Patents Examined by Bot Ledynh
  • Patent number: 6882145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Wheatstone bridge containing bridge elements that are connected in a conventional manner and consisting of a spin-valve system, in addition to a method for producing the same. The aim of the invention is to produce a Wheatstone bridge, in which respective half-bridges lying adjacent to one another have a respective non-parallel bias magnetisation direction. To achieve this, the respective bridge elements that are not adjacent (1, 3 or 2, 4) are provided with a doping of implantable ions in quantities of between 1.1012 and 5.1016 atoms/cm2 beneath the pinned ferromagnetic layer of a GMR- or TMR-spin-valve layer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Institut fuer Physikalische Hochtechnologie e.V.
    Inventors: Arno Ehresmann, Wolfgang-Dietrich Engel, Juergen Fassbender, Burkard Hillebrands, Roland Mattheis, Tim Mewes
  • Patent number: 6882144
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave measuring apparatus includes a loop probe section having loop probes whose loop planes are placed so as to be perpendicular to each other, and each loop probe is placed so that its magnetic field detection space is not interfered with by other loop probes. If the loop probe section is placed at measurement position coordinates xi, yj, it detects a magnetic field component at the measurement position coordinates xi, yj, which is parallel to an XY plane, and a magnetic field component in a Z-axis direction at measurement position coordinates xi, yj?1, and repeats measurement by pitch p in a positive Y-axis direction. By calculating the root sum square of the detection results at each measurement position coordinate, a three-dimensional magnetic field level of an object to be measured can be obtained at each measurement position coordinate as electromagnetic field distribution with high-precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Kajiwara, Akihiro Ozaki, Koichi Ogawa, Yoshio Koyanagi, Yoshitaka Asayama, Yutaka Saito
  • Patent number: 6879153
    Abstract: To provide a magnetism detection apparatus that is small and low in cost and power consumption, a biasing coil 4 and a negative-feedback coil are integrated with a magnetic impedance element having a magnetic impedance effect in a resinous structure. The magnetism detection apparatus has a reduced magnetic resistance between the magnetic impedance element and the coil, thereby making it possible to apply a bias magnetic field and a negative-feedback magnetic field to the magnetic impedance element with a reduced power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kudo, Yujiro Kitaide
  • Patent number: 6879151
    Abstract: A rotation detection sensor for inhibiting the invasion of high temperature and high pressure fluid includes a holder, a detection element, a case body, and a housing. The tip end portion of the holder at which is located the detection element is accommodated in the case body and the rear end portion of the holder is covered by the housing. A first groove accommodating a first O-ring is formed on the external peripheral surface of the holder, and a second groove accommodating a second O-ring is formed on the external peripheral surface of the holder toward the tip end side relative to the first groove. A method for forming the sensor involves positioning the case body and the holder in a recess portion of a die, and injecting resin into the die to form the housing covering the rear end portion of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichiro Iwase, Toshiyuki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6876197
    Abstract: In a transmission arrangement for a magnetic resonance apparatus, a high-frequency input signal, via an input terminal is supplied to a high-frequency power amplifier. The amplifier amplifiers the input signal with from a high-frequency output signal and supplies it to an antenna arrangement that emits it as a magnetic resonance excitation signal. Directional couplers are respectively connected between the input terminal and the amplifier and between the amplifier and the antenna arrangement. The acquired signals are supplied to an amplitude controller that drives an amplitude regulator preceding the high-frequency power amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Adam Albrecht, Horst Kröckel, Wilfried Schnell, Markus Vester
  • Patent number: 6873151
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for sensing angular position of an object is provided. The assembly may comprise at least one magneto-sensing magnet having a second axis of rotation. The assembly may further comprise a magnet having a second axis of rotation. At least one of the magnet and the magneto-sensing element are rotatable relative to the other. The respective axes of rotation of the magneto-sensing element and the magnet are non-coincident with respect to one another. The magnet is magnetized along one of the following directions: an axial direction and a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno P. B. Lequesne, Avoki M. Omekanda, Thaddeus Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6873149
    Abstract: A method of determining a gap between an eddy current proximity transducer and a target is provided. The method includes providing a data structure that is populated with data that is relative to a gap value corresponding to a complex impedance value of the transducer, exciting the transducer at a plurality of different frequencies, determining a complex impedance value of the transducer at a respective one of the plurality of frequencies, and determining the gap using the data structure and the complex impedance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Mordin Hoyte, Sherrie Ann Clark
