Magnetic Field Sensing System Or Device (e.g., Squid, Etc.) Patents (Class 505/162)
  • Patent number: 11489103
    Abstract: A quantum computing device is formed using a first chip and a second chip, the first chip having a first substrate, a first set of pads, and a set of Josephson junctions disposed on the first substrate. The second chip has a second substrate, a second set of pads disposed on the second substrate opposite the first set of pads, and a second layer formed on a subset of the second set of pads. The second layer is configured to bond the first chip and the second chip. The subset of the second set of pads corresponds to a subset of the set of Josephson junctions selected to avoid frequency collision between qubits in a set of qubits. A qubit is formed using a Josephson junction from the subset of Josephson junctions and another Josephson junction not in the subset being rendered unusable for forming qubits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerry M. Chow, Sami Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 11443223
    Abstract: A quantum computing device is formed using a first chip and a second chip, the first chip having a first substrate, a first set of pads, and a set of Josephson junctions disposed on the first substrate. The second chip has a second substrate, a second set of pads disposed on the second substrate opposite the first set of pads, and a second layer formed on a subset of the second set of pads. The second layer is configured to bond the first chip and the second chip. The subset of the second set of pads corresponds to a subset of the set of Josephson junctions selected to avoid frequency collision between qubits in a set of qubits. A qubit is formed using a Josephson junction from the subset of Josephson junctions and another Josephson junction not in the subset being rendered unusable for forming qubits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerry M. Chow, Sami Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 11333404
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system is provided comprising: a mechanical refrigerator, a heat pipe and a heat switch assembly. The mechanical refrigerator has a first cooled stage and a second cooled stage. The heat pipe has a first part coupled thermally to the second cooled stage and a second part coupled thermally to a target assembly. The heat pipe is adapted to contain a condensable gaseous coolant when in use. The heat switch assembly comprises one or more gas gap heat switches, a first end coupled thermally to the second cooled stage and a second end coupled thermally to the target assembly. The cryogenic cooling system is adapted to be operated in a heat pipe cooling mode in which the temperature of the second cooled stage is lower than the first cooled stage and wherein the temperature of the target assembly causes the coolant within the second part of the heat pipe to be gaseous and the temperature of the second cooled stage causes the coolant in the first part of the heat pipe to condense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Matthews, Mark Patton
  • Patent number: 11280860
    Abstract: Disclosed is an MRI control signal providing method including obtaining an initial control variable array including time-series values of a control variable for controlling a spatial profile of an induced magnetic field induced by an MRI scanner, obtaining information about a desired spatial profile of the induced magnetic field in the MRI scanner, calculating a differentiation array obtainable by partially differentiating a predetermined function with respect to the control variable, and calculating a scaled array obtained by scaling the differentiation array with a predetermined scaling factor, and generating an updated control variable array from the initial control variable array by subtracting values of the scaled array from values of the initial control variable array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jongho Lee, Dongmyung Shin
  • Patent number: 11227229
    Abstract: A quantum computing device is formed using a first chip and a second chip, the first chip having a first substrate, a first set of pads, and a set of Josephson junctions disposed on the first substrate. The second chip has a second substrate, a second set of pads disposed on the second substrate opposite the first set of pads, and a second layer formed on a subset of the second set of pads. The second layer is configured to bond the first chip and the second chip. The subset of the second set of pads corresponds to a subset of the set of Josephson junctions selected to avoid frequency collision between qubits in a set of qubits. A qubit is formed using a Josephson junction from the subset of Josephson junctions and another Josephson junction not in the subset being rendered unusable for forming qubits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerry M. Chow, Sami Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 10956828
    Abstract: A quantum computing device is formed using a first chip and a second chip, the first chip having a first substrate, a first set of pads, and a set of Josephson junctions disposed on the first substrate. The second chip has a second substrate, a second set of pads disposed on the second substrate opposite the first set of pads, and a second layer formed on a subset of the second set of pads. The second layer is configured to bond the first chip and the second chip. The subset of the second set of pads corresponds to a subset of the set of Josephson junctions selected to avoid frequency collision between qubits in a set of qubits. A qubit is formed using a Josephson junction from the subset of Josephson junctions and another Josephson junction not in the subset being rendered unusable for forming qubits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerry M. Chow, Sami Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 10944039
