Patents Examined by Bot L. Ledynh
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Patent number: 7656153Abstract: A pulse-induction-type metal detector in which the receiver coil comprises bifilar windings that are connected in series, opposing during the coil pulse and in series, aiding, following the coil pulse. Pick-up of energy by the receiver coil during the coil pulse is thereby minimized and the duration of oscillations is curtailed. Owing to the rapid recovery of the system from the flux change that is used to charge the target, the signal sampling gate can be positioned very close to the trailing edge of the coil-current pulse, whereby detection of targets with very short time constants is made possible.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Inventor: Allan Westersten
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Patent number: 7656161Abstract: A method for magnetizing a wellbore tubular is disclosed. The method includes magnetizing a wellbore tubular at three or more discrete locations on the tubular. In exemplary embodiments the magnetized wellbore tubular includes at least one pair of opposing magnetic poles located between longitudinally opposed ends of the tubular. Wellbore tubulars magnetized in accordance with this invention may be coupled to one another to provide a magnetic profile about a section of a casing string. Passive ranging measurements of the magnetic field about the casing string may be utilized to survey and guide drilling of a twin well. Such an approach advantageously obviates the need for simultaneous access to both wells.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventor: Graham McElhinney
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Patent number: 7656154Abstract: Provided is a highly accurate optical pumping magnetometer, in which a static magnetic field and an oscillating field to be applied to a vapor cell are stabilized. To this end, the optical pumping magnetometer includes: Helmholtz coils for applying a constant static magnetic field to a vapor cell serving as a magnetic field detector; fluxgate magnetometers for detecting environmental magnetic noise in two directions of X-axis direction and Y-axis direction other than Z-axis direction which is a direction for detecting a magnetic field coming out of a measurement object while locating the vapor cell in the center thereof; magnetometer drive circuits for driving the fluxgate magneotometers; current converters for converting outputs of the magnetometer drive circuits into amount of currents; and magnetic field generating coils for generating a magnetic field in a phase opposite to the environmental magnetic noise in the two directions.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Ryuuzou Kawabata, Akihiko Kandori
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Patent number: 7649352Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises a first and a second carrier foil and a spacer arranged there between. The spacer delimits a sensing region of the sensor in which the first and second carrier foils can be brought together against the their resiliency. At least two electrodes are arranged in the sensing region in such a way that an electrical contact is provided between them when the first and second carrier foils are brought together. The magnetic field sensor further comprises additional magnetizable layer associated with the first or the second carrier foil so that the first and second carrier foils can be brought together in response to a magnetic field.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.Inventor: Peter Jonas
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Patent number: 7650067Abstract: An exemplary lens module (30) includes a lens barrel (31), a focusing mechanism (40), a resilient member (70), and a bottom seat (50). The lens barrel is mounted with at least one lens (36) therein and is fixed to one end of the focusing mechanism. One end of the resilient member resists the focusing mechanism and the other opposite end of the resilient member resists the bottom seat. The focusing mechanism is for controlling an amount of expansion permitted within the resilient member. The amount of expansion of the resilient member determines a degree of focus achieved by the lens module.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsung-Wei Chiang
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Patent number: 7649351Abstract: The present invention describes a method enabling one to shield a device that measures weak biomagnetic signals from strong magnetic interference fields. The measurement sensors are provided with a feedback compensation loop, the difference signal of which is obtained from the measurement sensors themselves. As the actuator of the feedback function, one or more coils are responsible for eliminating, the external interference fields in the region of the sensors. Difference signals can be generated as a linear combination from the signals of two or more sensors. In the control logic, the SSS method can be used to numerically separate the biomagnetic signal being measured from the signals produced by the sources—compensation coils and interference sources—disposed outside the measurement region. The interference suppression can be enhanced by placing the assembly of sensors and the actuators within a magnetically shielding room.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Elekta AB (publ)Inventors: Matti Kajola, Lauri Parkkonen, Juha Simola, Samu Taulu
