With Compensation For Test Variable Patents (Class 324/225)
  • Patent number: 10101462
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for measuring electromagnetic radiation emitted by one or more electronic components included on a first substrate, and an associated method of controlling the emitted radiation. The apparatus includes a cap member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface defining an interior cavity and arranged to receive at least a portion of the one or more electronic components within the interior cavity. The apparatus further includes at least one sensor device coupled with the cap member and configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the one or more electronic components. The apparatus further includes at least one conductive pad disposed on the cap member and coupled with the at least one sensor device, wherein the conductive pad is configured to couple with external circuitry to transmit a sensor signal generated by the at least one sensor device responsive to the detected electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew S. Doyle, Joseph Kuczynski, Kevin A. Splittstoesser, Timothy J. Tofil
  • Patent number: 10101413
    Abstract: A magnetic field detection device includes: a first magnetic field generating part, including a first magnetic field generating conductor; a first magnetic field detection part, including a first magnetic field detection element and a first differential operation part, wherein a first output of the first magnetic field detection element corresponding to the environment magnetic field is inputted into the first differential operation part, and a first feedback current flows into the first magnetic field generating conductor, and thus the first magnetic field generating part provides the first magnetic field detection element with a first feedback current magnetic field, with a direction opposite to the environment magnetic field; a second magnetic field generating part, including a second magnetic field generating conductor, in which a second current corresponding to the first feedback current flows; and a second magnetic field detection part, including a second magnetic field detection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamon Kasajima, Kei Tanabe, Akihiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10054436
    Abstract: A method of generating a path for processing a physical profile of a part with a tool is provided. The physical profile has a shape. The method comprises identifying a processing location on the physical profile of the part. The processing location is within an inspection region. The method also comprises identifying an inspection-region location based on the processing location. An inspection region is geometrically associated with the inspection-region location. The method additionally comprises identifying a processing location on the physical profile of the part. The processing location is within the inspection region. The method also comprises generating at least a portion of the path based on the processing location and the processing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Don D. Trend, Martin Hanna Guirguis
  • Patent number: 10058016
    Abstract: A compensation coil placed at least partially underneath a magnetic field sensor package in an electronic system provides attenuation of electromagnetic interference (EMI). In an embodiment, the compensation coil attenuates EMI in a frequency band which overlaps with an operating frequency band of the magnetic field sensor. This allows the magnetic field sensor to make accurate magnetic field measurements in the presence of system level alternating current (AC) EMI. In an embodiment, a system comprises: a magnetic field sensor; a compensation coil placed at least partially underneath the magnetic field sensor; and a reverse current generator coupled to the compensation coil and to a power supply that is coupled to an electromagnetic interference (EMI) source, the reverse current generator operable to generate a reverse current in the compensation coil to generate a counter magnetic field for compensating the EMI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Guo, Sean M. Gordoni
  • Patent number: 10001458
    Abstract: There is provided an eddy current flaw detection technique capable of, even when inspecting an object having a narrow portion with a small curvature radius, recognizing detection sensitivity change due to change of attitude of a probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Noriyasu Kobayashi, Souichi Ueno, Hiroya Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9976986
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the condition of a pipeline wall and analysis and estimate of the life of the pipeline by using an apparatus mounted externally of the pipeline and provided to be moved about and/or along at least a portion of the same. The apparatus includes at least one sensor array which includes a plurality of sensors axially offset to provide data for analysis and identification of pipeline defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Engineering Solutions Ltd.