    Abstract: A quantum computing device is formed using a first chip and a second chip, the first chip having a first substrate, a first set of pads, and a set of Josephson junctions disposed on the first substrate. The second chip has a second substrate, a second set of pads disposed on the second substrate opposite the first set of pads, and a second layer formed on a subset of the second set of pads. The second layer is configured to bond the first chip and the second chip. The subset of the second set of pads corresponds to a subset of the set of Josephson junctions selected to avoid frequency collision between qubits in a set of qubits. A qubit is formed using a Josephson junction from the subset of Josephson junctions and another Josephson junction not in the subset being rendered unusable for forming qubits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerry M. Chow, Sami Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 10847573
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that includes a substrate, a first superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), a second SQUID and a third SQUID. The first SQUID is disposed on the substrate and has a first feature dimension, a second feature dimension and a first effective geometric magnetic inductance parameter value, ?L1. The second SQUID is disposed on the substrate and has the first feature dimension, a third feature dimension and a second effective geometric magnetic inductance parameter value, ?L2. The third SQUID is disposed on the substrate and has the first feature dimension, a fourth feature dimension and a third effective geometric magnetic inductance parameter value, ?L3, wherein ?L1<?L2<?L3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Susan Anne Elizabeth Berggren, Benjamin J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10775455
    Abstract: In a superconducting magnet arrangement, such as used in a magnetic resonance system, and a power management method therefor, an enhanced economic power mode (EPM) is implemented wherein the compressor operation is controlled by magnet pressure, temperature and time, so as to ensure the readiness of the magnet system for a scanning operation upon exiting the enhanced EPM. A processor implementing the enhanced EPM looks for a signal that indicates that the magnet system is operational and, in the absence of that signal for a predetermined period of time, enters into EPM. Exit from EPM occurs if certain conditions are violated, but then re-entry into EPM is attempted (re-starting EPM), thereby making the magnet system ready for operation again, if and when a patient scan is to be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Siemens Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Felix Michael Koeber, Rolf Heinrichs, Adrian Bampton, Philip Alan Charles Walton, Dhavalkumar Patel, John Anthony Robert Teah
  • Patent number: 9880317
    Abstract: This invention detects mass and mass motion of external objects by virtue of its action as a gravimeter, gravity gradiometer, and detector of gravitational fields. This invention is for devices which function as accelerometers and gyroscopes for the bodies to which they are attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: Joe Foreman, Armen Gulian, Louis Sica, Jr., Vahan R. Nikoghosyan, Shmuel Nussinov, Jeff Tollaksen
  • Publication number: 20150111751
    Abstract: Provided is a cryoprobe using a closed gas loop for a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus, including: superconducting magnets providing a magnetic field; a rotor rotatably disposed between the superconducting magnets in the state of a sample being put therein, the rotor being rotated by a driving gas; a coil configured to generate a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum according to a resonance phenomenon of the sample by applying a radio frequency to the rotor; and a gas loop configured to cool the driving gas in a cryogenic condition while circulating it in a closed-loop condition and to supply the driving gas to the rotor, wherein the gas loop supplies the driving gas to the rotor while cooling it in a cryogenic condition, thereby rotating the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: KOREA BASIC SCIENCE INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yeon Suk Choi, Seung Young Park, Sang Gap Lee
  • Patent number: 9014770
    Abstract: A magnetic field generation device for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has a vacuum container that encloses a magnetic coil made of superconducting material, and a conduit of a pipe system is connected with the magnetic coil so as to conduct heat. The pipe system and the conduit are filled with a coolant that places the magnetic coil in a superconducting state during normal operation of the tomography system. A valve connects the pipe system to the interior of a capture container. In the event of non-normal operation, such as a quench, evaporated coolant passes through the valve into the capture container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Patrick Gross
  • Patent number: 9014769
