Patents Examined by David M Schindler
  • Magnet scanning device that scans a cylindrical magnet along a helical path
    Patent number: 7919962
    Abstract: A magnet scanning device uses a helical scanning technique to scan a cylindrical magnet along a helical path on a cylindrical surface that corresponds to the cylindrical magnet. Based on the magnetic field profile, the device may detect any unacceptable irregularities in the magnetic field and identify a location of the cylindrical magnet associated with the irregularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Roger D. Masham, Peter M. Hughes
  • Coupled fluxgate magnetometers for DC and time-varying target magnetic field detection
    Patent number: 7898250
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing and processing a magnetic flux signal comprising: an odd number of at least three fluxgate modules, a summer, and a processor. Each fluxgate module is configured to generate a module response signal upon receiving the magnetic flux signal. The fluxgate modules are circularly coupled to each other such that only one-way signal flow is allowed between them. The summer is configured to sum the response signals from each fluxgate module into a summed signal. The processor is configured to receive and process the summed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Visarath In, Adi R. Bulsara, Yong (Andy) Kho, Joseph D. Neff, Antonio Palacios, Salvatore Baglio, Vincenzo Sacco
  • Surface flaw detection system to facilitate nondestructive inspection of a component and methods of assembling the same
    Patent number: 7888932
    Abstract: A method of assembling an eddy current array probe to facilitate nondestructive testing of a sample is provided. The method includes positioning a plurality of differential side mount coils at least partially within a flexible material. The method also includes coupling the flexible material within a tip portion of the eddy current array probe, such that the flexible material has a contour that substantially conforms to a portion of a surface of the sample to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Stewart McKnight, Ui Suh, Yuri Plotnikov, Changting Wang, Ralph Gerald Isaacs
  • Automated disk clamping method for spinstand for testing magnetic heads and disks
    Patent number: 7880463
    Abstract: A mechanism for placing and removing a vacuum clamping device for a magnetic disk on a spinstand, comprised of automated vertical and horizontal movement arranged such that a vacuum disk chuck, comprised of a base (9) and cap (6), can be used without operator interaction. Linear actuators provide the horizontal (2) and vertical (3) movement forces to accurately move a chuck cap (6) over a magnetic disk (7) that has been placed on a chuck base (9). The same actuators remove the cap and move it away from the disk to allow quick replacement of the disk. The interface between the mechanism and disk chuck cap is designed such that the cap is securely held during motion, and does not create particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Guzik Technical Enterprises
    Inventors: Naham Guzik, Forest Ray
  • Detector for detecting a buried current carrying conductor
    Patent number: 7847556
    Abstract: A detector 1 for detecting a buried current carrying conductor comprises a digital homodyne receiver. The receiver processes field strength signals induced in a pair of vertically spaced antennae 3, 5. The analogue to digital converter is an audio-grade stereo CODEC 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
    Inventor: John Mark Royle
  • Method and system for calibrating downhole tools for drift
    Patent number: 7839148
    Abstract: A method and related system calibrating downhole tools for drift. Some of the illustrative embodiments are a logging tool comprising a tool body, a transmitter antenna associated with the tool body, a transmitter electronics coupled to the transmitter antenna, a first receiver antenna associated with the tool body, a first receiver electronics coupled to the first receiver antenna, and a signal generator separate from the first transmitter electronics, the signal generator coupled to the first receiver electronics, and the first signal generator provides a calibration signal to the first receiver electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Imran Vehra, James J. Freeman, Christopher A. Golla, Randal T. Beste, Michael S. Bittar
  • Angle detector including distinct magnetic stator portions
    Patent number: 7816912
    Abstract: An angle detector includes a magnetic rotor and a plurality of magnetic stator portions. The magnetic stator portions are arranged separately in an annular stator frame and each magnetic stator portion includes a pair of magnetic stator strips. The periphery of the magnetic rotor is disposed between the magnetic stator strips of each magnetic stator portion. By such a configuration, accurate angle detection can be carried out irrespective of the decentering of a rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Tamagawa Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimi Kikuchi, Kanji Kitazawa, Hisashi Mimura
  • Multi-frequency cancellation of dielectric effect
    Patent number: 7714585
    Abstract: Measurements made with an induction logging tool are responsive to formation conductivity and permittivity. The effect of permittivity can be substantially removed by multifrequency focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Marina N. Nikitenko, Leonty A. Tabarovsky
  • Magnetic sensor signal detection circuit using a counter
    Patent number: 7652472
    Abstract: A signal detection circuit of a magnetic sensor includes a differential amplifier to which an output voltage of a detecting coil of the magnetic sensor is applied; a comparator to which the output of the differential amplifier is input, the comparator outputting a digital signal having one logical value during a time period between two adjacent spike voltages included in the output voltage; and a counter that counts the number of pulses of a clock in a period when the output of the comparator has one logical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Kaneta, Tatsuya Suzuki
  • Rolling bearing
    Patent number: 7612556
    Abstract: The rolling bearing apparatus of the present invention comprises a rolling element, a non-rolling element disposed concentrically with the rolling element, and a rotation detector for outputting an input exciting voltage by converting it to an induced voltage according to the relative rotation state of the rolling element and the non-rolling element. The rotation detector comprises a rotor provided in the rolling element, a stator provided in the non-rolling element, and an exciting winding and output windings being wound to the stator. The output windings induce a voltage according to the gap permeance between the rotor and the stator in response to the exciting voltage inputted to the exciting winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Inoue
  • Eddy current type sensor for detecting conductor
    Patent number: 7612557
