Small, low-cost
wireless temperature sensors (26,64,96) are provided for sensing the temperature of an object (44). 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). The temperature sensors (26,64,96) are used in conjunction with a
detector (46) operable to generate a
magnetic field of magnitude sufficient to cause re-
magnetization responses of the temperature sensor elements (28-34,66,92) and optional data elements (38,40,20), to detect such responses, and to use the detected responses to determine the temperature of object (44) by means of a decoding
algorithm. The temperature sensors (26,64,96) can be used in closed-loop heating systems (98) capable of controlling the heating of an object (114).