    Abstract: A cryocooler system and a superconducting magnet apparatus having the cryocooler system include a cryocooler having a cool stage that cools a heat shielding unit and a thermal inertia that thermally contacts the cool stage of the cryocooler and has a high heat capacity. The cryocooler system reduces a temperature-increasing rate in a current lead by using the thermal inertia member when the temperature in the current lead is increased due to heat generated when an electrical current applied to a superconducting coil is ramped-up or ramped-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen M. Harrison
  • Patent number: 8996083
    Abstract: A self-shield open magnetic resonance imaging superconducting magnet comprises five pairs of coils: shim coils, first main magnetic coils, second main magnetic coils, third main magnetic coils, and shielding coils. The five pairs of coils are symmetric about the center. The shim coils are arranged closest to the center point; the first main magnetic coils, the second main magnetic coils, the third main magnetic coils, and the shielding coils are arranged in sequence outside. The first main magnetic coils are connected with reverse current. The second and third main magnetic coils are connected with positive current for providing the main magnetic field strength. The shim coils are connected with positive current for compensating the magnetic field in the central region. The shielding coils are connected with reverse current for creating a magnetic field opposite to the main magnetic field for compensating the stray magnetic field in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Qiuliang Wang, Xinning Hu, Chunzhong Wang, Hui Wang, Luguang Yan, Yinming Dai, Baozhi Zhao, Jianhua Wang, Jianyi Xu
  • Patent number: 8971976
    Abstract: A superconductive electromagnet apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including the superconductive electromagnet apparatus are provided. The superconductive electromagnet apparatus includes a thermal anchor, a cryogenic cooling device which cools the thermal anchor, and at least one connecting ring into which the thermal anchor is inserted and a plurality of wires which are connected to the connecting ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen M Harrison
  • Patent number: 8965468
    Abstract: A persistent-mode High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) shim coil is provided having at least one rectangular shaped thin sheet of HTS, wherein the thin sheet of HTS contains a first long portion, a second long portion parallel to first long portion, a first end, and a second end parallel to the first end. The rectangular shaped thin sheet of high-temperature superconductor has a hollow center and forms a continuous loop. In addition, the first end and the second end are folded toward each other forming two rings, and the thin sheet of high-temperature superconductor has a radial build that is less than 5 millimeters (mm) and able to withstand very strong magnetic field ranges of greater than approximately 12 Tesla (T) within a center-portion of a superconducting magnet of a superconducting magnet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Yukikazu Iwasa
  • Publication number: 20150045226
    Abstract: The invention provides for magnetic resonance imaging system (600) comprising a superconducting magnet (100) with a first current lead (108) and a second current lead (110) for connecting to a current ramping system (624). The magnet further comprises a vacuum vessel (104) penetrated by the first current lead and the second current lead. The magnet further comprises a magnet circuit (106) within the vacuum vessel. The magnet circuit has a first magnet circuit connection (132) and a second magnet circuit connection (134). The magnet further comprises a first switch (120) between the first magnet connection and the first current lead and a second switch (122) between the second magnet connection and the second current lead. The magnet further comprises a first current shunt (128) connected across the first switch and a second current shunt (130) connected across the second switch. The magnet further comprises a first rigid coil loop (124) operable to actuate the first switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Johannes Adrianus Overweg, Thomas Erik Amthor, Peter Forthmann, Falk Uhlemann, Bernd David
  • Patent number: 8934950
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet system for nuclear magnetic resonance with a high magnetic field and a high degree of homogeneity of magnetic field is provided. The system comprises a main coil and a magnetic field homogeneity compensating coil having a combination of a forward current and a reverse current, and is composed of 24 superconducting coils formed by winding NbTi/Cu low-temperature superconducting wires. The system can produce a magnetic field of 9.4 T within a room-temperature space of 800 mm and can obtain a degree of non-homogeneity of magnetic field less than 0.1 ppm within a spherical volume of 300 mm. The system is equipped with a superconducting magnet inside, and a low-temperature vessel for liquid helium provides a low-temperature environment of 4K which is required for the normal operation of the superconducting magnet. A ferro-magnetic shielding system enables the system to have a good electromagnetic compatibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Qiuliang Wang, Yinming Dai, Baozhi Zhao, Xinning Hu, Luguang Yan, Housheng Wang, Shunzhong Chen
  • Patent number: 8886282