  • Patent number: 6873148
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a position detecting apparatus that can adequately perform gain adjustment and offset adjustment and can suppress deterioration in position detection accuracy. The position detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes a position sensor outputting at least two phases of position detecting signals according to the movement of an object, and a signal adjusting unit performing the gain and offset adjustment of each position detecting signal by using adjustment data. In addition, the position detecting apparatus includes a counter that counts a wave number from a reference position, and a memory circuit that stores adjustment data corresponding to the wave number. Then, the signal adjusting unit adjusts gains and offsets of the position detecting signals on the basis of the adjustment data that corresponds to the counted wave number and is stored in the memory circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6870366
    Abstract: A sensor (80) for sensing the position of a ferromagnetic target (82) relative to the sensor includes a Hall effect device (184) responsive to a change in a magnetic field (240) acting on the Hall effect device. A magnet (182) produces a magnetic field (240) that acts on the Hall effect device (184). The target (82) changes the magnetic field (240) acting on the Hall effect device (184) as the position of the target relative to the sensor (80) changes. First and second flux collectors (186 and 190) are located on one side (194) of the magnet (182) for concentrating the magnetic field (240) on the Hall effect device (184). A third flux collector (192) is located on a second side (196) of the magnet (182) opposite the one side (194) for reducing the reluctance of a magnetic flux path through the target (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: David L. Becker, Phillip J. Shandilis, Aaron M. Mills
  • Patent number: 6870370
    Abstract: A airborne electromagnetic induction (EMI) detection apparatus and system. In accordance with one embodiment, the EMI detection apparatus includes a transmitter element in the form of a transmitter coil that emits a primary, multi-frequency component magnetic field which induces a secondary magnetic field in an external body. A receiver element in the form of a receiver coil is mounted in a horizontal loop-loop orientation with respect to the transmitter coil and receives the secondary magnetic field. The detection apparatus further includes a magnetic shield disposed around the receiver coil to limit the lateral footprint diameter observed by the receiving element and to shield the receiver coil from the primary magnetic field and other external electromagnetic radiation to improve the gain and resolution of the detection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Agri Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Melissa Whitten Bryan
  • Patent number: 6870365
    Abstract: Six magneto-resistance segments are formed by film-forming on a signal processing circuit part consisting of an IC chip and are disposed in a predetermined rotation direction of a magnetic moving body, symmetrically about the centerline of a magnet perpendicular to that rotation direction. Two pairs of magneto-resistance segments, whose pitch centers are positioned symmetrically with respect to the centerline of the magnet, form first and second bridge circuits, and the remaining pair of magneto-resistance segments, which has its pitch center on the centerline of the magnet, forms a third bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Yokotani, Izuru Shinjo, Naoki Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 6867584
    Abstract: In a non-contact type rotation-angle sensing device, a rotation angle sensor (9) having magnetoresistance elements detects a rotation angle of an object to be measured. The object is rotatable round a rotary shaft (2) with respect to the rotation angle sensor (9) and includes a permanent magnet (5, 6). The permanent magnet (5, 6) is disposed symmetrically about said rotary shaft (2) of said object, and a magnetic element (7, 8) is disposed on said object between said permanent magnet (5, 6) and the magnetoresistance elements. In the non-contact type rotation-angle sensing device of above constitution according to the invention, linearity is secured by reducing magnetic hysteresis of the sensor output with respect to the rotation angle, thus a small-sized permanent magnet and reduction in cost being achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Kurita, Kenji Nakao, Yoshihiko Onishi, Manabu Miyaki
  • Patent number: 6864681
    Abstract: A code wheel (32) is rotatable with a vehicle steering wheel (12). A magnet (78) mounted on a rotatable driven component (34) indicates the number of revolutions of the code wheel (32). A sensing device (74) is provided to sense a flux field provided by the magnet (78). The magnetic flux field varies relative to the sensing device (74) as the driven component (34) is rotated by the code wheel (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Horner, Kevin P. Jokipii, John A. Barrs, David L. Becker, Jonathan R. Penvose
  • Patent number: 6864684
    Abstract: A system for investigating subterranean strata. An electromagnetic field is applied using a fixed dipole antenna transmitter and this is detected using a dipole antenna receiver. The receiver is moved from one location to another in dependence upon the strength of the detected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventors: Svein Ellingsrud, Terje Eidesmo, Harald Westerdahl, Fan-Nian Kong
  • Patent number: 6861839
