Abstract: Temperature measurement systems (20) include a temperature sensor (22) and an electronic signal interrogator (24). The temperature sensor (22) has a transponder (26) equipped with an antenna (28), and a separate parasitic antenna (32) with a temperature-sensitive transducer (34, 68-74, 78a-84a), while the interrogator (24) has a transmitter (42) and antenna (40). The sensor (22) is designed to be placed in thermal contact with an object to be temperature-measured, with the interrogator (24) placed in proximity to the object. The systems (20) may be used with food servingware domes (88, 114), which can be preheated and placed over a food-bearing plate to maintain the temperature of the food.

Abstract: Temperature measurement systems (20) include a temperature sensor (22) and an electronic signal interrogator (24). The temperature sensor (22) has a transponder (26) equipped with an antenna (28), and a separate parasitic antenna (32) with a temperature-sensitive transducer (34, 68-74, 78a-84a), while the interrogator (24) has a transmitter (42) and antenna (40). The sensor (22) is designed to be placed in thermal contact with an object to be temperature-measured, with the interrogator (24) placed in proximity to the object. The systems (20) may be used with food servingware domes (88, 114), which can be preheated and placed over a food-bearing plate to maintain the temperature of the food.

Abstract: Temperature measurement systems (20) include a temperature sensor (22) and an electronic signal interrogator (24). The temperature sensor (22) has a transponder (26) equipped with an antenna (28), and a separate parasitic antenna (32) with a temperature-sensitive transducer (34, 68-74, 78a-84a), while the interrogator (24) has a transmitter (42) and antenna (40). The sensor (22) is designed to be placed in thermal contact with an object to be temperature-measured, with the interrogator (24) placed in proximity to the object. The systems (20) may be used with food servingware domes (88, 114), which can be preheated and placed over a food-bearing plate to maintain the temperature of the food.

Abstract: An induction heatable article such as a pan is provided having a synthetic resin body with at least one susceptor coil secured to the body and operable under the influence of an induction field to generate Joule heating within the coil to thereby heat the body. The coil has a plurality of zones, each adjacent a different portion of the body and capable of providing respective, different magnitudes of Joule heating-derived energy per unit time in the zones. A multiple-pan, modular food heating/warming table includes a table supporting an array of individually controllable induction heaters with a plurality of synthetic resin, food-holding pans positionable on the table, wherein each pan has a zoned susceptor coil for induction heating of the pans.

Abstract: A remote, noncontact temperature determination method and apparatus is provided, which is operable to determine the temperature of a conducting member in operative thermal communication with an object of interest. The method comprises the steps of first inducing a closed vortex eddy current in a conducting member by subjecting the member to a magnetic field, such that the corresponding eddy current magnitude changes exponentially over time. A characteristic time constant of the exponential current magnitude changes is then determined, and this is used to calculate the temperature of the object. The apparatus includes a field transmitting coil coupled with a waveform generator for inducing the eddy current, and a field receiving coil assembly which detects the corresponding induced magnetic. Temperature determinations can be made which are substantially independent of the relative distance and/or angular orientation between the conducting member and the field receiving coil assembly.

Abstract: Improved, highly accurate microwire sensors (10) include a microwire assembly (14) including at least one primary, temperature-sensing microwire (16) encased within a closed-ended, stress-absorbing protective tube (12). Preferably, the sensor assembly (14) includes a plurality of microwires, e.g., a primary temperature-sensing microwire (16), a reference microwire (18), and a calibration microwire (20). The sensors (10) may be embedded within a heat-treatable or curable material (24) to monitor the temperature of the material (24) over a selected temperature range, e.g., during a pre- and/or post-curing temperature range. The tube (12) is formed of material which does not appreciably magnetically bias the microwire assembly (14), and substantially prevents forces exerted on the tube (12) from distorting the sensor assembly (14).

Abstract: Improved treatment apparatus (120, 152) is provided for the treatment (e.g., molding, heating and/or curing) of objects such as parts or part precursors (148, 170) including wireless detection of a temperature parameter related to the objects during treatment thereof. The objects include associated microwire-type sensors (150, 174) which have characteristic re-magnetization responses under the influence of applied, alternating magnetic fields. The apparatus (120, 152) have treatment chambers (122, 153) sized to hold the objects to be treated, with one or more antennas (132, 124, 166) proximal to such objects and operable to generate interrogating alternating magnetic fields and to detect the responses of the sensors (150, 174). The detected temperature parameter information is used by an apparatus controller (146) to maintain desired ambient conditions within the treatment chamber (122, 153).