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring a magnetocardiogram (MCG) in order to measure a weak magnetic field generated from the heart of a small animal such as a laboratory rat are provided. The system includes a case, a SQUID sensor located and fixed inside the case to detect magnetism, a platform arranged near the SQUID sensor inside the case, the small animal being placed on the platform, a linear station to which the platform is fixed to move a location of the platform, and a control unit configured to control operations of the SQUID sensor and the linear station and measure the MCG of the small animal using intensities of the magnetism detected by the SQUID sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: In Seon Kim, Yong Ho Lee, Ki Woong Kim
  • Publication number: 20140329688
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device is configured to include: a refrigerant circulation flowpath in which a refrigerant (R) circulates; a refrigerator for cooling vapor of the refrigerant (R) in the refrigerant circulation flowpath; a superconducting coil cooled by the circulating refrigerant (R); a protective resistor thermally contacting the superconducting coil and having an internal space (S); a high-boiling-point refrigerant supply section for supplying a high-boiling-point refrigerant having a higher boiling point than the refrigerant (R) and frozen by the refrigerant (R) to the internal space (S) in the protective resistor; and a vacuum insulating container for at least accommodating the refrigerant circulation flowpath, the superconducting coil, and the protective resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Manabu Aoki, Ryuya Ando, Yukihiro Murata, Ryoji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8868146
    Abstract: A re-condensation device allows an NMR analysis device to be reduced in overall size and minimizes heat penetration into a liquid helium tank. An NMR analysis device provided with said re-condensation device. The re-condensation device includes: a second cooling member, part of which is inserted into a neck tube, and which re-condenses liquid helium; and a first cooling member, part of which is inserted into the neck tube. The second cooling member is thermally connected to a chiller's second cooling stage, and the first cooling member is thermally connected to the chiller's first cooling stage. The first cooling member has: a first insertion part, which has a diameter that allows insertion into the neck tube; and an inside contact part on the outer surface of the first insertion part and that cools heat seals by contacting, from the inside, a part of the neck tube that outside contact parts contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kobe Steel Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Miki
  • Publication number: 20140296074
    Abstract: There is provided a superconducting magnet in which magnetization caused by a shielding current of a superconducting winding is eliminated whereby the current to be supplied to the superconducting winding is uniformized, and thus uniformity of the central magnetic field is secured. The superconducting magnet has a superconducting winding composed of a superconductor, and an outer AC winding composed of a superconductor or non-superconductor wound coaxially with the superconducting winding, at an outer side the superconducting winding; and an AC current is supplied to the outer AC winding thereby applying an AC magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a direction of magnetization caused in the superconducting winding by the shielding current, and thus the magnetization is eliminated. Also, the superconducting magnet has an inner AC winding composed of a superconductor or non-superconductor wound coaxially with the superconducting winding, at an inner side of the superconducting winding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Kyushu University, National University Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kajikawa, Kazuo Funaki
  • Patent number: 8849363
    Abstract: An open-structure magnetic assembly is adapted to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in an accessible space region, including a first and second independent source of magnetic field (10, 12), each generating a contribution to the resulting magnetic field. The first source includes a conducting or superconducting plate (20), carrying an unidirectional current flow (I) from an input side (22) to an output side (24) and at least one external current recirculating path (30) between the output side (24) and the input side (22) of the plate. The second source includes a volume of magnetized material or an arrangement of coils, arranged for generating a magnetic field component oriented according to the magnetic field generated by the first source (10), and whose intensity exhibits a gradient in a direction perpendicular to the conducting plate (20) adapted to compensate, in a region of interest, an opposite gradient in the magnetic field intensity generated by the first source (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Technologia
    Inventors: Franco Bertora, Elisa Molinari, Andrea Viale, Giulio Sandini
  • Publication number: 20140274721
    Abstract: A cylindrical superconducting magnet system for use in magnetic resonance imaging has axially aligned primary superconducting coils that are situated within an outer vacuum chamber (OVC). A thermal radiation shield surrounds the primary superconducting coils within the OVC. A primary gradient coil assembly is axially aligned with the primary superconducting coils and is situated radially within the primary superconducting coils. The cylindrical superconducting magnetic system also includes a secondary gradient coil assembly, that is radially situated outside of the primary superconducting coils and that is mechanically attached to the primary gradient coil assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Simon James Calvert