    Inventors: Malcolm Wayman, Richard Treece
  • Patent number: 9979331
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor includes detecting output signals output from three phases of a hall sensor, determining a failure of the hall sensor depending on the output signals, diagnosing which of the three phases of the hall sensor is out of order based on the output signals if it is determined that the hall sensor detections deviate from a predicted order, and outputting a virtual signal for the phase which is determined as a failure among the three phases of the hall sensor to a motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hak Sung Lee, Sang Lok Song, Gyeong Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 9878331
    Abstract: An under-sink disposal unit includes a motor, a disposal chamber, and a disposal throat. The disposal throat extends from the disposal chamber to an opening in a top of the disposal unit and defines a passageway through which objects pass into the disposal chamber for grinding. The disposal unit further includes a coil assembly including an arrangement of coils. The arrangement of coils is used to detect the passing of a metallic object in the passageway through the disposal throat. Furthermore, the arrangement of coils includes at least one coil having a loop that is oriented with respect to an axis of the passageway through the disposal throat such that objects passing through the disposal throat into the disposal chamber pass by and proximate to, but do not pass through, such loop. Preferably DC injection braking is used to stop the motor upon detection of a metallic object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SAMELIN INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Starkey, Raeshon Lamont McNeil, Juan Carlos Perez, Lloyd S. Riggs, Aubrey N. Beal
  • Patent number: 9869744
    Abstract: A detection apparatus with a self-test is presented. A detection apparatus such as a cable locator has an array of sensors in the form of ferrite antennas to detect an electromagnetic field produced by an object such as a buried cable. The signals are amplified, digitized and fed to a processing unit that outputs a detection signal to a display to indicate the detection of a cable. A programmable signal generator outputs a self-test signal via a voltage-current converter that is used to check the balance between the sensors. The self-test signal is directly coupled into each of the sensors through a wired connection and the processing unit uses the self-test signal to accurately determine the magnitude and phase balance of the sensors. The magnitude and phase data may be used to calibrate the instrument, apply data corrections or flag errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: METROTECH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stevan Polak
  • Patent number: 9857247
    Abstract: A method determines isotropic stress by means of a Hall element which includes a plate-shaped area made of a doped semiconductor material and comprises four contacts contacting the plate-shaped area and forming corners of a quadrangle, two neighboring corners of the quadrangle defining an edge thereof. At least one van der Pauw transresistance value in at least one van der Pauw measurement set-up of the Hall element is determined, wherein the four contacts of the Hall element form contact pairs, a contact pair comprising two contacts defining neighboring corners of the quadrangle. One contact pair supplies a current and the other contact pair measures a voltage. A relationship between the supplied current and the measured voltage defines the Van der Pauw transresistance value. The method comprises determining a stress signal which depends on the at least one Van der Pauw transresistance value and determining isotropic stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Samuel Huber, Johan Raman, Pieter Rombouts, Appolonius Jacobus Van Der Wiel
  • Patent number: 9841485
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field and to generate a reference magnetic field signal responsive to a reference magnetic field and a calibration circuit configured to divide the measured magnetic field signal by the reference magnetic field signal to generate a calibrated magnetic field signal. The calibrated signal has reduced susceptibility to stress influences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Petrie, Bryan Cadugan
  • Patent number: 9797965
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring Hall effect in a material includes measuring a voltage in two test states, each state alternating the direction and orientation of a current applied across the material or the voltage measured across the material relative to a magnetic field in each state. According to an embodiment, the frequency of measurement at each state differs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lake Shore Cryotronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Lindemuth
  • Patent number: 9783071
    Abstract: Supply device for providing electrical energy to a consumer electrical circuit, containing a protection and monitoring device (50) assigned individually to the consumer, to the output of which the consumer electrical circuit can be connected via connecting means (10), wherein the protection and monitoring device (50) has sensor means (31, 32) for detecting at least one electrical quantity, and an analysis device (52) controlled by the sensor means (31, 32), which contains parameterization means for specifying in a predefinable manner at least one safety relevant triggering criterion, wherein on the at least one safety relevant triggering criterion being reached, a switching device (54) for the consumer electrical circuit can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: innogy SE
    Inventors: Armin Gaul, Ingo Diefenbach
  • Patent number: 9766093
