Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for processing a magnetic resonance (MR) image of an object including first and second materials on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus by using multi-parameter mapping including applying to the object a plurality of radio frequency (RF) pulses separated by a first repetition time and a second repetition time, the first repetition time and the second repetition time being determined based on the first material and the second material; undersampling first MR signals corresponding to the first material and second MR signals corresponding to the second material in a K-space; and performing matching between the undersampled first and the undersampled second MR signals and a signal model for the multi-parameter mapping to determine attribute values corresponding to the first and the second materials at at least one point in an MR image of the object.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a mobile detection device for an evaluation of a distance value from the mobile detection device to an occluded AC-current carrying structure according to its emanated magnetic field, like a location of underground services. The mobile detection device may include multiple detection coils arranged with a spacing with respect to one another and an electronic signal evaluation unit for detecting the structure according to an electrical signal induced in the detection coils by the magnetic field and to evaluate the distance value according to a difference of the electrical signal in-between at least two of the detection coils.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a semiconductor module with an outer housing having four side walls, and a circuit carrier, which is mounted on the outer housing and has an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side. A semiconductor chip is arranged on the upper side and in the outer housing. A first gripping socket, which is formed as an indentation, extends from the outer side of the outer housing into a first of the side walls.

Abstract: A semiconductor die includes a discrete semiconductor device and at least one diode. The temperature of the discrete semiconductor device is determined by measuring a first forward voltage drop of the at least one diode under a first test condition, measuring a second forward voltage drop of the at least one diode under a second test condition and estimating the temperature of the discrete semiconductor device based on the difference between the first and second forward voltage drop measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus including a persistent current switch of a superconducting material which is electrically superconducting at a superconducting temperature and electrically resistive at a resistive mode temperature which is greater than the superconducting temperature. The apparatus further includes a first heat exchange element; a convective heat dissipation loop thermally coupling the persistent current switch to the first heat exchange element; a second heat exchange element spaced apart from the first heat exchange element; and a thermally conductive link thermally coupling the persistent current switch to the second heat exchange element. The first heat exchange element is disposed above the persistent current switch. The thermally conductive link may have a greater thermal conductivity at the superconducting temperature than at a second temperature which is greater than the superconducting temperature.

Abstract: A detection system comprising a plurality of magnetic field generators and a plurality of magnetic field detectors located adjacent to a detection area, and a control system arranged to generate magnetic field using the generators, and, for each of the generators, to make measurements of the magnetic field generated using each of the detectors, and processing means arranged to process the measurements to generate a data set characterising the detection area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cell monitoring device that performs monitoring of a cell module under control of a battery management device (BMD), includes a communication controller and a control device. The communication controller is capable of being connected to BMD through a communication line. The control device performs an activation processing of the communication controller at a time of initialization, and controls the cell monitoring device. The control device performs a reboot processing of the communication controller in a period shorter than a period of detecting an error condition of the communication controller by BMD when a second voltage drops to be below an operation allowable voltage of the communication controller in a state in which a first voltage is above a certain operation allowable voltage. The first voltage represents a power supply voltage of the control device. The second voltage represents a power supply voltage of the communication controller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring an offset of an EPS motor position sensor and a method therefor, the apparatus comprising: a drive motor that drives an EPS motor at a predetermined constant speed; a back electromotive force measurement unit that measures a back electromotive force generated by the EPS motor so as to generate a back electromotive force signal; a motor position sensor that senses the rotation of the EPS motor so as to generate a position signal; and an offset calculation unit that calculates an offset value by using a difference between the back electromotive force signal measured in the back electromotive measurement unit and the position signal generated by the motor position sensor.

Abstract: An electronic-component testing device capable of achieving efficient heat-releasing from a self-heating electronic component and efficiently performing a desired test while maintaining the temperature of the electronic component in a predetermined range higher than ordinary temperature.

Abstract: A method for providing SAR focusing at a target in a body using an MRI system is provided. A computed pulse is provided at a lower power to the body. A MR thermometry is performed. A map is created from the MR thermometry to determine if a hotspot aligns with the target. If the target does not align with the hotspot, then the steps are performed comprising, recomputing the computed pulse, providing the computed pulse at a lower power to the body, performing MR thermometry, creating a map from the MR thermometry to determine if a hotspot aligns with the target, and repeating these steps until the hotspot aligns with the target. The computed pulse is applied at a higher power to the body to provide the desired SAR at the target. Temperature change is monitored with MR thermometry the previous two steps are repeated until desired temperature is achieved.