  • Patent number: 8838193
    Abstract: A magnetic field source is provided comprising a support structure upon which is positioned a conducting surface path of superconductor material. The support structure has an at least partially radially overlapping layer of material arranged in a spiral. A corresponding conducting surface path of superconductor material is arranged on the surface of the support structure such that the conducting path has a first point for the introduction of current and a second point for the extraction of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: 3-CS Ltd
    Inventors: Eamonn Maher, Ian Leitch McDougall
  • Publication number: 20140249033
    Abstract: An RF DC SQUID based magnetometer capable of sensing coherent magnetic fields up to 200 MHz and higher is developed which overcomes frequency limitations associated with noise signals due to transmission line delays between the SQUID circuit and readout electronics. The bandwidth limitations are overcome by superimposing the RF flux on the modulation flux to produce at the SQUID output a binary phase modulated RF voltage, which is processed to lock the static flux, and to control modulation regime by producing an AC bias for the RF flux. RF readout electronics based on a double lock-in technique (sequential demodulation of the RF SQUID voltage at the modulation flux frequency ?m and the RF flux frequency ?RF), yields a signal proportional to the product of amplitude and phase cosine of RF flux with linear dynamic range up to five orders in magnitude if compared to DC SQUID operated in traditional flux-locked loop regime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: NEOCERA, LLC
    Inventors: Antonio Orozco, Vladimir V. Talanov, Alfred Benjamin Cawthorne, III, Nesco Mario Lettsome, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140243205
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (5) includes a thermally conductive cylindrical container (40), at least one thermally conductive tube (30), a cooling column (90), and a cryogen coldhead (100). The cooling column and coldhead condense gaseous helium to liquid helium to maintain a reservoir of liquid helium in the thermally conductive cylindrical container (40). The at least one thermally conductive tube (30) coils circumferentially around the container (40), and extends to at least one superconducting magnet coil heat exchanger (20), and back. The tube forms a selected loop which holds gaseous helium at pressure up about 104 bar (1500 PSI) or room temperature to about 0.75 bar at cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Adolph Ackermann, Philippe Menteur, Manmohan Dhar
  • Publication number: 20140235448
    Abstract: An MRI system has a cylindrical superconducting magnet assembly contained in a bore tube of a cylindrical vacuum vessel (OVC), and a gradient coil assembly situated within the OVC bore tube. In an imaging region within a bore of the gradient coil assembly, the magnet assembly produces a magnetic field that is subject to drift during operation of the MRI system. Compensating material is located at a radial position between the imaging region and the magnet in a location that will be heated over a range of temperatures during operation of the MRI system. The compensating material is adjustable between two magnetic phases in response to an applied physical characteristic, which is selectively applied thereto so as to change the compensating material from a first magnetization to a second magnetization, and thereby compensate the drift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Nicholas Paul Aley
  • Patent number: 8812066
    Abstract: SQUIDs may detect local magnetic fields. SQUIDS of varying sizes, and hence sensitivities may detect different magnitudes of magnetic fields. SQUIDs may be oriented to detect magnetic fields in a variety of orientations, for example along an orthogonal reference frame of a chip or wafer. The SQUIDS may be formed or carried on the same chip or wafer as a superconducting processor (e.g., a superconducting quantum processor). Measurement of magnetic fields may permit compensation, for example allowing tuning of a compensation field via a compensation coil and/or a heater to warm select portions of a system. A SQIF may be implemented as a SQUID employing an unconventional grating structure. Successful fabrication of an operable SQIF may be facilitated by incorporating multiple Josephson junctions in series in each arm of the unconventional grating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: D-Wave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Michael Lanting, Paul I. Bunyk, Andrew J. Berkley, Richard G. Harris, Sergey V. Uchaykin, Andrew Brock Wilson, Mark Johnson
  • Patent number: 8781542
    Abstract: A high-temperature superconducting magnetic sensor having a superconducting layer formed on a substrate and a plurality of superconducting quantum interference devices fabricated on the superconducting layer, which includes: a plurality of input coils that are formed on the superconducting layer and connected to or magnetically coupled with each of the plurality of the superconducting quantum interference devices; a pickup coil that is formed on the superconducting layer and connected so as to form a closed loop together with the plurality of the input coils; and a plurality of trimming wires that are formed on the superconducting layer and can be cut off, while making a short-circuit between both ends of each of the plurality of the input coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Superconductivity Technology Center
