Using A Magnetometer Patents (Class 324/301)
  • Patent number: 11953561
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic relaxometry measurement apparatus, comprising: a magnetizing system configured to supply a pulsed magnetic fields to a sample; a sensor system configured to detect magnetic fields produced by induced magnetization of the sample after a magnetic field pulse from the magnetizing system; one or more compensating coils configured to suppress generation of eddy currents in an environment surrounding the apparatus due to the pulsed magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Imagion Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Todor Karaulanov, Giulio D Paciotti
  • Patent number: 11947002
    Abstract: A method for recognizing an identity and a gesture based on radar signals includes: reading a radar echo signal reflected by various gestures of a tester and received by a radar sensor; frequency-mixing the radar echo signal with a radar transmission signal; after filtering and centralizing a frequency-mixed signal, training and obtaining a neural network capable of identity verification and a neural network capable of gesture recognition; in a real-time detection process, verifying an identity of a user; and if the identity is verified, determining that a gesture of the user is valid; verifying the gesture of the user and executing a corresponding operation according to correspondence between the gesture of the user and an operation. It can be determined by the method whether the gesture belongs to the corresponding user and whether the operation corresponding to the gesture is performed according to the determined result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Junyi Chen, Jiahe Cao
  • Patent number: 11852701
    Abstract: A defect centre-based sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises instrumentation which includes a generator for causing excitation in an active element, for example a diamond, and a detector for measuring a transition in the active element. The generator is an optical source and/or the detector is an optical detector. The sensor further comprises an optical waveguide and a sensor head in communication with the source and/or the detector via the optical waveguide. The sensor head houses the active element having at least one defect centre, for example, a nitrogen vacancy, responsive to an applied magnetic field, electric field or temperature and a signal delivery arrangement, for example at least one lens, arranged to optically couple the optical waveguide to the active element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: The University of Warwick
    Inventors: Angelo Frangeskou, Gavin Morley, Ben Green, Ben Breeze, Matthew Dale, Rajesh Patel
  • Patent number: 11779237
    Abstract: A hysteresis effect-based Field Free Point-Magnetic Particle Imaging (FFP-MPI) method includes the following steps: acquiring a hysteresis loop model of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIOs); calculating to obtain a Point Spread Function (PSF) of the SPIOs on the basis of a sinusoidal excitation magnetic field and the hysteresis loop model of the SPIOs; acquiring an original reconstructed image of FFP-MPI on the basis an FFP moving track and a voltage signal; performing deconvolution on the original image with respect to the PSF considering an hysteresis effect, so as to obtain a final reconstructed image; the artifacts and phase errors of image reconstruction caused by the hysteresis effect of the SPIOs with large particle sizes are reduced, the deficiency in reconstruction by the traditional reconstruction method that ignores the hysteresis effect is overcome, the reconstruction speed and the resolution are greatly improved, and the application range of the SPIOs is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Jie Tian, Yimeng Li, Yu An, Jing Zhong, Jie He, Bo Zhang
  • Patent number: 11733324
    Abstract: A magnetic particle imaging system includes a field free region generator and an excited magnetic field generator. The field free region generator generates a field free line with a direction of linear extension of a field free region as a direction of extension. The excited magnetic field generator generates an excited magnetic field in the field free line generated by the field free region generator. The excited magnetic field generator includes a first excited magnetic field generation unit and a second excited magnetic field generation unit. The first excited magnetic field generation unit and the second excited magnetic field generation unit are spaced from each other in the direction of extension of the field free line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuki Yamauchi, Chungwei Lin
  • Patent number: 11733320
    Abstract: An exemplary controller may include a single clock source configured to generate a single clock signal used to drive one or more components within a plurality of magnetometers and a plurality of differential signal measurement circuits configured to measure current output by a photodetector of each of the plurality of magnetometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HI LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Garber, Jerry Leung, Ethan Pratt, Hooman Mohseni, Jamu Alford, Dakota Blue Decker, Jeffery Kang Gormley, Michael Henninger, Scott Michael Homan, Teague Lasser, Micah Ledbetter, Scott Jeremy Seidman, Benjamin Siepser
  • Patent number: 11550002
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic relaxometry measurement apparatus, comprising: a magnetizing system configured to supply a pulsed magnetic fields to a sample; a sensor system configured to detect magnetic fields produced by induced magnetization of the sample after a magnetic field pulse from the magnetizing system; one or more compensating coils configured to suppress generation of eddy currents in an environment surrounding the apparatus due to the pulsed magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Imagion Biosystems Inc.
