Patent ID: 8890678

Claim:
A system comprising: a sensor assembly comprising: a sensor adaptor; a first transformer within the sensor adaptor, the first transformer configured to inductively couple to sensor wires; and an electrically conductive sensor assembly component that extends from a first end within the sensor adaptor to a second end not within the sensor adaptor, wherein the electrically conductive sensor assembly component is configured such that the first transformer inductively couples the electrically conductive sensor assembly component to the sensor wires; and a sensor peripheral component comprising: an RF communication and data storage circuit; and a second transformer electrically connected to the RF communication and data storage circuit; wherein physical attachment of the sensor assembly to the sensor peripheral component causes the second transformer to inductively couple the electrically conductive sensor assembly component to the RF communication and data storage circuit to form a transformer coupling between the first and second transformers such that the RF communication and data storage circuit is inductively coupled to the sensor wires to communicate information between the RF communication and data storage circuit and the sensor wires; wherein the electrically conductive sensor assembly component comprises a temperature sensor and the sensor peripheral component comprises a thermowell.