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Patent number: 7646196Abstract: Provided is a current sensor capable of detecting an induced magnetic field by a current to be detected with higher precision. The first and second modules are provided on facing surfaces of integrated substrates, respectively, with spacers in between. Each of the first and second modules includes an element substrate, and an MR element layer. On each of the MR elements layers, provided is an MR element having a stacked structure including a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a free layer whose magnetization direction changes according to the induced magnetic field and which exhibits an anisotropic field in a direction different from that of the magnetization of the pinned layer. The stacked structures of the MR elements are provided in a same layer level.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: TDK CorporationInventor: Shigeru Shoji
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Patent number: 7642784Abstract: Multiple sources are provided for a transmitter cable for use in electromagnetic surveying. The transmitter cable includes a dipole antenna comprising a pair of spaced apart electrodes mounted on their respective cables. Two antennas may be powered from each source. Alternatively, the outputs of each source are connected to a common antenna pair. A single large power supply may be mounted on a vessel to supply power through the tow cable. Alternatively, a number of power supplies may be provided aboard the vessel, with each power supply having dedicated conductors through the tow cable to power the plurality of current sources.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.Inventors: Ransom Reddig, Philip Heelan
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Patent number: 7643739Abstract: An object is shot continuously at such a high shutter speed that blur is not caused due to camera shake, and plural shot images are combined such that object images in the plural shot images coincide with each other, whereby one sharp image of the object is obtained. A correction direction mark is displayed together with a through image during a shooting operation. The correction direction mark indicates a direction and amount to be corrected by its size, when a location of the object image in each shot image shifts from an initial location in an initial shot image out of a predetermined allowable range. Watching the correction direction mark, a user can correct the shooting range so as to meet with the initial shooting range, whereby the shooting range can be prevented from shifting greatly from the initial shooting range during the shooting operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Shinichi Matsui
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Patent number: 7639005Abstract: A giant magnetoresistive sensor apparatus is described that provides improved multilayer quality, hysteresis, linearity and sensitivity. The multilayer structure includes NiFeCr as buffer and cap layers. The sensing resistor is designed in the form of a serpentine structure. To minimize the hysteresis and improve the linearity, the resistor end is tapered and elongated. In forming the sensor in a Wheatstone bridge configuration, two resistors are shielded by thick NiFe layers, while the two sensing resistors are not shielded and open to external signal fields. The shields can not only shield the influence of the external field on the shielded resistors but also serve as magnetic flux concentrators to magnify the external field on the unshielded resistors. The bridge output reflects the resistance change of the two unshielded sensing resistors.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Advanced Microsensors, Inc.Inventors: Zhenghong Qian, Gunther Baubock, Barry T. O'Connell
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Patent number: 7639006Abstract: A handheld detector gives a warning when a magnetic field exceeds the safety level for a particular medical implant that is magnetically activated. A front surface of the device corresponds approximately to a surface region of a patient's body in a vicinity of an implanted medical device. The magnetic detection element is located at substantially the same distance from the front surface as the control element of the medical device is from the surface region of the patient's body when the device is implanted. The detector element may be activated by a magnetic pressure, that is the vector cross product of the magnetic flux density (B) of a magnet and the applied magnetic field (H), which is less than the magnetic pressure that activates the control element of the implant device. An electronic circuit connected to the detection element may be used to indicate activation of the detection element.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Inventor: Kenneth S. Deffeyes
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Patent number: 7635976Abstract: A method of surveying a pipeline is provided. The pipeline comprises a tubular member with a protective wrapping. The method comprises the steps of applying signal to the pipeline from a first location, which first location is remote from the pipeline, and measuring the signal from a second and third locations. The second and third locations are remote from the pipeline and the second location is spaced from the third location along the pipeline. The signals received at the second and third location are used to provide an indication of deterioration of the signal along the tubular member and/or wrapping between the second and third locations.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Dynalog Electronics Ltd.Inventor: Peter Barnes
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Patent number: 7634190Abstract: An exemplary lens module (20) includes a lens barrel (5), a focusing mechanism (7), a resilient member (9), and a bottom seat (6). The lens barrel is mounted with a lens (517) therein. The lens barrel is axially movable relative to the bottom seat due to a rotation of the focusing mechanism and the force generated by the resilient member. Such an axial movement, in turn, would change a position of the lens relative to the bottom seat.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsung-Wei Chiang