    Inventors: Todor Karaulanov, Giulio D Paciotti
  • Patent number: 11521792
    Abstract: A wireless power transfer pad for wireless power transfer with active field cancellation using multiple magnetic flux sinks includes a ferrite structure, a center coil positioned adjacent to the ferrite structure, and a plurality of side coils positioned around a perimeter of the center coil and positioned adjacent to the ferrite structure. A direction of current flow of the center coil is opposite a current flow in each of the plurality of side coils such that current flowing in a portion of the center coil adjacent to a portion of a side coil of the plurality of side coils is in a same direction as current in the portion of the side coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Benny J. Varghese, Abhilash Kamineni, Regan A. Zane
  • Patent number: 11460523
    Abstract: An array of optically pumped magnetometers includes an array of vapor cells; and an array of beam splitters. The array of beam splitters is arranged into columns, including a first column, and rows. Each row and each column includes at least two of the beam splitters. The array of beam splitters is configured to receive light into the first column of the array and to distribute that light from the first column into each of the rows and to distribute the light from each of the rows into a plurality of individual light beams directed toward the vapor cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HI LLC
    Inventor: Hooman Mohseni
  • Patent number: 11169233
    Abstract: A hybrid imaging apparatus for imaging an object to be examined located in a sample volume can be operated in an MPI mode and in at least one further imaging mode and comprises a magnet arrangement embodied to generate, in the MPI mode, a magnetic field with a gradient B1 and a field-free region in the sample volume, wherein the magnet arrangement comprises a ring magnet pair with two ring magnets in a Halbach dipole configuration, which are arranged coaxially on a common Z-axis that extends through the sample volume, wherein the ring magnets are arranged so as to be twistable relative to one another about the Z-axis. Consequently, it is possible to generate magnetic fields that meet the requirements of both MRI and MPI such that the hybrid imaging apparatus can be equipped for measurements in various imaging modes, including MPI, MRI and CT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventors: Jochen Franke, Volker Niemann
  • Patent number: 11163021
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining redundant signals to generate outputs signals with enhanced accuracy and/or risk level. In embodiments, first signals are generated by a first transducer and second signals are generated by a second transducer. In other embodiments, first signals are generated by a first die and second signals are generated by a second die. An amount of overlap between error distributions of the first and second signals can be used to detect failure and/or indicate risk of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Christophe Lutz
  • Patent number: 11051737
    Abstract: A biomagnetic measurement method, a biomagnetic measuring device, and a biomagnetic measuring system. The method and the biomagnetic measuring device includes obtaining first measurement data output from a magnetic field detector upon giving a stimulus to a subject in a first state where a site of interest of the subject is made close to the magnetic field detector, and obtaining second measurement data output from the magnetic field detector upon giving a stimulus to the subject in a second state where a site to which the stimulus is given and a position of the site to which the stimulus is given are equivalent to a site to which the stimulus is given and a position of the site to which the stimulus is given in the first state, respectively, and the site of interest of the subject is separated from the magnetic field detector with reference to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Taishi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11002875
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a data acquisition tool including NMR sensors, a data acquisition processor communicatively coupled with the NMR sensors, and a first memory storing instructions that cause the data acquisition processor to perform operations comprising acquiring data of earth formation fluid, varying at least one of a magnetic field gradient and an inter-echo time, and acquiring additional data. The apparatus further comprises a data processing unit comprising a second memory storing instructions that cause the data processor to perform operations comprising receiving data acquired by the data acquisition tool, constructing a mathematical model of the data, conducting a first inversion of the mathematical model to obtain a first set of NMR responses, performing a forward model of the first set of NMR responses obtained from the first inversion, conducting a second inversion to obtain a second set of NMR responses, and determining earth formation fluid properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Songhua Chen, Wei Shao
  • Patent number: 10989646