    Abstract: A position detecting system includes: a capsule medical device having therein a magnetic field generation coil for generating a magnetic field; detection coils configured to detect the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation coil, and to output detection signals; at least one reference coil configured to detect a magnetic field and to output a detection signal, and arranged at a position where a signal-to-noise ratio to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation coil is smaller than a signal-to-noise ratio in each of the detection signals detected by the detection coils; and a magnetic field correction unit configured to correct magnetic field detection values based on the detection signals respectively output from the detection coils, using at least one reference magnetic field detection value that is a detection value of the magnetic field based on the detection signal output from the at least one reference coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Iida, Atsushi Chiba, Yusuke Suzuki, Atsushi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9767955
    Abstract: An inductive power transfer pad for transmitting wireless power to a wireless power receiver separable from the inductive power transfer pad. The inductive power transfer pad includes a coil having at least one turn of a conductor in a first layer and a plurality of ferromagnetic slabs arranged in a second layer substantially parallel to that of the coil, the ferromagnetic slabs being arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another about the coil with their lengths extending across a longitudinal length of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventors: John Talbot Boys, Grant Anthony Covic
  • Patent number: 9759564
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a temperature and power supply calibration system configured to compensate for temperature and supply voltage variation in MEMS or other circuits using representations of positive and negative supply voltages and first and second base-emitter voltages, wherein the second base-emitter voltage is a scaled representation of the first base-emitter voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Shungneng Lee, Justin Seng, Marwan Ashkar, Ion Opris
  • Patent number: 9747683
    Abstract: A monitoring system for determining component wear is provided. The monitoring system includes a memory device configured to store a reference model of a component and a component wear monitoring (CWM) device configured to receive a component image of a first component being inspected, detect a plurality of manmade structural features in the received component image, adjust the component image to mask out at least some of the plurality of manmade structural features from the received component image, compare the adjusted component image with the reference model to determine one or more potential defect areas in the first component, analyze each of the one or more defect areas to determine a state of the potential defect areas, and output the state of the one or more potential defect areas to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arun Karthi Subramaniyan, Khan Mohamed Khirullah Genghis Khan, Clifford Bueno, Ali Can, Adrian Gabriel Loghin, Jie Yu
  • Patent number: 9720050
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for reducing errors in sensor devices and systems. In embodiments, the sensor devices comprise magnetic field sensor devices, such as ordinary or vertical Hall sensor devices, and the error to be reduced is a residual offset error, though in other embodiments other sensor devices can be used and/or other types of errors can be targeted for reduction or elimination. In one embodiment, at least two such sensor devices not electrically coupled with one another are sequentially operated in a spinning current-type mode such that an individual output signal from each of the at least two sensor devices is obtained. A total output signal can then be calculated, such as by averaging or otherwise combining the individual output signals from each sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 9703002
    Abstract: Utility locators for determining information associated with a buried utility are disclosed. The utility locator includes magnetic field antenna elements and processing circuits to determine information associated with a buried utility based at least in part on received magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object. The locator may include one or more modules to receive map information and/or annotate reference objects with the map information on a display of the locator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Michael J. Martin, Anthony L. Coduti
  • Patent number: 9696281
    Abstract: An inspection head of an eddy current non-destructive testing sensor with separate transmitting and receiving functions includes a support whereon is arranged at least one transmitting/receiving element. Each element includes a circuit transmitting a local electromagnetic field, by circulating a predefined alternating current in the circuit, and an electromagnetic receiver sensitive to the locally transmitted electromagnetic field. The transmitting circuit is a portion of conductive sheet extending over a layer of the support layer in a predefined main direction of flow of the alternating current. The electromagnetic receiver is disposed facing the transmitting circuit relative to an axis normal to the layer of the support on which the portion of sheet extends to have an electromagnetic detection axis orthogonal to this normal axis and orthogonal to the predefined main direction of flow of the alternating current in the portion of conductive sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Decitre
  • Patent number: 9696388
