil that defines a generally cylindrical shell, wherein the generally cylindrical shell houses at least a first magnet producing the magnetic field, and wherein the counter-wound inductive pickup coil includes at least a first pair of loops comprising a first loop for carrying the electric current in a first direction around the first magnet and at least a second loop for carrying the electric current in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction around the first magnet;
- and
- converting a measurement of the electric current to a measurement of temperature.
A device, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- measuring an electric current induced in a magnetometer by a magnetic field whose strength fluctuates in response to changes in temperature, wherein the magnetometer comprises a counter-wound inductive pickup coil that defines a generally cylindrical shell, wherein the generally cylindrical shell houses at least a first magnet producing the magnetic field, and wherein the counter-wound inductive pickup coil includes at least a first pair of loops comprising a first loop for carrying the electric current in a first direction around the first magnet and at least a second loop for carrying the electric current in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction around the first magnet;
- and
- converting a measurement of the electric current to a measurement of temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.