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure generally relate to real time characterization of material recovered from a subterranean formation, based on magnetic properties. A system comprises an enclosure comprising electromagnetic shielding; an optically pumped magnetometer (OPM) disposed within the enclosure; and a sample conduit extending into the enclosure, the sample conduit configured to receive a subterranean material recovered from a wellbore, the OPM configured to detect a magnetic response of the subterranean material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Daniel Joshua Stark, Marek Kozikowski
  • Patent number: 10861493
    Abstract: An automatic magneto-optic system includes a high field magnet controlled by a magnet control module, a non-contact magneto-optic measurement module, and an automated cassette-based disk transfer module. The magnet control module is constructed and arranged to apply a magnetic field of constant or a time-varying strength to a selected location of a magnetic disk. The non-contact magneto-optic measurement module includes a light source module and a measurement module. The automated cassette-based disk transfer module is constructed and arranged to position a selected location of a magnetic disc inside the magnet. The disk transfer module may include a multi-disk positioning module. The multi-disk positioning module may include one, two or more motors. The multi-disk positioning module may be constructed to determine angular displacement or rotation necessary for a second selected location to be inside the magnet to perform the magneto-optic measurement and constructed to attain the second selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Radigan, Ferenc Z. Vajda
  • Patent number: 10852371
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus relating generally to scalar atomic magnetometers. The disclosed methods and apparatus utilize a pressurized sample chamber and a high frequency pulsed pump laser to increase spin polarization and significantly suppress heading errors. These methods and apparatus may also include alternating polarization of the pump light between pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Michael Romalis, Haifeng Dong, Andrei Baranga
  • Patent number: 10772520
    Abstract: A neurophysiological monitoring system includes at least one surgical instrument having at least one magnetometer and a control unit configured to receive magnetic field data generated by the at least one magnetometer. The control unit may provide stimulation to a nerve at a known stimulation time and receive magnetic field data from the at least one magnetometer indicative of a response to stimulation of the nerve at a receive time. An interpretation of the magnetic field data based upon the receive time and the stimulation time may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Dennis Chien
  • Patent number: 10760400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reliably functioning directional drilling device for continuous operation, with automatic, precision-controlled monitoring of targeted drilling at great depths with specification of a selectable directional path of the wellbore, comprising a housing, a bit drive shaft, which preferably rotates in the housing and which bears a rotary drill bit at its end, a control device located in the body section of the housing, and direction control devices for generating directing forces having radially alignable force components for the alignment of the directional drilling device during drilling operations, and magnetic field sensors that are connected to the control device, the magnetic field sensors being arranged in the head section, more specifically in the forward region of the housing facing the rotary drill bit, in close proximity to the rotary drill bit, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Smart Drilling GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Vorhoff
  • Patent number: 10718838
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing a calibration “pre-scan” prior to acquiring data using a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system performing a multi-spectral imaging (“MSI”) acquisition. Information from the calibration scan is used to optimize the scanning and data collection during the MSI scan. As a result, scan times and motion artifacts are reduced. In addition, image resolution can also be increased, thereby improving image quality. As one example, the MSI acquisition can be a MAVRIC acquisition. In general, the calibration data is used to determine the minimum number of spectral bins required to achieve acceptable image quality near a specific metallic implant or device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: The Medical College of Wisconsin, lnc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Koch, Suryanarayanan Sivaram Kaushik
  • Patent number: 10634738
