Abstract: The present invention relates to the visual representation of an input value, and provides an instrument, which can be given any predefined characteristic of its visual display. Cross-coil instrument is provided, said cross-coil instrument comprising a driver for the instrument characterized in that it further comprises a digital input terminal, a predetermined characteristic of the instrument stored as a map of input/output values in a digital memory and a microprocessor, said input value being a value represented visually by the cross-coil instrument, said output value being the value applied to the cross-coil instrument to visual represent the input value.

Abstract: A fluxgate magnetometer drive circuit includes a fluxgate inductor that is driven through magnetic saturation by altering voltage pulses. Following each drive pulse, the spurred magnetic energy in the fluxgate is allowed to dissipate by connecting a fluxgate across a fixed reverse voltage. The time for the fluxgate current to decay to zero is measured and is indicative of a magnetic field induced in the torque transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling and adjusting the magnetic state of a magnetic probe for detecting magnetic signals of a sample, it employs a negative feedback control unit to counter the change of magnetization of the magnetic probe. The local magnetic field of the sample influences the magnetization of the magnetic probe. Through the feedback coil inductively coupled to the magnetic probe, the variation of magnetization of the magnetic probe is compensated by the magnetization induced by the feedback coil. This apparatus is capable of reducing the magnetic interaction between the magnetic probe and sample. Meanwhile, a current bias unit is used for adjusting the magnetization of the magnetic probe to an arbitrary value. This capability allows a scanning probe microscope applying this invention to manipulate magnetic objects.

Abstract: Described herein is a magnetoresistive network responsive to a magnetic field of the type comprising a plurality of magnetoresistive elements. According to the invention, the one or more magnetoresistive elements comprise at least one magnetoresistive element in the form of nanoconstriction, the nanoconstriction comprising at least two pads made of magnetic material, associated to which are respective magnetizations oriented in directions substantially opposite to one another and connected through a nanochannel, the nanochannel being able to set up a domain wall that determines an electrical resistance of the nanoconstriction as a function of the position, with respect to said nanochannel, of said domain wall formed in said sensor device.

Abstract: The device according to the present invention comprises at least one magnetic field generating element, at least one magneto-resistor and at least one resistance-to-current converter generating a current signal dependent on the resistance value of said at least one magneto-resistor. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention four magneto-resistors are used. A plurality of signals dependent on the ratios of the resistance values of said magneto-resistors are generated, the signals being in different phases. The mutual equality of a predetermined pair of the signals and/or the linear combinations thereof is realized only at predetermined relative positions. The relative position of the movable object is determined by counting the number of such predetermined relative positions passed during the movement of the movable object.

Abstract: An ultrasensitive room temperature magnetoelectric thin film magnetometer is fabricated on a cantilever beam and includes an active magnetoelectric multilayer structure having a plurality of thin films formed at a region defined on the cantilever beam. Upon application of a magnetic field, the active magnetoelectric structure generates a corresponding response of an electrical nature which is a measure of a value of the applied magnetic field. The material of the cantilever beam may be removed beneath the active magnetoelectric multilayer structure to form a freestanding modification of the magnetometer with superior sensitivity. The active magnetoelectric multilayer structure is either a bi-layer structure which includes a piezoactive (piezoelectric and/or piezoresistive) thin film deposited in contact with a magnetostrictive thin film or a tri-layer active structure (in the free-standing implementation) including a piezoactive thin film sandwiched between a pair of magnetostrictive thin films.

Abstract: An inductive position sensor for rotary motion includes a transmitter coil and a receiver coil, the receiver coil generating a receiver signal when the transmitter coil is excited by an alternating current source. A movable coupler element modifies the inductive coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil so that the receiver signal is sensitive to the coupler element position. The ratio between the receiver signal and the reference signal is sensitive to the coupler element position, but substantially insensitive to common mode factors. The angular or positional range of the position sensor can be increased using a plurality of receiver coils.

Abstract: In a magnetic detection device for obtaining an output from between a variable resistance element using the magnetoresistance effect and a reference resistance element, a balance between resistance values in the device can be easily adjusted in a wide range. A voltage is applied to a resistance adjusting unit, a reference resistance element, and a variable resistance element, which are serially connected, and is also applied to another variable resistance element, another reference resistance element, and another resistance adjusting unit, which are serially connected. When subjected to a magnetic field of a predetermined size, resistance values of the variable resistance elements change, and as a result, the potentials of output terminals change. Each of the resistance adjusting units includes serially connected parallel portions each including a plurality of parallel connected resistance elements.

Abstract: A fuel level sensor having a magnetic position sensor connected to an arm for attachment to a float, wherein the magnetic position sensor comprises a stator and a movable part, the stator having two soft magnetic pieces defining an air gab, which contains a magnetoresistive probe for measuring the variation in induction in the gap, the moveable part comprising a yoke of soft magnetic materiel displaceable parallel to the magnetic pieces of the stator, and a magnet partly embedded in a cavity in the yoke facing the stator, the poles of the magnet being polarized perpendicularly to direction of movement of the moveable part relative to the stator.