    Inventors: Akira Tsukamoto, Seiji Adachi, Yasuo Oshikubo, Keiichi Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20140171329
    Abstract: In order to prevent quenching caused accidentally in a superconducting magnet, an MRI apparatus vibrates the superconducting magnet in order to prevent quenching of the superconducting magnet in a time period for which a predetermined imaging sequence is not executed (step 210). As a specific method, a gradient magnetic field may be generated by a gradient magnetic field coil for an imaging sequence of the MRI apparatus, or a gradient magnetic field may be generated using a gradient magnetic field coil for vibration provided apart from the gradient magnetic field coil for an imaging sequence. In addition, in a period for which the predetermined imaging sequence is not executed, a phantom may be imaged to prevent the quenching of the superconducting magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Munetaka Tsuda
  • Publication number: 20140155268
    Abstract: A magnet apparatus for a magnetic resonance imaging system, the magnet apparatus includes a cylindrical vacuum vessel, a closed loop cooling system disposed within the vacuum vessel and a cylindrical thermal shield disposed between the vacuum vessel and the closed loop cooling system. A set of passive compensation coils are disposed within the vacuum vessel and used to compensate for magnetic field distortion caused by mechanical vibrations within the magnet apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Weijun Shen, Timothy J. Havens, Longzhi Jiang, Tesfaye K. Kidane
  • Publication number: 20140128267
    Abstract: An open type nuclear magnetic resonance magnet system having an iron ring member. A superconducting coil and a superconducting switch form a closed-loop current circuit to generate a magnetic field. The generated magnetic field gains a magnetic flux circuit and executes magnetic field shielding through upper and lower iron yokes and a lateral iron yoke. The magnet system generates a desired magnetic field in a magnet imaging central area via the superconducting coil. To balance the extremely high electromagnetic force between the superconducting coil and the upper and lower iron yokes, an annular iron ring is mounted in a space defined by an inner perimeter wall of in a cryogenic container. The magnetic field distribution between the superconducting coil and the upper and lower iron yokes is changed via the iron ring, so that the electromagnetic interaction force therebetween is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Qiuliang Wang, Hui Wang, Xinning Hu, Yinming Dai, Luguang Yan, Jianyi Xu, Housheng Wang, Jianhua Wang
  • Publication number: 20140121114
    Abstract: A self-shield open magnetic resonance imaging superconducting magnet comprises five pairs of coils: shim coils, first main magnetic coils, second main magnetic coils, third main magnetic coils, and shielding coils. The five pairs of coils are symmetric about the center. The shim coils are arranged closest to the center point; the first main magnetic coils, the second main magnetic coils, the third main magnetic coils, and the shielding coils are arranged in sequence outside. The first main magnetic coils are connected with reverse current. The second and third main magnetic coils are connected with positive current for providing the main magnetic field strength. The shim coils are connected with positive current for compensating the magnetic field in the central region. The shielding coils are connected with reverse current for creating a magnetic field opposite to the main magnetic field for compensating the stray magnetic field in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Qiuliang Wang, Xinning Hu, Chunzhong Wang, Hui Wang, Luguang Yan, Yinming Dai, Baozhi Zhao, Jianhua Wang, Jianyi xu
  • Patent number: 8712488
    Abstract: In order to attach an add-on unit to a low temperature pressure chamber unit having a low temperature pressure chamber, and an external housing surrounding the low temperature pressure chamber, an attachment device is used to attach at least one add-on unit to the external housing, and the attachment device has an adhesive unit designed for the arrangement and/or attachment of the at least one add-on unit to the external housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Distler, Bernd Maciejewski, Conny Patzak
  • Publication number: 20140066312
    Abstract: A magnet system generates a highly stable magnetic field at a sample location. The magnet system has a magnet cryostat housing a first superconducting magnet coil and a second magnet coil co-axial to the first magnet coil. The second magnet coil is short-circuited in a superconducting persistent mode during operation of the magnet system. An external power supply during operation supplies current to the first magnet coil via a current lead thereby generating a first magnetic field at the sample location that fluctuates according to the current noise of the power supply, wherein the second magnet coil is positioned and dimensioned in a way that it inductively couples to the first magnet coil such that it generates at the sample location a second magnetic field that compensates the fluctuations of the first magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Arne Kasten