    Abstract: A magnetometer for measuring an external magnetic influence proximate the magnetometer. The magnetometer has: (i) a volumetric enclosure for storing an alkali metal; (2) a laser proximate the volumetric enclosure and having an axis in a first dimension and along which photons are directed toward a first surface of the volumetric enclosure; (3) a photodetector proximate a second surface of the volumetric enclosure and for receiving light emanating from the laser and passing through the volumetric enclosure, wherein the photodetector is for providing a photodetector signal in response to an intensity of light emanating from the laser and passing through the volumetric enclosure; and (4) at least one magnetic field reducer for providing a magnetic field in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Benjamin Cook, Juan Herbsommer
  • Patent number: 10539630
    Abstract: A package for a chip scale atomic clock or magnetometer is disclosed. The package includes a vapor cell using an alkali metal vapor, first and second photodetectors, and a laser operable at a frequency that excites an electron transition in the alkali metal vapor. The laser is positioned to provide an optical signal directed through the vapor cell and towards the first photodetector. The package further contains a polarizing beam splitter, the polarizing beam splitter positioned between the vapor cell and the first photodetector to receive the optical signal and to split the optical signal into a first signal directed toward the first photodetector and a second signal directed toward the second photodetector, the first signal being orthogonal to the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Juan Herbsommer, Benjamin Cook
  • Patent number: 10527688
    Abstract: Some implementations provide a method for safe operation of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the method including: determining, at least in part by using a sensor device, location information that indicates a location of an MR-incompatible object relative to the MRI system, the MRI system generating a polarizing magnetic field for imaging a subject; based on the determined location information, determining, by a control unit associated with the MRI system, that the MR-incompatible object poses an operational hazard to the MRI system; and in response to determining that the MR-incompatible object poses an operational hazard to the MRI system, reducing, by the control unit, a strength of the polarizing magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Synaptive Medical (Barbados) Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron Anthony Piron, Chad Tyler Harris, Jeff Alan Stainsby, Alexander Gyles Panther, Gai Sela
  • Patent number: 10512418
    Abstract: To provide an operator with operability similar to that of conventional devices with an electromagnetic device that accurately maintains a magnetic field distribution by adjusting the magnetic field for each eigenmode obtained by singular value decomposition. The strength of a unique mode is found from a measurement magnetic field, a current for each unique mode of a negative feedback control according to the magnetic field is calculated and the current is added to each mode to obtain a current for each shim coil, and a coil current is controlled so as to reach the obtained current value. In an interface for an operator, a target for a corrected magnetic field and a magnetic field generated by a shim coil are displayed using a spherical surface harmonic function strength. Due to this configuration, a device which enables accurate magnetic field adjustment while offering operability similar to conventional devices can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsushi Abe
  • Patent number: 10480959
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for three-dimensional location of the disposition of a sensor coil in a subject including are disclosed. The systems include an array of three or more quadruplet drive coil sets, where each quadruplet drive coil set include at least four discrete drive coils, at least one moveable sensor coil configured to provide one or more sensor coil response signals, a first system component providing AC drive signals to energize the discrete drive coils, a second system component for receiving the one or more sensor coil response signals from the at least one moveable sensor coil, and a processor configured to determine a sensor coil disposition of the at least one moveable sensor coil in the subject relative to the quadruplet drive coil sets based on the one or more sensor coil response signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: TELEFLEX MEDICAL DEVICES S.À R.L
    Inventors: Peter E. Nelson, Robert D. Zellers, Charles W. Henry
  • Patent number: 10473738
    Abstract: A system for controlling a wireless-type radio frequency (RF) coil apparatus (102, 202, 302, 500) for a magnetic resonance (MR) system including a processor for acquiring emitted radio frequency (RF) signals from a plurality of coils of an RF transducer array including an indication of a local clock signal indicating a time of (RF) signal acquisition; acquiring magnetic field strength information from a plurality of field probes of a magnetic field probe array including an indication of the local clock signal indicating a time of magnetic field strength information acquisition, and forming k-space information based upon the acquired emitted RF signals from the plurality of coils of the RF transducer array and the acquired magnetic field strength information including the indications of the local clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: George Randall Duensing, Arne Reykowski, Charles Saylor