    Abstract: A magnetic sensing apparatus and a magnetic sensing method thereof are provided. The magnetic sensing apparatus includes a reference magnetic field (MF) generating unit, a MF sensing unit, a signal processing unit, a calibration unit and a frequency generating unit. The MF sensing unit senses an external MF and a reference MF to provide a MF sensing signal. The signal processing unit receives and transfers the MF sensing signal into an output signal. The calibration unit calibrates the output signal according to the MF sensing signal. The frequency generating unit provides an operating frequency. The reference MF generating unit provides the reference MF according to the operating frequency, and the MF sensing unit senses the external MF and the reference MF according to the operating frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yuan-Tai Chang, Kai-Cheung Juang
  • Patent number: 9689931
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor having a Hall sensor with a first terminal contact and with a second terminal contact and with a third terminal contact and with a fourth terminal contact and with a fifth terminal contact, whereby a first switch with a control input is provided between the first terminal contact and the fifth terminal contact, and the first switch connects or disconnects the first terminal contact to/from the fifth terminal contact, and a control unit is provided and the control unit is connected to the control input of the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: TDK-Micronas GmbH, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg
    Inventors: Timo Kaufmann, Patrick Ruther, Roiy Raz, Oliver Paul
  • Patent number: 9671471
    Abstract: A magnetic-field sensor, including: a die, a current generator in the die. The current generator generating a driving current. A Lorentz force transducer also in the die and being configured to obtain measurements of magnetic field based upon the Lorentz force is coupled to the current generator. The transducer having a resonance frequency. The current generator is such that the driving current has a non-zero frequency different from the resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giacomo Langfelder, Alessandro Tocchio, Dario Paci
  • Patent number: 9671486
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to sensor systems and methods that can compensate for thermal EMF effects that can cause residual offset and other errors in sensor systems. In one embodiment, a sensor system comprises at least one temperature sensor arranged proximate a primary sensor element, e.g., a Hall plate in an embodiment in which the sensor system comprises a Hall-effect magnetic field sensing system, though other types of magnetic field and sensors more generally can be used in other embodiments. In another embodiment, a plurality of temperature sensors can be used, with each one arranged proximate a different sensor contact or element. In an example in which the Hall plate is operated according to a spinning operation scheme, the at least one temperature sensor can be configured to sense a temperature in each operating phase, and the individual sensed temperatures can be combined and used to provide a temperature-dependent compensation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 9647144
    Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensor, having a semiconductor body with a surface and a rear surface, and a metal carrier, with a front and a rear, wherein the rear of the semiconductor body is connected to the front of the metal carrier in a non-positive manner, and a Hall sensor, embodied on the surface of the semiconductor body, with a main extension surface, and a magnet with a first magnetic pole embodied along a first surface, which first magnetic pole has a central axis embodied in a perpendicular manner on the first surface, wherein the metal carrier, the magnet and the semiconductor body are arranged in a common housing and precisely one or at least one Hall sensor is arranged in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Heberle
  • Patent number: 9638825
    Abstract: A metal sensor includes a primary coil, a compensation coil, a first additional coil, and a magnetic field sensor. The first additional coil is configured to be excited without the primary coil and the compensation coil being excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hahl, Tobias Zibold
  • Patent number: 9636797
    Abstract: Among other things, a method of controlling polishing during a polishing process is described. The method includes receiving a measurement of a thickness, thick(t), of a conductive layer of a substrate undergoing polishing from an in-situ monitoring system at a time t; receiving a measured temperature, T(t), associated with the conductive layer at the time t; calculating resistivity ?T of the conductive layer at the measured temperature T(t); adjusting the measurement of the thickness using the calculated resistivity ?T to generate an adjusted measured thickness; and detecting a polishing endpoint or an adjustment for a polishing parameter based on the adjusted measured thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kun Xu, Ingemar Carlsson, Boguslaw A. Swedek, Doyle E. Bennett, Shih-Haur Shen, Hassan G Iravani, Wen-Chiang Tu, Tzu-Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 9625551
    Abstract: In magnetic resonance data acquisition, decoupling between the transmit and receive coils is achieved by using a transmit array system wherein induced currents from the transmit coils cancel each other, resulting in a total of zero current in the receive coil. Forward and reversed polarized transmit coil pairs are set to cancel the individual currents of each other, or of a receive coil. Linearly polarized fields can also be used to effect the decoupling. The decoupling allows the magnetic resonance data acquisition system to be operated for concurrent excitation of the nuclear spins and reception of the resulting magnetic resonance signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventors: Ali Caglar Ozen, Ergin Atalar
  • Patent number: 9611052