Abstract: A method to assess external corrosion in buried pipelines includes analysis of moisture content of soil along the length of the pipe to choose the most appropriate indirect inspection methods. External corrosion is assessed based on the unification of probability techniques using clustered inspection data and deterministic formulation for soil conditions. A deterministic model pinpoints the location of the most likely areas for corrosion due to the electrochemical cell formation produced by the presence of water and the properties of the soil, such as ion concentrations, pH, soil resistivity, redox potential, corrosion potential and soil type. The filtering of the data by clustering provides reliable results to locate the most corrosive locations. The failure probability is calculated based on in-line inspection data, where different indications could appear and different dimensions are used to link the corrosivity with the failure for choosing repairing methods and taking actions against corrosion.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for testing continuity of a ring circuit of an electricity distribution system, the ring circuit including at least a first conductor connecting, in a ring configuration, a source of electricity to a plurality of accessories. The apparatus includes: a switch arranged to cause a break in the ring circuit at a location in the ring circuit, the break resulting in a first end and a second end of the ring circuit at the location; a detector for measuring the relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit; and an indicator which indicates, responsive to the detector detecting a relative voltage between the first end and the second end of the ring circuit, that there is a lack of continuity in the ring circuit.

Abstract: A soil sensor includes a housing, an antenna disposed within the housing, a measurement circuit disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna, the circuit configured to measure impedance of soil at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode, and a wireless interface disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and configured for wireless communications over the antenna at its communications frequency.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A microfluidic particle analysis device comprising an inlet with an inlet manifold providing parallel fluid communication with a bypass channel and a measuring channel having a sensor system for detecting a particle, wherein the angle of the measuring channel relative to the main flow direction is in the range of 0° to 60°, and wherein the angle of the bypass channel relative to the main flow direction is in the range of 0° to 60°. The present invention also relates to a method of using the device microfluidic particle analysis.

Abstract: A magnetic particle imaging apparatus includes magnets [106,107] that produce a gradient magnetic field having a field free region (FFR), excitation field electromagnets [102,114] that produce a radiofrequency magnetic field within the field free region, high-Q receiving coils [112] that detect a response of magnetic particles in the field free region to the excitation field. Field translation electromagnets create a homogeneous magnetic field displacing the field-free region through the field of view (FOV) allowing the imaging region to be scaled to optimize scan time, scanning power, amplifier heating, SAR, dB/dt, and/or slew rate. Efficient multi-resolution scanning techniques are also provided. Intermodulated low and radio-frequency excitation signals are processed to produce an image of a distribution of the magnetic nanoparticles within the imaging region. A single composite image is computed using deconvolution of multiple signals at different harmonics.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for producing an MR image of an examination object with an MR imaging sequence, at least one RF pulse is radiated by a whole body coil of the MR scanner of the MR apparatus during the imaging sequence, at least one RF pulse is radiated by a local transmit coil of the MR scanner during the imaging sequence, MR signals that are generated by the combined radiated RF pulses are read out, and an MR image is reconstructed from the read-out MR signals.

Abstract: An internal resistance calculating device includes a charging unit charging a secondary battery, a voltage measuring unit measuring a both-end voltage value of the secondary battery, a capacitor holding a first voltage value predetermined by the both-end voltage value measured by the voltage measuring unit after charging is started, a capacitor holding, as a second voltage value, the both-end voltage value when charge current is changed for a predetermined current value or more within predetermined time after the both-end voltage value become the first voltage value, a current measuring unit measuring a first charge current value when the both-end voltage value become a threshold-value voltage and a second charge current value when the both-end voltage value become the second voltage value, and a ?COM calculating an internal resistance value of the secondary battery based on the first and second voltage values and the first and second charge current values.

Abstract: When a pressure plate is positioned above an electronic component placed in a measurement socket of an electronic-component measurement apparatus, a cam-follower drive mechanism of a measurement pressure mechanism is horizontally driven to lower the pressure plate via a cam block, whereby the pressure plate presses the electronic component against the measurement socket at a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing, a shield member, a magnetic field sensor, and a sensing magnet. The housing is configured to be mounted at least proximate to an electromagnetic coil that generates a first magnetic field to cause a movable component to move linearly along an axis based on the strength of the first magnetic field. The sensing magnet is configured to be coupled to the movable component to move therewith. The magnetic field sensor and the sensing magnet are disposed within a shielded chamber defined by the shield member, which is ferrous to shield the magnetic field sensor and sensing magnet from the first magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor detects an electrical characteristic responsive to a second magnetic field produced by the sensing magnet to monitor a position of the movable component along the axis.