  • Patent number: 10416245
    Abstract: One example includes a sensor system. A cell system includes a pump laser which generates a pump beam to polarize alkali metal vapor enclosed within a sensor cell. A detection system includes a probe laser to generate a probe beam. The detection system can calculate at least one measurable parameter based on characteristics of the probe beam passing through the sensor cell resulting from precession of the polarized alkali metal vapor in response to an applied magnetic field. A pump beam control system pulse-width modulates a frequency of the pump beam to provide a pulse-width modulated (PWM) pump beam, and controls a duty-cycle of the PWM pump beam based on the characteristics of the probe beam passing through the sensor cell in a feedback manner to control polarization uniformity of the alkali metal vapor and to mitigate the effects of AC Stark shift on the at least one measurable parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael D. Bulatowicz
  • Patent number: 10371766
    Abstract: A method and system that includes injecting light into a vapor cell; detecting an output of the light from the vapor cell; modulating the light injected into the vapor cell in dependence on the detected output to achieve an oscillating signal; applying an energy pulse to the vapor cell prior to achieving the oscillating signal to decrease a time required to achieve the oscillating signal; and determining a magnetic field measurement in dependence on a frequency of the oscillating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GEOTECH LTD.
    Inventor: Ryan S. Raz
  • Patent number: 10338161
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an MPIS scanner for tomographic imaging of an object with magnetic particles distributed in the interior of the object, comprising the steps of generating a selection magnetic field with a predetermined magnetic field gradient in at least one field-free point (FFP) in a predetermined scanning plane, generating a time-dependent, periodic excitation magnetic field with a predetermined maximum frequency, repeatedly displacing the at least one FFP along a predetermined closed trajectory with a predetermined repetition time in the scanning plane, moving the object through the scanning plane along a predetermined advance direction with a predetermined advance speed, detecting the change in the magnetization state of the magnetic particles at the points in the object interior through which the at least one FFP passes, reconstructing the local particle concentrations at the points through which the at least one FFP passes in respect of an object coordinate system, interpolating t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAET ZU LUEBECK
    Inventors: Thorsten Buzug, Christian Kaethner, Mandy Gruettner, Gael Bringout, Matthias Weber
  • Patent number: 10338164
    Abstract: A system for magnetic detection includes a magneto-optical defect center material comprising a plurality of magneto-optical defect centers, an optical light source , an optical detector, and a radio frequency (RF) excitation source. The optical light source is configured to provide optical excitation to the magneto-optical defect center material. The optical detector is configured to receive an optical signal emitted by the magneto-optical defect center material. The RF excitation source is configured to provide RF excitation to the magneto-optical defect center material. The RF excitation source includes an RF feed connector, and a metallic material coated on the magneto-optical defect center material and electrically connected to the RF feed connecter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph W. Hahn, Andrew Raymond Mandeville, Gregory Scott Bruce
  • Patent number: 10274550
    Abstract: Magnetometers with high bandwidth acquisition of data with increased sensitivity are described herein. Increased bandwidth and sensitivity may be achieved by eliminating a reference signal for full repolarization of the magneto-optical defect center material prior to acquisition. Elimination of the reference signal eliminates the time needed to repolarize the magneto-optical defect center material and the acquisition time for the reference signal. A radiofrequency (RF) pulse sequence may be activate to apply an RF field to the magneto-optical defect center material and a magnetic field measurement may be acquired using the magneto-optical defect center material. The magnetic field measurement may be acquired independent of a reference magnetic field measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Bruce, Peter G. Kaup, Arul Manickam
  • Patent number: 10267877
    Abstract: Even if there is a restriction in an amount of magnetic pieces which can be disposed at each position in a shim tray, a distribution of a static magnetic field is measured so that an error magnetic field between the distribution of the static magnetic field and a target magnetic field is calculated, and respective reachable magnetic field homogeneities in a case where the magnetic pieces are disposed at one or more of the plurality of positions in the shim tray are calculated while changing the target magnetic field. The target magnetic field is selected in which an amount of magnetic pieces at each of the positions in the shim tray is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value, and the reachable magnetic field homogeneity is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Sakakibara, Takuya Fujikawa, Mitsushi Abe, Hikaru Hanada