  • Publication number: 20140057792
    Abstract: NMR probe coils designed to operate at two different frequencies, producing a strong and homogenous magnetic field at both the frequencies. This single coil, placed close to the sample, provides a method to optimize the NMR detection sensitivity of two different channels. In addition, the present invention describes a coil that generates a magnetic field that is parallel to the substrate of the coil as opposed to perpendicular as seen in the prior art. The present invention isolates coils from each other even when placed in close proximity to each other. A method to reduce the presence of electric field within the sample region is also considered. Further, the invention describes a method to adjust the radio-frequency tuning and coupling of the MAR probe coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated, The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Brey, Arthur Edison, Vijaykumar Ramaswamy, Jerris Hooker
  • Publication number: 20140024533
    Abstract: An MgB2 superconducting wire excellent in critical current density property is supplied by using a crystalline boron powder which is low in costs and easy to obtain. For the wire, a precursor of the MgB2 superconducting wire is used, the precursor having a linear structure including a core region containing a magnesium powder and a boron powder, and a sheath region formed of a metal covering an outer circumferential portion of the core region. The boron powder is crystalline, and has a volume-mean particle size of 2 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicants: HITACHI, LTD., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: The University of Tokyo, Hitachi, Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20140018243
    Abstract: A magnetic field generation device for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has a vacuum container that encloses a magnetic coil made of superconducting material, and a conduit of a pipe system is connected with the magnetic coil so as to conduct heat. The pipe system and the conduit are filled with a coolant that places the magnetic coil in a superconducting state during normal operation of the tomography system. A valve connects the pipe system to the interior of a capture container. In the event of non-normal operation, such as a quench, evaporated coolant passes through the valve into the capture container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Patrick Gross
  • Patent number: 8626253
    Abstract: In a superconducting electromagnet system or method, cryogenically cooled magnet coils are arranged to provide a static magnetic field in an imaging region. A gradient coil assembly is arranged to provide oscillating magnetic fields within the imaging region. An electrically conductive shield is positioned between the cryogenically cooled magnet coils and the gradient coil assembly. The cryogenically cooled magnet coils are located within an outer vacuum chamber, and the electrically conductive shield is positioned outside the outer vacuum chamber between a surface of the outer vacuum chamber and the gradient coil assembly and inside a bore tube of the outer vacuum chamber. The conductive shield is supported on resilient damping mounts between the conductive shield and the gradient coil assembly and between the conductive shield and the bore tube of the outer vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens PLC.
    Inventors: Mark Blumenthal, Marcel Jan Marie Kruip
  • Publication number: 20130331269
    Abstract: A coil system for a magnetic resonance tomography system includes a plurality of coils for sending and/or receiving high-frequency signals. The plurality of coils is disposed in a receiving chamber between a tomography magnet and a lining of an opening in the tomography magnet and may be cooled by a cooling apparatus. When the coil system is in an operating state, the receiving chamber is filled with a cryogenic cooling medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Marijn Pieter Oomen, Robert Rehner, Peter van Haßelt
  • Patent number: 8583201
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet includes at least one superconducting coil and a quench protection circuit electrically coupled to said at least one coil in parallel. The circuit includes at least one quench heater assembly thermally coupled to the at least one coil, and at least one superconducting current limiter electrically connected in series with the at least one quench heater assembly. The superconducting current limiter has a superconducting state with zero resistance, and a normal state with a normal resistance to decrease an electric current flowing through the quench heater assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anbo Wu, Minfeng Xu, Xianrui Huang
  • Patent number: 8554294
    Abstract: A low-noise cooling apparatus is provided. The cooling apparatus includes an outer container and an inner container. A thermal insulation layer in a vacuum state is disposed between the outer container and the inner container. The inner container includes a Dewar containing a liquid refrigerant, a prepolarization coil arranged inside the inner container and immersed in the liquid refrigerant, a pick-up coil immersed in the liquid refrigerant, and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) electrically connected to the pick-up coil and immersed in the liquid refrigerant. The prepolarization coil is made of a superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
