Temperature sensor having a rotational response to the environment
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorDon M Coates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems of the invention are directed to a temperature sensor that includes a substrate, a first conductive plate, and a second conductive plate. The substrate is formed of a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The first conductive plate is formed of a material having a CTE that is higher than the CTE of the substrate, and is attached to a first surface of the substrate. The second conductive plate is rotatably connected to the substrate through a hinge, and includes a portion that is adjacent to the first conductive plate.
Claims16
A system for sensing a temperature in a subterranean environment, comprising:
- a signal generator, configured and arranged generate an electromagnetic signal;
- a sensor probe, locatable in a region of the subterranean environment, the sensor probe including a resonant circuit portion that includes a capacitive element, the resonant circuit portion being configured and arranged to receive energy from the electromagnetic signal and to generate a ringing signal in response to the electromagnetic signal, wherein the capacitive element of the sensor probe is responsive to a temperature condition in the region of the subterranean environment to modulate the ringing signal in accordance therewith;
- the capacitive element comprising:
- a substrate formed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the substrate has a first mount portion;
- a first conductive plate formed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is higher than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the first conductive plate is attached to a first surface of the substrate and the first conductive plate has a first contact portion;
- and
- a second conductive plate having a second mount portion rotatably connected to the first mount portion of the substrate, the second conductive plate being adjacent to the first conductive plate;
- the first and second conductor plates together defining an adjustable gap therebetween, the adjustable gap being adjustable responsive to the temperature condition to alter a capacitance of the capacitive element;
- a receiver, configured and arranged to receive the modulated ringing signal;
- and
- a processor, configured and arranged to process the modulated ringing signal to obtain a measurement of the condition.
A capacitive sensor comprising:
- a substrate formed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the substrate has a first mount portion;
- a first conductive plate formed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is higher than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the first conductive plate is attached to a first surface of the substrate and the first conductive plate has a first contact portion;
- and
- a second conductive plate having a second mount portion rotatably connected to the first mount portion of the substrate, the second conductive plate being adjacent to the first conductive plate, the first and second conductor plates together defining an adjustable gap therebetween, the adjustable gap being adjustable responsive to a temperature condition to alter a capacitance of the capacitive element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.