  • Patent number: 10175200
    Abstract: Methods of detecting non-uniformities in a material are described. Such methods can comprise inducing changes in strain state or changing the magnetic moment of a material and measuring magnetic flux leakage that is synchronous with the changes in strain state or magnetic moment, while simultaneously applying an external magnetic field to control the relative magnitude of the magnetic flux leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Prime Photonics, LC
    Inventors: Clark Davis Boyd, David Todd Gray, Jonathan Drapala Sides
  • Patent number: 10168408
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view (28), in particular an MPI apparatus. The apparatus comprises selection field elements (116) for generating a magnetic selection field (50), drive field coils (124; 125, 126, 127) for changing the position in space of the two sub-zones (52, 54) by means of a magnetic drive field, focus field elements (116) for changing the position in space of the field of view (28) by means of a magnetic focus field, and receiving elements (148) for acquiring detection signals. A static system function of the apparatus is obtained in the absence of a magnetic focus field, from which an extended system function is generated by shifting a time-domain representation of said static system function proportional to the changes of the position of the field of view caused by appliance of the magnetic focus field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jurgen Erwin Rahmer, Bernhard Gleich
  • Patent number: 10162026
    Abstract: Technologies applicable to noise canceling in-situ NMR detection and imaging are disclosed. An example noise canceling in-situ NMR detection apparatus may comprise one or more of a static magnetic field generator, an alternating magnetic field generator, an in-situ NMR detection device, an auxiliary noise detection device, and a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: VISTA CLARA INC.
    Inventor: David O. Walsh
  • Patent number: 10123680
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an operation control system for spirally operating a capsule endoscope along a tubular organ, and a capsule type endoscope system comprising the same. The operation control system for a capsule endoscope of the present invention comprises: a magnetic field generation portion (100) comprising a first coil unit (110) provided on three orthogonal axes to generate a magnetic field and a second coil unit (120) comprising one coil structure for generating a magnetic field gradient; and a mechanical coil driving portion (130) for three-dimensionally rotating the second coil unit (120), thereby generating a rotating magnetic field and the magnetic field gradient. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the operation control system for a capsule endoscope by forming the rotating magnetic field and the magnetic field gradient for a spiral motion of a capsule endoscope only with a minimum coil system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Industry Foundation of Chonnam National University
    Inventors: Suk Ho Park, Jong Oh Park, Cheong Lee, Hyun Chul Choi, Semi Jeong
  • Patent number: 10114084
    Abstract: A Hall plate excitation system provides reduced offset and temperature dependence. The Hall plate excitation system includes a current source, a switching network, and a controller. The current source is configured to provide an excitation current to a Hall plate. The switching network is configured to switchably connect the current source to each of a plurality of terminals of the Hall plate. The controller is configured to adjust the excitation current no more than once during each spinning cycle; and to sequentially switch the excitation current to each of the plurality of terminals of the Hall plate during each spinning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Caspar Petrus Laurentius van Vroonhoven
  • Patent number: 10107876
    Abstract: A magnetism measurement apparatus that measures a magnetic field includes a gas cell including a primary chamber, a reservoir, and a exhaust hole that allows the primary chamber and the reservoir to communicate with each other. The primary chamber and the reservoir are filled with an alkali metal gas, and at least one of an alkali metal solid and an alkali metal liquid is placed in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Fujii, Kimio Nagasaka, Mitsutoshi Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 10078152
    Abstract: An airborne gravity-based transducer is disclosed as two embodiments with similar physical structures but different operating principles. The first design includes a particle acting as an active interface characterized by internal vibrations relating to its de Broglie wave, a resonant cavity for trapping the particle, and a phonon-wave source wherein the de Broglie and phonon waves interact over a junction area. In the second design, mechanical displacements between the transducer elements can be monitored through electromechanical transduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: NXT ENERGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: George Liszicasz, Xiang Gui