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor including an amplifier and a magnetic field element for outputting a signal to a switch circuit according to the strength of an applied magnetic field. The switch circuit outputs a signal selected by an external two-phase signal to an amplifier that amplifies the signal and outputs a resulting voltage to a first end of a memory element. A switch, having one end connected to a second end of the memory element, is controlled by the two-phase signal. The switch closes in a first phase of the two-phase signal causing the memory element to store the output voltage of the amplifier, and opens in a second phase causing a vector sum of the output voltage the amplifier to be stored in the memory element and providing the output voltage to a signal output terminal connected to the second end of the memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-ichiro Hara, Tadata Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 6861837
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector is simple in structure and is capable of angle detection with a high resolution. First and second detecting units detect rotations of first and second detecting members rotating in association with a rotating member as detection signals in which predetermined waveforms continue. A control unit connected with the first and second detecting units detects a difference between the waveforms output from first and second detecting units as a gradually increasing detection signal and detects a rotation angle of the rotating member from two signals: the gradually increasing detection signal and the waveform output from the first detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Shimizu, Koji Oike
  • Patent number: 6856131
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor has a monotonic response to high-frequency magnetic strengths in a frequency range up to superhigh frequencies. The magnetic sensor includes a shielded loop coil having a triplate stripline structure. The shielded loop coil has one-turn looped ground patterns formed respectively in a first layer and a fifth layer and connected parallel to each other by a via, and has an inductance L. The one-turn looped ground patterns have end electrodes facing each other across gaps, one of the end electrodes including the via, providing a combined capacitor operable at high frequencies and having a capacitance C. The product L×C of the inductance L and the capacitance C is 2.5×10?20 or less and the maximum outer circumference length of the one-turn looped ground lines is 50 [mm] or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ryowa Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Miyazawa, Katsuji Kaminishi, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Kenichi Arai
  • Patent number: 6856135
    Abstract: An assembly and method for use in a system for tracking a boring tool that is moved by a drill string within an underground region where movement of the boring tool is characterized by certain orientation parameters including pitch and yaw includes a first arrangement for determining a first pitch orientation and a first yaw orientation of the boring tool at a first position of the boring tool and for determining a second pitch orientation and a second yaw orientation of the boring tool after moving the boring tool to a second position. A second arrangement establishes a distance between the first and second positions. A third arrangement uses the first and second pitch values, the first and second yaw values and the distance the between the first and second positions at least to determine a curvature of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Guenter W. Brune, John E. Mercer, Albert W. Chau
  • Patent number: 6853185
    Abstract: A magnetic field measurement system for canceling an external field is provided, in which plurality of sensing magnetometers (3) for measuring a magnetic field signal in a direction perpendicular to the center axis of a cylindrical magnetic shield (1) are arranged in two dimensions on a plane parallel to the center axis and a reference magnetometer (4) for measuring the external field parallel to the center axis as a reference signal is disposed on a plane perpendicular to the plane parallel to the center axis. The reference signal multiplied by a specified factor is subtracted from a difference between signals from the adjacent sensing magnetometers (3). The magnetic field measurement system allows measurement of an extremely weak magnetic field by efficiently canceling the external field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsukamoto, Koichi Yokosawa, Daisuke Suzuki, Akihiko Kandori, Keiji Tsukada
  • Patent number: 6853194
    Abstract: A time-domain electromagnetic target discriminator (ETD) sensor system and method are provided capable of measuring a metal target's time decay response based on the physical parameters of the metal target and its environment and for identifying the metal target. The ETD sensor system includes a pulse transmitter connected to a receiver via a data acquisition and control system. The transmitter and receiver include coil configurations for placement in proximity to a visually obscured, e.g., buried, metal target (or underground void) for inducing eddy currents within the metal target. The ETD sensor system measures the eddy current time decay response of the metal target in order to perform target recognition and classification. The identification process entails comparing the metal target's (or, underground void or other object's) time decay response with a library of normalized object signatures, e.g., time decay responses and other characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Carl V. Nelson, Dexter G. Smith