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Patent number: 7629789Abstract: A magnetoresistive assembly includes at least a first and a second magnetoresistive element formed on a common substrate, the at least first magnetoresistive element comprising a first pinned ferromagnetic layer being magnetized in a first direction, the at least second magnetoresistive element comprising a second pinned ferromagnetic layer being magnetized in a second direction different than the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2008Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Johannes Paul, Rolf Schaefer
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Patent number: 7630618Abstract: An imaging device includes an image stabilizer which detects vibration applied to a photographing optical system and moves at least one optical element of the photographing optical system in a plane orthogonal to a common optical axis of the photographing optical system to counteract image shake in accordance with a direction and a magnitude of the vibration; and a radially-retracting device which moves the optical element between a photographing position, at which the optical element is located on the common optical axis in a photographic state, and a radially-retracted position, at which the optical element is radially retracted away from the common optical axis in a non-photographing state.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: HOYA CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Nomura
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Patent number: 7622917Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inspecting materials such as cylindrical and tubular members are disclosed. One apparatus includes a frame that supports a magnetic coil and a detector assembly, the detector assembly having one or more magnetic detectors adapted to be spaced a first distance from the material being inspected by one or more substantially frictionless members.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2008Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Scan Systems Corp.Inventors: William T. Walters, Xiaowen Wu
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Patent number: 7623780Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (10) for providing an adjusted image (214) of a scene (12) includes an apparatus frame (222), a flash system (230), a capturing system (226), and a control system (232). The flash system (230) generates a flash of light (248) to illuminate the scene (12). The capturing system (226) captures an original image (368) when the scene (12) is illuminated and a non-flash image (366) when the scene (12) is not illuminated. The original image (368) has an original color composition (368A) and the non-flash image (366) has a non-flash color composition (366A) that is different than the original color composition (368A). The control system (232) evaluates the non-flash image (366) and the original image (368). In one embodiment, the control system (232) provides the adjusted image (214) that is based on the non-flash image (366) and the original image (368).Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Mark Takita
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Patent number: 7622915Abstract: A magnetic head assembly having a mounting base in which a mounting hole having a protruded peripheral edge is formed is easily mounted on a head clamp table positioning the magnetic head assembly by fitting the mounting hole on a boss pin or a receiving hole of a tray, with a pin or a hole on a mounting table and with a positioning pin on a head clamp table and positioning a suction collet with using a boss pin or a receiving hole of a tray as references, and sucking the mounting base of the magnetic head assembly by a handling robot without requiring high positioning accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies CorporationInventors: Toshinori Sugiyama, Hideki Mochizuki, Shinji Honma, Yoshinori Tokumura
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Patent number: 7619407Abstract: The invention discloses a rotation sensor suitable for gear wheels. MR (magneto-resistive) sensors are placed inside a zero field region generated by at least two permanent magnets. The sensors are divided into two groups that are immersed in different locally generated magnetic environments. A differential signal taken between the two groups then senses the movement of the wheel's teeth. A single wafer method for manufacturing the device is also briefly described.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: MagIC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yimin Guo, Grace Gorman
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Patent number: 7615996Abstract: An examination method is structured, with respect to a magnetization direction of an orthogonalizing bias function part formed on a posterior part of an magnetoresistance (MR) effect element, of changing the magnetization direction of the orthogonalizing bias function part between a first magnetization forming mode, wherein the magnetization direction is from the anterior side of the element to the posterior side thereof, and a second magnetization forming mode, wherein the magnetization direction is from the posterior side of the element to the anterior side thereof, measuring the output waveform of the element in response to an external magnetic field for each magnetization forming mode and checking the state of the output waveforms of both modes in order to examine whether or not the magnetization directions of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, both of which functions as free layers, are antiparallel to each other in the track width direction before the orthogonalizing bias function pType: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Takahiko Machita, Kiyoshi Noguchi, Daisuke Miyauchi