Abstract: A remote, noncontact temperature determination method and apparatus is provided, which is operable to determine the temperature of a conducting member in operative thermal communication with an object of interest. The method comprises the steps of first inducing a closed vortex eddy current in a conducting member by subjecting the member to a magnetic field, such that the corresponding eddy current magnitude changes exponentially over time. A characteristic time constant of the exponential current magnitude changes is then determined, and this is used to calculate the temperature of the object. The apparatus includes a field transmitting coil coupled with a waveform generator for inducing the eddy current, and a field receiving coil assembly which detects the corresponding induced magnetic. Temperature determinations can be made which are substantially independent of the relative distance and/or angular orientation between the conducting member and the field receiving coil assembly.

Abstract: A remote, noncontact temperature determination method and apparatus is provided, which is operable to determine the temperature of a conducting member forming a part of or in operative thermal communication with an object of interest. The method comprises the steps of first inducing a closed vortex eddy current (28) in a conducting member (16, 38, 44) by subjecting the member (16, 38, 44) to a magnetic field, such that the corresponding eddy current magnitude changes exponentially over time. A characteristic time constant of the exponential current magnitude changes is then determined, and this is used to calculate the temperature of the object. The apparatus (24) includes a field transmitting coil (14) coupled with a waveform generator (12) for inducing the eddy current (28), and a field receiving coil assembly (18) which detects the corresponding magnetic field induced by the eddy current (28).

Abstract: One-time, single-use sensor elements (22, 46) are provided for detecting the occurrence of predetermined conditions such as temperature and elapsed time-temperature. The sensor elements (22, 46) preferably comprise elongated, glass-coated, metal alloy, amorphous or nanocrystalline microwires (30, 48), which can be placed in a position to detect the predetermined condition of interest. An alternating magnetic field detector (28) may be used to continuously or periodically interrogate the sensor elements (22, 46) to determine if the predetermined condition has occurred. In one aspect of the invention, the microwires (30, 48) experience a change in configuration upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, and have correspondingly different induced remagnetization responses.

Abstract: A wiper assembly having a wiper with an inductively heatable portion, and an induction heating device including an induction work coil which is configured to be placed near the wiper to inductively heat the inductively heatable portion. The inductively heatable portion may be in the wiper blade, the wiper arm which supports the blade, or both. The induction work coil may be placed on or near the windshield or other surface which is cleaned by the wiper and may heat the wiper regardless of its position or only when the wiper is at a specific location such as its retracted “rest” position. The wiper assembly may also include a temperature sensor for sensing a current temperature of the wiper and control circuitry associated with the induction heating device for controlling operation of the work coil.

Abstract: An induction heatable article such as a pan is provided having a synthetic resin body with at least one susceptor coil secured to the body and operable under the influence of an induction field to generate Joule heating within the coil to thereby heat the body. The coil has a plurality of zones, each adjacent a different portion of the body and capable of providing respective, different magnitudes of Joule heating-derived energy per unit time in the zones.

Abstract: An improved antenna assembly (66) designed to maintain RF communication between an object (22, 64, 148) to be heated, and a heating assembly (20, 60) such as an induction heater having a hob (34) equipped with an induction work coil (36). The antenna assembly (66) provides substantially continuous RF communication about the entirety of the hob (34), so that the object (22, 64, 148) can be rotated through substantially 360° , or displaced radially, without loss of RF communication. The preferred antenna assembly (66) includes an antenna (67) mounted upon a substrate (68) and presenting a plurality of continuous, conductive antenna loops (70, 72) oriented to cooperatively and substantially surround the hob (34).

Abstract: Improved microwire strain sensor elements (20, 40, 52, 62) and corresponding methods are provided, which permit accurate, wireless strain monitoring of a variety of structures, including composite structures, through use of a remote detector (28). The sensor elements (20, 40, 52, 62) have amorphous or nanocrystalline metallic alloy microwire cores (22, 48), which exhibit substantially reduced remagnetization responses when the sensor elements (20, 40, 52, 62) are coupled with a structure to be strain-monitored, and the structures are in an unstrained condition. When the monitored structure experiences a strain above a pre-selected threshold value, the microwire cores (22, 48) exhibit substantially different remagnetization responses as an indication that the monitored structure has experienced a strain above a strain threshold or over a range of strain.

