Abstract: A transcutaneous charging device for charging an implant comprising: a power input; a conversion circuit to convert power from said power input to transcutaneously charge said implant; a control; and an indication element; wherein said control is programmed to initiate an indication using said indication element when it is time to charge said implant.

Abstract: A connector includes multiple probes and a first insulator part and a second insulator part joined to cover the probes. Each of the probes has a monolithic structure of a single bent metal plate. Each of the probes includes an end part configured to come into contact with an electrode terminal; a spring part having a meandering shape and connected to the end part; a housing part bent to enclose the spring part; and a bent part provided between the spring part and the housing part. The end parts of the probes are at least partially projecting outward from first openings provided in the first insulator part, and the bent parts of the probes are at least partially projecting outward from second openings provided in the second insulator part.

Abstract: A rotation detector component detects a rotational state of a rotor and sends a rotational detection signal. A signal transmission component is electrically connected with a lead frame of the rotation detector component to transmit the rotational detection signal to an external device. A body portion holds the rotation detector component and a part of the signal transmission component. The body portion is integrally molded of a first resin to cover a joint portion between the lead frame and the signal transmission component, the rotation detector component, and a part of the signal transmission component. The rotation detector component has corners including at least two exposed corners, which are exposed from the body portion.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method for compensating for gyroscope bias on a portable electronic device having a gyroscope, and at least one of an accelerometer and a magnetometer. The method includes determining a first attitude matrix and a second attitude matrix using data from the accelerometer and the magnetometer, determining a difference between the first attitude matrix and the second attitude matrix, estimating a rotational velocity based on the difference between the first attitude matrix and the second attitude matrix, and compensating for an output from the gyroscope to generate a compensated output that compensates for the gyroscope bias using the estimated rotational velocity.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vertical Hall-effect device. The device includes at least two supply terminals arranged to supply electrical energy to the first Hall-effect region; and at least one Hall signal terminal arranged to provide a first Hall signal from the first Hall-effect region. The first Hall signal is indicative of a magnetic field which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and which acts on the first Hall-effect region. One or more of the at least two supply terminals or one or more of the at least one Hall signal terminal comprises a force contact and a sense contact.

Abstract: A permanent or variable magnetic field circulation sensor including apparatus for magnetic excitation further including at least one elongated excitation coil extending around an elongated supple magnetic core and including a supple magnetic material with low relative magnetic permeability having a supple or flexible matrix in which magnetic particles are dispersed, an excitation current generation unit coupled to the excitation coil to generate an excitation magnetic field in the core over substantially the entire length of the coil, apparatus for measurement including: at least one magnetic measuring transducer magnetically coupled to the apparatus for magnetic excitation, a measuring unit connected to the magnetic measuring transducer and suitable for providing a measurement of magnetic field circulation in the core.

Abstract: A printed circuit in which, in going from one end to another, a same conductive line is wound successively: around the first winding axis to form at least one half-turn of a first coil, then around the second winding axis to form at least one half-turn of a second coil, then around the first winding axis to form at least one half-turn of a first coil, then around the second winding axis to form at least one half-turn of a second coil.

Abstract: A system for targeting an operation site includes an identifier having an electromagnetic field generator configured to produce electromagnetic fields. The system includes an implement that includes a handle, a blade portion, and an electromagnetic field sensor coupled to the blade portion. The electromagnetic field sensor is configured to produce a signal responsive to electromagnetic fields produced by the electromagnetic field generator. The system includes a control unit configured to access information indicating a position of the electromagnetic field sensor relative to the operation site, receive a signal from the electromagnetic field sensor that is indicative of a position of a tool relative to the electromagnetic field sensor, and determine a position of the tool relative to an operation site based on the received signal and the position of the electromagnetic field sensor relative to the operation site.

Abstract: A sensor unit for the measurement of a current in a conductor (1) comprising at least one magnetoresistive sensor (5, 6) located at a radial distance from the outer surface of the conductor (1) is disclosed, wherein the conductor (1) has a circular cross-section, and wherein it comprises at least one auxiliary coil (7) for the generation of a bias magnetic field (Hbias) to the magnetoresistive sensor (5, 6) strong enough for inducing magnetic saturation in the magnetoresistive sensor (5, 6) continuously during the whole current measurement process. Further the use of such a sensor and a method for measuring the current in the conductor using such a sensor unit are disclosed.