    Abstract: Fasteners are inserted into a stack of members and terminated with parts having at least one of a dry dielectric coating and an inner dry dielectric seal at select locations to protect against electromagnetic effects (EME).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard P. Whitlock, Peter A. Coronado, Sean D. Morden, Randall A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9588191
    Abstract: A superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) comprises a superconducting inductive loop with at least two Josephson junction, whereby a magnetic flux coupled into the inductive loop produces a modulated response up through radio frequencies. Series and parallel arrays of SQUIDs can increase the dynamic range, output, and linearity, while maintaining bandwidth. Several approaches to achieving a linear triangle-wave transfer function are presented, including harmonic superposition of SQUID cells, differential serial arrays with magnetic frustration, and a novel bi-SQUID cell comprised of a nonlinear Josephson inductance shunting the linear coupling inductance. Total harmonic distortion of less than ?120 dB can be achieved in optimum cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hypres, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor K. Kornev, Igor I. Soloviev, Nikolai V. Klenov, Oleg A. Mukhanov
  • Patent number: 9556599
    Abstract: An under-sink disposal unit includes a motor, a disposal chamber, and a disposal throat. The disposal throat extends from the disposal chamber to an opening in a top of the disposal unit and defines a passageway through which objects pass into the disposal chamber for grinding. The disposal unit further includes a coil assembly including an arrangement of coils. The arrangement of coils is used to detect the passing of a metallic object in the passageway through the disposal throat. Furthermore, the arrangement of coils includes at least one coil having a loop that is oriented with respect to an axis of the passageway through the disposal throat such that objects passing through the disposal throat into the disposal chamber pass by and proximate to, but do not pass through, such loop. Preferably DC injection braking is used to stop the motor upon detection of a metallic object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAMELIN INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Starkey, Raeshon Lamont McNeil, Juan Carlos Perez, Lloyd S. Riggs, Aubrey N. Beal
  • Patent number: 9547419
    Abstract: An electronic device with a camera invokes a wireless communications pairing mode for pairing the electronic device with an external device. The electronic device obtains an image via the camera. The image contains a pattern displayed on a display screen of the external device, and the pattern comprises identifying information of the external device. The electronic device receives data from the external device, determines whether the received data corresponds with the identifying information, and, in response to a determination that the received data corresponds with the identifying information, registers the external device as a paired device. In some examples, the electronic device is a smartphone and the external device is a wearable electronic device. Pairing the electronic device and the external device may allow the devices to exchange information and operate interactively with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence Y. Yang, Christopher Wilson, Wan Si Wan, Gary Ian Butcher, Imran Chaudhri, Alan C. Dye, Jonathan P. Ive, Stephen O. Lemay, Lee S. Broughton
  • Patent number: 9523743
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic sensor capable of identifying an individual having a high offset voltage, which is a cause of an initial defect in magnetic characteristics, and changes over time. A cross-transmission switch is provided in a changeover switch circuit which transmits to an amplifier circuit a differential signal voltage output from a Hall element, and the cross-transmission switch cross-transmits a signal in any one of a first period and a second period during which a current flowing into the Hall element is switched by a control signal from a control circuit, to thereby determine and identify a magnitude of an offset voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SII Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Hikichi, Minoru Ariyama
  • Patent number: 9459316
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for testing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a test unit and an electronic circuit that is electrically coupled to the test unit. The method includes performing a multi-dimensional sweeping process. The multi-dimensional sweeping process includes sweeping a plurality of different electrical parameters across their respective ranges. The method includes monitoring a performance of the electronic circuit during the multi-dimensional sweeping process. The monitoring includes identifying optimum values of the different electrical parameters that yield a satisfactory performance of the electronic circuit. The method includes testing the test unit using the optimum values of the different electrical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Szu-Chia Huang, Jhih Jie Shao, Tang-Hsuan Chung, Huan Chi Tseng
  • Patent number: 9453888
    Abstract: The sensor device includes: a physical quantity voltage conversion element; a differential amplifier; a first capacitor that includes one terminal connected to a first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a comparator; a low pass filter circuit arranged at the first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a control circuit configured to on/off control the physical quantity voltage conversion element, the differential amplifier, the comparator, and the low pass filter circuit; and a logic circuit configured to output a result of operation processing performed on an output signal of the comparator. The logic circuit is configured to: successively verify, in a case where there is a change between a previous logic output and a first logic output, the logic outputs a plurality of times; and output a control signal to the control circuit so that the low pass filter circuit is turned on in a second signal processing period and thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Hikichi, Minoru Ariyama, Kentaro Fukai, Takemasa Miura