Abstract: Improved, high-strength micro-thermocouples (10) are provided, which include first and second microwires (12, 14) each preferably in the form of an elongated metallic core (18, 22), with an outer glass coating (20, 24); at least one of the microwires (12, 14) is an amorphous microwire (12), and in preferred forms the other microwire is a crystalline microwire (14). The thermocouple junction (16) is formed by stripping the distal ends of the microwires (12, 14) to provide stripped ends (18a, 22a). The stripped crystalline microwire end (22a) is wrapped about the stripped amorphous microwire end (18a) to form a series of abutting convolutions (30). The micro-thermocouples (10) find particular utility in the fabrication and repair of carbon fiber composite materials, such as airplane components.

Abstract: Improved, highly accurate microwire sensors (10) include a microwire assembly (14) including at least one primary, temperature-sensing microwire (16) encased within a closed-ended, stress-absorbing protective tube (12). Preferably, the sensor assembly (14) includes a plurality of microwires, e.g., a primary temperature-sensing microwire (16), a reference microwire (18), and a calibration microwire (20). The sensors (10) may be embedded within a heat-treatable or curable material (24) to monitor the temperature of the material (24) over a selected temperature range, e.g., during a pre- and/or post-curing temperature range. The tube (12) is formed of material which does not appreciably magnetically bias the microwire assembly (14), and substantially prevents forces exerted on the tube (12) from distorting the sensor assembly (14).

Abstract: Small, low-cost wireless temperature sensors (120) are provided for sensing the temperature of servingware (121). Each temperature sensor preferably includes a substrate (124); at least one sensor element (122) positioned on the substrate; and an adhesive (126) for securing the sensor element to the substrate and for securing the temperature sensor to the servingware so that the sensor element may sense a temperature of the servingware. The temperature sensors may be used in conjunction with a reader/detector (136) operable to generate a magnetic field of magnitude sufficient to cause re-magnetization responses of the temperature sensor element and optional data elements to detect such responses, and to use the detected responses to determine the temperature of the servingware by means of a decoding algorithm. The temperature sensors can be used in closed-loop heating systems capable of controlling the heating of the servingware.

Abstract: The temperature sensors (26,64,96) preferably include a plurality of individual, magnetically susceptible temperature sensor elements (28-34,66,92), as well as optional magnetic field-responsive data elements (38,40,20) adapted for attachment to object (44) or to a substrate (82) in turn attached to object (44). The temperature sensor elements (28-34,66,92) preferably have magnetic bodies (22,70) exhibiting a re-magnetization response under the influence of an applied alternating magnetic field, which is different below and above a set point temperature, normally the Curie temperature of the magnetic body (22) or an adjacent sheath (74,94).

Abstract: Improved treatment apparatus (120, 152) is provided for the treatment (e.g., molding, heating and/or curing) of objects such as parts or part precursors (148, 170) including wireless detection of a temperature parameter related to the objects during treatment thereof. The objects include associated microwire-type sensors (150, 174) which have characteristic re-magnetization responses under the influence of applied, alternating magnetic fields. The apparatus (120, 152) have treatment chambers (122, 153) sized to hold the objects to be treated, with one or more antennas (132, 124, 166) proximal to such objects and operable to generate interrogating alternating magnetic fields and to detect the responses of the sensors (150, 174). The detected temperature parameter information is used by an apparatus controller (146) to maintain desired ambient conditions within the treatment chamber (122, 153).

Abstract: Improved treatment apparatus (120, 152) is provided for the treatment (e.g., molding, heating and/or curing) of objects such as parts or part precursors (148, 170) including wireless detection of a temperature parameter related to the objects during treatment thereof. The objects include associated microwire-type sensors (150, 174) which have characteristic re-magnetization responses under the influence of applied, alternating magnetic fields. The apparatus (120, 152) have treatment chambers (122, 153) sized to hold the objects to be treated, with one or more antennas (132, 124, 166) proximal to such objects and operable to generate interrogating alternating magnetic fields and to detect the responses of the sensors (150, 174). The detected temperature parameter information is used by an apparatus controller (146) to maintain desired ambient conditions within the treatment chamber (122, 153).