Abstract: A current sensor includes a first conductor and a second conductor arranged so as to form current paths parallel to each other; a circuit board arranged such that a surface thereof is perpendicular to the current paths; and a first magnetoelectric transducer and a second magnetoelectric transducer arranged on the surface of the circuit board such that the first conductor is interposed therebetween. The first conductor, the second conductor, the first magnetoelectric transducer, and the second magnetoelectric transducer are located on a same plane.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device for generating a logic output in accordance with a magnetic field intensity applied to a magnetoelectric conversion element includes: a comparator for inputting amplified output signals of the magnetoelectric conversion element, and outputting a comparison result; and a logic circuit for performing arithmetic processing on an output signal of the comparator. Only when the logic output is changed by a change in the magnetic field intensity, the logic circuit performs successive matching determination of logic outputs a plurality of times. Thus, the variation in determination for detection or canceling of a magnetic field intensity, which is caused by noise generated from respective constituent elements included in the magnetic sensor device and external noise, may be reduced while suppressing electric power consumption.

Abstract: A device for detection of at least one defect in a concave or convex structure including an emitting part and a receiving part, in which the emitting part includes at least one current layer that makes it possible to create currents oriented approximately along a same direction as the defects whose influence is to be minimized and the receiving part includes at least one magnetic field receiver, added on or etched on a flexible support.

Abstract: A downhole activation system within a tubular. The system includes an axially movable mover. A first magnet attached to the mover. The first magnet axially movable with the mover. A second magnet separated from the first magnet. The second magnet magnetically repulsed by the first magnet. A biasing device urging the second magnet towards the first magnet; wherein movement of the first magnet via the mover towards the second magnet moves the second magnet in a direction against the biasing device. Also included is a method of activating an activatable member in a downhole tubular.

Abstract: A method of improving linear position sensing of clutch actuators with magnetic field sensors utilizes a dedicated magnetic field sensor solely to detect the ambient magnetic field. Typical three position hydraulic clutch actuators include a pair of active magnetic field sensors, one of such active sensors associated with each of a pair of pistons in such actuator and an adjacent pair of permanent magnets, one of such magnets associated with each of such pistons. The invention provides an additional magnetic field sensor disposed proximate the active magnetic field sensors which senses the surrounding (stray, background or parasitic) magnetic field proximate the active magnetic field sensors and provides a signal to an electronic circuit or software which actively and in real time corrects the signals from the active magnetic field sensors by cancelling out the magnitude of the stray magnetic field as detected by the additional sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a tamperproof magnetic proximity sensor based on a magnetically shielded magnetic sensor. The proximity sensor is substantially impervious to external magnetic field and is protected by external magnetic sensors for preemptive detection of external magnetic field tamper attempts.

Abstract: A pre-amplifier circuit for connection to an antenna of a human-portable locator includes a differential amplifier/mixer pair and means for allowing a common-mode “phantom” signal to modulate a transfer function of the differential amplifier/mixer pair. The common-mode phantom signal modulates the transfer function of the differential pre-amplifier “onboard” the antenna without the usual requirement for onboard power supply and signal oscillator. This technique uses the same electronic components to provide both pre-amplification and mixing functions, thereby improving circuit performance-to-cost ratio, reducing mixer power consumption, situating the necessary signal oscillator remotely from the mixer, and greatly improving the available system bandwidth by limiting spectral transmission demands to the mixed signal bandwidth alone.

Abstract: A probe for detecting distortions in a material includes a probe body, a ferrite core in the probe body, an excitation coil encircling the ferrite core and adapted to generate eddy currents, further magnetic shielding surrounding the excitation coil, and at least one giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor disposed in magnetic field-communicating relationship with the excitation coil and off-center with respect to the excitation coil's axis.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing the effect of contact resistances for Hall effect device contacts. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a Hall effect device comprising a plurality of force and sense contact pairs. The force and sense contact pairs comprise a force contact and a separate and distinct sense contact. The force contact is configured to act as a supply terminal that receive an input signal while the sense contact is configured act as an output terminal to provide an output signal indicative of a measured magnetic field value. By utilizing separate contacts for inputting a signal (e.g., an applied current) and reading out a signal (e.g., an induced voltage) the non-linearities generated by contact resistances may be removed, thereby minimizing the zero point offset voltage of the measured magnetic field.

Abstract: In a method for detecting near-surface defects in a test sample consisting at least partly of a ferromagnetic material, a test volume of the test sample is magnetized and scanned for the detection of magnetic leakage fields caused by defects. The test volume is magnetized by means of a magnetic constant field and simultaneously by means of a magnetic alternating field superposed on the constant field. Leakage field test devices suitable for carrying out the method are described.

Abstract: To provide a magnetic encoder that is stable relative to an outside force and has only small variation of a gap between a magnetic sensor and a magnetic medium. The magnetic encoder includes a magnetic medium placed on a first member and a magnetic sensor placed on the second member, the first and second member for moving relative to each other. The magnetic sensor includes a sensor substrate, a sensor holding plate for holding the sensor substrate, and a wire for extracting a signal from the magneto-resistive element to outside. The sensor holding plate includes a fixing portion for fixing the sensor holding plate to the second member, a sensor holding member for holding the sensor substrate, and a plurality of arm portions provided in the relative movement direction with the sensor holding member in-between and extending from the fixing portion to constitute a cantilever.