  • Patent number: 9453889
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic sensor device which maintains accuracy thereof while reducing current consumption by switching drive power of a Hall element to two drive power. A magnetic sensor device is equipped with a driving circuit which supplies power to a sensor element, a switch changeover circuit which restricts the supply of the power from the driving circuit to the sensor element, a differential amplifier circuit which performs arithmetic processing on an output signal of the sensor element, a threshold voltage generating circuit which generates a threshold voltage used in magnetism determination, a comparison circuit which compares and determines a voltage of the differential amplifier circuit and the threshold voltage, and a logic circuit which according to the output of the comparison circuit, switches the power outputted from the driving circuit, switches the threshold voltage and controls on/off of the switch changeover circuit in a constant cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takemasa Miura, Minoru Ariyama, Tomoki Hikichi, Kentaro Fukai
  • Patent number: 9423469
    Abstract: Toroidal fluxgate current transducer comprising a ring shaped fluxgate sensing unit (6) comprising a ring-shaped support (40), a saturable magnetic core (38) mounted on the support (40), an excitation coil (44) wound around the support and saturable core and a magnetic shell (32) mounted around the excitation coil, ring-shaped support and saturable core. The support is ringed-shape and comprises terminals (50,48) fixed to the support, a first pair of said terminals connected to ends of the excitation coil, and a second pair of said terminals connected to ends of a secondary coil of the current transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: LEM Intellectual Property SA
    Inventors: Claude Gudel, Benjamin Marcoz, Bernard Richard, Gérard Gery
  • Patent number: 9417212
    Abstract: Provided is a defect inspection device of a steel plate. The defect inspection device according to the present invention includes a plurality of inspection units arranged in a width direction of the steel plate, wherein each of the plurality of inspection units includes a first magnetized pole and a second magnetized pole corresponding to each other. Also, the inspection unit includes: a magnetizing part generating a magnetic flux for magnetizing the steel plate in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a rolling direction through the first magnetized pole and the second magnetized pole; and a detection part detecting a leakage flux that leaks due to defects existing in or on the steel plate by using the flux generated by the magnetizing part. Thus, the defects may be correctly detected through the defect inspection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: POSCO
    Inventors: Ju-Seung Lee, Se-Ho Choi, Sang-Woo Choi, Jong-Pil Yun, Shin-Hwan Kang, Ki-Jang Oh
  • Patent number: 9389284
    Abstract: A spinning current Hall sensor configured to provide a sequence of input signals in response to a bias current being applied to a sequence of terminals of Hall sensing elements of the Hall sensor, the terminals of the Halls sensing elements configured to be interconnected in a sequence of configurations between a bias current supply and ground, with the bias current supply being connected to and applying the bias current to a different one of the terminals of each configuration. A chopping circuit demodulates the sequence of input signals to provide a corresponding sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals, with a residual offset calibration signal for the spinning current Hall sensor being based on the sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 9349565
    Abstract: A multipole lens (100) which can produce static magnetic fields showing different strengths in the direction of travel of an electron beam has lens subasssemblies (10a, 10b, 10c) stacked on top of each other. The lens subassemblies (10a, 10b, 10c) have yokes (14a, 14b, 14c), respectively, and polar elements (12a, 12b, 12c), respectively. The polar elements (12a, 12b, 12c) have base portions (13a, 13b, 13c), respectively, magnetically coupled to the yokes (14a, 14b, 14c), respectively, and front end portions (11a, 11b, 11c), respectively, magnetically coupled to the base portions (13a, 13b, 13c), respectively. Magnetic field separators (20, 22) made of a nonmagnetic material are mounted between the front end portions (11a, 11b, 11c) which are successively adjacent to each other in the direction of stacking of the lens subassemblies (10a, 10b, 10c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetaka Sawada
  • Patent number: 9312815
    Abstract: A broadband radio frequency, microwave, or millimeter mixer system may include a balun and a mixer. The balun may have an unbalanced port; a balanced port; a first and a second inductor tightly and inversely magnetically coupled to one another; and a third inductor which is not magnetically coupled to the first or the second inductors. The mixer may be connected to the balanced port of the balun. The balun, including its three inductors, and the mixer may all be integrated onto a single substrate that forms an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xudong Wang, William B. Beckwith, Thomas E. Schiltz
  • Patent number: 9304177