    Inventors: Ki-woong Kim, Chan Seok Kang, Seong-min Hwang, Seong-Joo Lee, Yong-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8548542
    Abstract: There is provided a directly-coupled high-temperature superconductor SQUID magnetic sensor in a single thin film structure, which suppresses flux trapping or jumping generated in the sensor in a magnetic field, prevents the degradation in performance of the SQUID sensor, and operates stably with high sensitivity even in the magnetic field. The SQUID magnetic sensor including a bi-crystal substrate 1 having a bi-crystal grain boundary, pickup loops 7a-7d formed from a first high-temperature superconducting thin film on the bi-crystal substrate 1, and a SQUID ring 3 formed from the first high-temperature superconducting thin film on the bi-crystal grain boundary, directly connected with the pickup loops 7a-7d, wherein a plurality of pickup loops 7a-7d are disposed equally spaced from a bi-crystal grain boundary line 2 so as not to overlap with the bi-crystal grain boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: National University Corporation, Toyohashi University of Technology
    Inventors: Yoshimi Hatsukade, Saburo Tanaka, Sho Kanai
  • Publication number: 20130231248
    Abstract: Provided is a superconductive electromagnet apparatus including a thermal anchor, a plurality of wires and a cryogenic cooling device which cools the thermal anchor. The thermal anchor includes a body part, at least one connecting part disposed on a surface of the body part and made up of a conductive material. The plurality of wires is connected to the connecting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Stephen M. HARRISON
  • Publication number: 20130203603
    Abstract: A cryocooler system and a superconducting magnet apparatus having the cryocooler system include a cryocooler having a cool stage that cools a heat shielding unit and a thermal inertia that thermally contacts the cool stage of the cryocooler and has a high heat capacity. The cryocooler system reduces a temperature-increasing rate in a current lead by using the thermal inertia member when the temperature in the current lead is increased due to heat generated when an electrical current applied to a superconducting coil is ramped-up or ramped-down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130184158
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet system for nuclear magnetic resonance with a high magnetic field and a high degree of homogeneity of magnetic field is provided. The system comprises a main coil and a magnetic field homogeneity compensating coil having a combination of a forward current and a reverse current, and is composed of 24 superconducting coils formed by winding NbTi/Cu low-temperature superconducting wires. The system can produce a magnetic field of 9.4 T within a room-temperature space of 800 mm and can obtain a degree of non-homogeneity of magnetic field less than 0.1 ppm within a spherical volume of 300 mm. The system is equipped with a superconducting magnet inside, and a low-temperature vessel for liquid helium provides a low-temperature environment of 4K which is required for the normal operation of the superconducting magnet. A ferro-magnetic shielding system enables the system to have a good electromagnetic compatibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Acade my of Sciences
    Inventors: Qiuliang Wang, Yinming Dai, Baozhi Zhao, Xinning Hu, Luguang Yan, Housheng Wang, Shunzhong Chen
  • Publication number: 20130178366
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe comprises a substrate, a probe coil formed on the substrate and comprising a superconducting material, and a plurality of infrared (IR) reflection patches formed on the substrate around the probe coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. WITHERS
  • Publication number: 20130178367
    Abstract: An NMR spectrometer and method in the following three steps are performed. (1) An external magnetic field is set to H0+?H (where 4H>0). When the detection coil made of the superconducting material is still in a normal state, a magnetic field stronger than the ultimate target static magnetic field strength H0 by ?H is applied to the detection coil. (2) The detection coil made of the superconducting material is cooled down to T0 lower than its critical temperature Tc to bring the coil into a superconducting state while the external magnetic field H0+?H is applied to the detection coil. (3) The external magnetic field is lowered from H0+?H to H0 such that the applied external magnetic field is decreased by ?H while the detection coil is kept in the superconducting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: JEOL RESONANCE INC.
    Inventor: JEOL Resonance Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130157865
    Abstract: A system and method for magnetic field distortion compensation includes a cryostat for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The cryostat includes a vacuum casing having a vacuum therein. A cryogen vessel is disposed within the casing, the vessel having a coolant therein. A thermal shield is disposed between the vacuum casing and the cryogen vessel. An eddy current compensation assembly is disposed within the casing. The eddy current compensation assembly includes a plurality of electrically conductive loops formed on one of the vacuum casing, the cryogen vessel, and the thermal shield and constructed to mitigate vibration-induced eddy currents in the MRI system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company