Abstract: A rotation detecting sensor includes a magnetic element group include at least three magnetic elements each of which detects rotations of a rotary body that includes a magnetic body, output portions each for outputting a signal generated at each of the magnetic elements to an outside, and element selecting means for selecting arbitrary two magnetic elements from the magnetic element group and applying the generated signal to the two output portions.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a biomagnetism measuring device using a high-performance cylindrical shielding apparatus provided with a flange-type plate having an opening formed on a circumferential face, an auxiliary cylinder in which one or plural cylindrical members are connected so that the central axis of the opening of the flange-type plate and each central axis of the cylindrical members are coincident, cylindrical shields having first, second and third angular ranges with the y-axis, a revolving door having a cutout in a portion parallel to the y-axis and acquired by integrating the cylindrical shields, shield bases for supporting the cylindrical shield to which the flange-type plate is connected in a circular-arc part at both ends, revolving parts for revolving the revolving door in a circumferential direction of the y-axis along a circumferential part of the cylindrical shield and opening or closing an opening in the circumferential direction, a cryostat arranged inside the opening of th

Abstract: A sensor having a first array of N magnetic pole pairs, where N is a positive number, and a second array of M magnetic pole pairs, arranged substantially in parallel to the first array, where M is a positive number different from N, such as N?1 or N+1. A first magnetic pole in the second array is aligned with a first magnetic pole in the first array. The remaining magnetic poles in the second array are arranged such that each one of them is positioned with respect to at least one pole in the first array to form a magnetic field with an angular orientation with respect to the two poles. This arrangement of magnetic pole pairs can be used to measure absolute position. A third array of M magnetic pole pairs may be arranged substantially in parallel with the second array. The second and third arrays of magnetic pole pairs may be used to measure relative position between the two arrays.

Abstract: The application provides a magnetic sensor which can suppress an irregularity of a central potential due to a change in a temperature, decrease size of the sensor, and lower the manufacturing cost of the sensor. A magneto-resistive element and fixed resister are provided on an element base and have the same configuration elements. A second magnetic layer and non-magnetic layer in the fixed resistor are reversely laminated on each other in a manner different from the magneto-resistive element, and the second magnetic layer is formed in contact with the first magnetic layer, thereby fixing the magnetization directions of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer in the same direction. In this manner, the irregularity of the temperature coefficient between the magneto-resistive element and the fixed resistor is suppressed, and the irregularity of the central potential due to the change in the temperature is suppressed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a field device and a method for calibrating a field device, having a field device electronics and a sensor unit for process measurements, wherein the field device electronics receives measurement signals of the sensor unit, wherein the field device electronics includes an evaluation unit for evaluating the measurement signals and means for calibrating the field device. According to the invention, the means for calibrating the field device includes a digital adjusting element and a microprocessor, wherein the digital adjusting element is driven by the microprocessor for calibrating the field device.

Abstract: A human-portable utility locator system for locating and tracing a buried utility line characterized by an electromagnetic field emission. The locator may include a horizontal spaced sensor pair for detecting the horizontal field asymmetry of the emitted field in one or more independent frequency bands, which is employed to assist in determining an accurate “virtual depth” measurement for producing detection events. An event detector may be disposed to detect events corresponding to extremum in the B-field gradient with respect to time and a user interface (UI) coupled to the event detector signals the detected event to a user. In a preferred embodiment, one pair of spaced-apart 3D magnetic sensor arrays is disposed substantially orthogonal to another intermediate spaced-apart pair of sensors.

Abstract: An azimuthally sensitive electromagnetic measurement tool is provided. The tool may be suitable, for example, to measure azimuthal variations of electrical properties of a subterranean formation. The tool includes a transmitter disposed to transmit electromagnetic energy into a subterranean formation and a longitudinally spaced receiver. At least one of the transmitter and the receiver includes a sector antenna. The sector antenna includes an exposed length of antenna wire that forms an arc about a portion of a circumference of the tool body. In one exemplary embodiment, the receiver includes first and second sector antennae, which, in combination, subtend a circular angle of about 360 degrees about the circumference of the tool body without substantially overlapping one another.

Abstract: A rotation angle detection apparatus is capable of preventing an eddy current and radio wave noise from being transmitted from outside to a yoke and a permanent magnet through a metal plate, and thence to a non-contact sensor through radiation as it is. The apparatus includes a yoke, a permanent magnet that is arranged on an inner wall surface with magnetic flux flowing from its N pole to its S pole through an inner space thereof, a metal plate formed integral with the yoke and the permanent magnet through a resin by insert molding, and a non-contact sensor arranged in the inner space of the permanent magnet. Between the metal plate and the individual end faces of the yoke and the permanent magnet, there is interposed a high impedance member that prevents radio wave noise from flowing from the metal plate to the yoke and the permanent magnet.

Abstract: There is described a sensor comprising an excitation winding, a signal generator operable to generate an excitation signal and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding, a sensor winding electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding and a signal processor operable to process a periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding when the excitation signal is applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator to determine a value of a sensed parameter. The excitation signal comprises a periodic carrier signal having a first frequency modulated by a periodic modulation signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. In this way, the sensor is well suited to using digital processing techniques both to generate the excitation signal and to process the signal induced in the sensor windings. In an embodiment, the sensor is used to detect the relative position of two members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to screen individuals specifically for paramagnetic or ferromagnetic objects they may be carrying or wearing, before they enter the high-field region of an MRI suite. The device comprises either a screening portal or a compact, hand-held magnetic gradiometer and its electronics. The device places all of the sensor arrays in close proximity to all parts of a subject's body, for screening purposes.

Abstract: A magnetic non-destructive method and an apparatus for measurement of cross sectional area of elongated ferrous objects such as steel wire ropes and for detecting local flaws is disclosed. A section of a wire rope is magnetized by longitudinally spaced magnetic poles. A magnetic field parameter, e.g. magnetic flux density, is measured in, by at least, one pair of points between the poles of magnetizing device (in an inter-pole area) at the object under test surface. The pair of points is formed by two sensors placed in the inter-pole area along a direct line parallel to the rope axis. The rope cross sectional area corresponds to a sum of the sensor pair signals. Local flaws, such as broken wires and pitting corrosion in the rope, is detected by a first differences of signals of the sensor pair.