    Abstract: A system, such as a magnetic immunity testing system, can include a first coil configured to generate a first magnetic field. The first coil can be disposed on a first side of a scanning volume and can have a first feed for supplying electric current to the first coil. A second coil can be similarly configured on an opposite side of a scanning volume, and a second magnetic field from the second coil can be combined with the first magnetic field to form a combined magnetic field. The coils can be provided with transporters that translate coils in at least one dimension. The system can also include a controller that is configured to control the transporters and the feeds to provide the combined magnetic field as a controlled and calibrated magnetic field over the scanning volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Sutton
  • Patent number: 9254851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a means of enabling inspection of engineering components, such as rails used in the railway industry. A rail inspection device comprises a sensor (24) and a compliant spacer (26). The compliant spacer (26) has an inner surface and outer surface. The sensor (24) is urged against the inner surface of the spacer (26) and, when in use, the outer surface of the spacer (26) is in contact with the rail under inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Sperry Rail International Limited
    Inventor: Robert Crocker
  • Patent number: 9239400
    Abstract: A method for detecting electrically conductive targets in soil including the steps of: generating a transmit magnetic field for transmission into the soil based on a transmit signal; receiving a receive magnetic field; providing a receive signal induced by the receive magnetic field; selecting at least two models, each approximating a form of a signal due to a different type of source; processing the receive signal using the at least two models to produce at least two independent signals, each representing a component of the receive signal due to a different type of source; and producing, based on at least two independent signals, an indicator output signal indicative of the presence of the electrically conductive target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Minelab Electronics Pty Limited
    Inventor: Gregory Peter Harmer
  • Patent number: 9222917
    Abstract: An eddy current probe is constructed with four coils in a wheatstone bridge configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew Barton Wolf
  • Patent number: 9217782
    Abstract: A method for measuring current in an electric network comprising at least one first electric line. The method includes fitting the first line with a circuit breaker having a protection coil and having a wall traversed by a magnetic field emitted by the protection coil; arranging on the wall of the circuit breaker a synchronous three-axis digital magnetometer on a semiconductor chip; by way of the digital magnetometer, measuring at least one component of a magnetic field emitted by the coil; and determining the value of a current traversing the electric line from the measured component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: SMARTFUTURE SAS
    Inventor: Paul Bertrand
  • Patent number: 9202190
    Abstract: A method and system for tracking non-discrete goods. The method includes inserting a first identification device into a non-discrete good, detecting the first identification device within the non-discrete good, and determining a characteristic of the non-discrete good from the first identification device. The system includes a plurality of identification devices having characteristics similar to a non-discrete good, and a set of sensors to detect the plurality of identification devices and determine a characteristic of the non-discrete good based on the identification devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventor: Guenter Zachmann
  • Patent number: 9204109
    Abstract: A process for producing a small crack in a turbine rotor blade for use in training inspectors to be qualified for inspecting blades with small crack, where each blade is vibrated in order to initiate a small crack under observation using an IR camera that can detect for a small crack, and when a small crack at a desired size is produced on the blade, the vibration is stopped and the blade removed and then used in a training process to train and qualify an inspector for an inspection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E deLaneuville, Kenneth I Nelson, John A Polywoda, III
  • Patent number: 9164829
    Abstract: During a read process for a memory device, such as a phase change memory device, a bias condition can be applied to a memory cell to determine the memory cell's state. The determined state of the memory cell can depend on a threshold voltage of the memory cell. The threshold voltage of the memory cell may shift over time. The shift in threshold voltage may result in read errors. The applied bias condition may be modified based on the resulting read errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ferdinando Bedeschi
  • Patent number: 9146214
    Abstract: A magnetic flux leakage inspection method generates a magnetic flux parallel to a surface of an inspected object, and detects a magnetic flux that leaks from the surface of the inspected object with a magnetic sensor. The method includes exciting coils that generate an alternating magnetic field having a variable frequency, an exciting coil power source, a magnetic sensor, a lock-in detector, and a signal analyzer that analyzes changes of a signal intensity and a phase of the output of the magnetic sensor with output signals of the lock-in detector. The method obtains cosine or sine as a trigonometric function of a phase obtained by adding to the phase at each measurement point of multipoint measurement, an adjustment phase common to all the measurement points, and displays an analytical value obtained by multiplying the signal intensity and the sine or cosine at each measurement point with any adjustment phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: National University Corporation Okayama University
    Inventor: Keiji Tsukada