  • Patent number: 10060990
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shield apparatus and a shield method for measuring a subtle magnetic field. More specifically, the present invention relates to a shield apparatus having a precise magnetic sensor therein, for shielding an external magnetic field in a subtle magnetic field measurement apparatus including a magnetic field generation apparatus for exciting a sample, the shield apparatus for measuring a subtle magnetic field, including: a shield wall provided with a high-conductivity metal layer of high conductivity being partitioned into a plurality of segments and having a high-frequency shield property and a closed high-permeability soft magnetic layer spaced apart from the high-conductivity metal layer by a predetermined distance, so as to seal a measurement space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Ki Woong Kim, Yong Ho Lee, Kwon Kyu Yu, Seong-Joo Lee
  • Patent number: 10042009
    Abstract: The cost and size of an atomic magnetometer are reduced by attaching together a first die which integrates together a vapor cell, top and side photo detectors, and processing electronics, a second die which integrates together an optics package and a heater for the vapor cell, and a third die which integrates together a VCSEL, a heater for the VCSEL, and control electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Philipp Lindorfer, Peter J Hopper, William French, Paul Mawson, Steven Hunt, Roozbeh Parsa
  • Patent number: 10024931
    Abstract: In a magnetic field measurement apparatus, a light source irradiates a gas cell with linearly polarized light serving as pump light and probe light in a Z axis direction, and a magnetic field generator applies alternating magnetic fields which have the same cycle and different phases to the gas cell in each of X axis and Y axis directions. A calculation controller calculates a magnetic field C (Cx, Cy, Cz) of a measurement region using X axis and Y axis components Ax and Ay of the alternating magnetic fields, and a spin polarization degree Mx corresponding to a measurement value W? from a magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimio Nagasaka, Mitsutoshi Miyasaka, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10016146
    Abstract: An MPI method determines calibration and measurement volumes, wherein the calibration volume is larger than the measurement volume and the overall measurement volume is arranged within the calibration volume. Calibration signals are detected and a system matrix S is created. An MPI measuring signal u is recorded, a location-dependent magnetic particle concentration c with magnetic particle concentration values ci within the calibration volume is reconstructed and the magnetic particle concentration values ci are associated with voxels in the calibration volume. Magnetic particle concentration values ci which were associated with voxels outside of the measurement volume are discarded and an MPI image is generated which exclusively contains magnetic particle concentration values ci which were associated with the voxels within the measurement volume. MPI image data are thereby generated with little artifacts within a short time even in case of high magnetic particle densities outside of the measurement volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Weber
  • Patent number: 9995800
    Abstract: An atomic magnetometer includes an atomic vapor cell, an optical system conformed to transmit pump radiation and probe radiation through the vapor cell, and an optical detection system arranged to receive and detect probe radiation after it exits the vapor cell. Improvements in the separation of spatial channels are achieved by using a a diffractive optical element arranged to divide at least the pump radiation into a plurality of separate diffracted beams that traverse the vapor cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Schwindt, Cort N. Johnson, Yuan-Yu Jau
  • Patent number: 9995805
    Abstract: A computer executes: calculating a first volume distribution (v.d.) of magnetic materials on a shim tray, based on a first magnetic field strength distribution (m.f.s.d.) in a magnetic field space (S3); acquiring a first composite distribution (c.d.) representing a volume by addition of volumes of magnetic materials for each region of the shim tray, and positions of the regions (S5); calculating a virtual m.f.s.d. created by magnetic materials supposed to be arranged as in the first c.d. (S8); calculating a second m.f.s.d. by addition of the first m.f.s.d. and the virtual m.f.s.d. (S9); calculating a second v.d. of magnetic materials on the shim tray, based on the second m.f.s.d. (S3); acquiring a second c.d. representing a volume by addition of volumes of magnetic materials for each region, and positions of the regions (S5); and displaying the positions of regions and the volumes in the first c.d. and second c.d. (S10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuya Ando
  • Patent number: 9965874
    Abstract: A calibration method for an MPI (=magnetic particle imaging) apparatus for conducting an MPI experiment, wherein the calibration method comprises m calibration MPI measurements with a calibration test piece and uses these measurements to create an image reconstruction matrix with which the signal contributions of N voxels within an investigation volume of the MPI apparatus are determined, wherein compressed sensing steps are applied in the calibration method with a transformation matrix that sparsifies the image construction matrix, and wherein only a number M<N of calibration MPI measurements for M voxels are carried out, from which the image reconstruction matrix is created and stored. This specifies an efficient method for determination of the system matrix for the MPI imaging method, which does not require much time to determine an MPI system function and nevertheless achieves a high degree of precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH
    Inventor: Tobias Knopp
  • Patent number: 9958514
    Abstract: A magnetic field measurement apparatus includes a first gas cell disposed in a +z direction when seen from an object to be measured, a second gas cell disposed in the +z direction when seen from the first gas cell, a first measurement unit which measures a component of a magnetic field in the first gas cell, a second measurement unit which measures a component of a magnetic field in the second gas cell, a magnetic field generation unit which generates the magnetic field toward the second gas cell so as to reduce the component measured by the second measurement unit, and an output unit which outputs a signal in response to the difference in the components respectively measured by the first measurement unit and second measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuji Hokari
  • Patent number: 9910183
    Abstract: A tripod, a vertical coil and a total-field magnetometer are utilized to measure a geomagnetic field T0 without an additional magnetic field imposed, as well as two composite magnetic field values T?1 and T?2 when the geomagnetic field is added with a vertical upward magnetic field Tf and a double vertical upward magnetic field 2Tf, respectively. Calculate a vertical component Z, a horizontal component H and a geomagnetic inclination I of the geomagnetic field. Set up a horizontal coil such that a geometric center of the horizontal coil coincides with a geometric center of the vertical coil. Use the total-field magnetometer to measure two composite magnetic field values T+? and T?? after the geomagnetic field has been added with a horizontal forward magnetic field and a horizontal reverse magnetic field, respectively. Calculate a geomagnetic declination D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: CHINA METALLURGICAL GEOLOGY BUREAU GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION INSTITUTE OF SHANDONG ZHENGYUAN
    Inventor: Jiandong Gao
  • Patent number: 9810756
    Abstract: A sensing apparatus for detecting and determining the magnitude of a static magnetic field has a first set of coils capable of producing a sweeping, quasi static, magnetic field when driven by a direct current and a second set of coils, for magnetic field modulation, positioned between the first set of coils capable of producing a low-frequency (audio), oscillating magnetic field when driven by an oscillating current. The magnetic fields induce a current through the semiconductor device which sampled to identify changes as a function of sweeping, quasi static magnetic field. To create an apparatus for detecting and identifying atomic scale defects in fully processed devices, a radio frequency circuit with a resonant component is added which provides an oscillating electromagnetic field in a direction perpendicular to that of the static magnetic field produced by the first set of coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Corey Cochrane, Patrick M. Lenahan
  • Patent number: 9733318
    Abstract: A method of observing axial magnetization (Mz) in an object (O) located in a main magnetic field (B0) comprises the step of determining magnetic field intensity (Bp) in at least one magnetic field probe (P) arranged in the neighborhood of the object. The magnetic field probe comprises a magnetic resonance (MR) active substance, means for pulsed MR excitation of the substance and means for receiving an MR signal generated by said substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Universitat Zurich
    Inventors: Klaas Prussmann, Christoph Barmet
  • Patent number: 9726626
    Abstract: A quantum mechanical measurement device is provided. A spin ensemble is provided. A first light source provides a first light at a first wavelength, wherein the first light source is positioned to provide light into the spin ensemble. A detector is positioned to detect light from the spin ensemble. A modulator modulates absorption of the first light from the first light source by the spin ensemble at a frequency greater than a Larmor frequency of the spin ensemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Geometrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Smith, Krzysztof Kiersnowski