    Abstract: An eddy current type sensor for detecting a conductor includes a LC circuit and an oscillator. The LC circuit has a coil and a capacitor connected in parallel with the coil. The oscillator supplies an alternating current of a predetermined oscillation frequency to the LC circuit. A signal voltage outputted from the LC circuit has a first voltage when the distance between the coil and the conductor is minimum and a second voltage when the distance between the coil and the conductor is maximum. A voltage difference between the first and second voltages has a first difference at a first temperature and has a second difference at a second temperature. The first and second differences become equal to each other at a first frequency and a second frequency. The oscillation frequency is set close to the first frequency or the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimomura, Tsutomu Nakamura, Kenji Takeda, Akitoshi Mizutani, Takao Ban
  • Apparatus and method for measuring micro-resistivity anisotropy
    Patent number: 7609066
    Abstract: A method for measuring anisotropy in thin-bed formations calls for placing a logging tool into a borehole in the formation and applying current to at least one set of injection electrodes and at least one set of return electrodes to measure resistivity in the formation. Resistivity measurements are used to determine aspects of thin-bed formations exposed in the borehole to the tool. The aspects include the formation azimuth angle (?) and the formation dip angle (?). Typically, the measurements and determinations are completed using apparatus including a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Tsili Wang
  • Image pickup apparatus and flash unit and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 7606481
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having a flash unit locating at a storing position or a projecting position, in which either an automatic mode to automatically move the flash unit from the storing position to the projecting position or a manual mode to manually execute the operation can be set. The apparatus includes a first operating unit which selects either the automatic mode or the manual mode and a second operating unit which moves the flash unit from the storing position to the projecting position when the manual mode is selected by the first operating unit. The first and second operating units are provided in close positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Kuruma
  • Image capturing apparatus and image capturing method that instructs a user to capture an image before an image is captured based on a necessary image type
    Patent number: 7603032
    Abstract: The image capturing apparatus instructs a user to take an image of a type not stored among types of images necessary for making an album.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Ono, Kazuhiro Mino
  • Device for detecting the position of a mobile target
    Patent number: 7598735
    Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a mobile target equipped with at least one pattern and mounted so as to define a magnetic gap in which are placed at least two probes which are sensitive to the intensity of a physical magnitude where, for each passage of a pattern in front of a probe, the movement of the target causes a variation in the intensity of the physical magnitude detected by the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Electricfil Automotive
    Inventor: Rainer Möller
  • Imaging apparatus with camera shake compensation
    Patent number: 7593628
    Abstract: A lens unit is provided with two CCD image sensors and a color-separation prism for separating subject light into green light (G light), and a mixture of red light (R light) and blue light (B light). The color-separation prism allows the G light to enter into one of the CCD image sensors, and the mixture of the R and B light to enter into the other CCD image sensor. Sensor moving mechanisms drive the CCD image sensors individually in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis when camera shake is detected, thereby preventing the image from blurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ito, Keiji Ohkubo
  • Magnetic sensor formed of magnetoresistance effect elements
    Patent number: 7589528
    Abstract: On a single chip are formed a plurality of magnetoresistance effect elements provided with pinned layers having fixed magnetization axes in the directions that cross each other. On a substrate 10 are formed magnetic layers that will become two magnetic tunnel effect elements 11, 21 as magnetoresistance effect elements. Magnetic-field-applying magnetic layers made of NiCo are formed to sandwich the magnetic layers in plan view. A magnetic field is applied to the magnetic-field-applying magnetic layers. The magnetic field is removed after the magnetic-field-applying magnetic layers are magnetized in the direction shown by arrow A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sato, Toshiyuki Oohashi, Yukio Wakui, Susumu Yoshida, Kokichi Aiso
  • Apparatus and method for guiding energy in a subsurface electromagnetic measuring system
    Patent number: 7586309
    Abstract: A device for guiding energy in a subsurface electromagnetic measuring system is provided, the device including a transmitting member for transmitting an electromagnetic signal into a subsurface medium, an energy-guiding member disposed in magnetic communication with the electromagnetic signal, and a receiving member for receiving a return signal induced from the subsurface medium. A method of guiding energy in a subsurface measuring system is also provided, the method including transmitting an electromagnetic signal into a subsurface medium, modifying the electromagnetic signal using a magnetic field, and then receiving a modified return signal induced from the medium using a receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanislav Forgang, Randy Gold
  • Inductive proximity sensor
    Patent number: 7586303
    Abstract: An inductive proximity sensor includes a coil or inductance arranged in the vicinity of an active surface or end of the sensor, a current source repeatedly supplying the inductance, and a signals processor for signals corresponding to the voltages induced in the coil when fed. The induced voltages are influenced by the presence of objects within a given detection area, depending on their distance and on their constituting material. The coil or inductance is part of a parallel LC circuit. The current source is the capacitor of the LC circuit. A voltage signal amplitude measurement is performed after each switch from charge to discharge state. The result is computed using reference measurements to calculate a distance, a nature of the constituting material, and/or mass indicative value of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Senstronic
    Inventors: Remy Kirchdoerffer, Vladimir Frolov
  • Optical apparatus with dust reduction capability
    Patent number: 7580628
    Abstract: The present invention realizes efficient dust removal in an optical apparatus in such a manner that a single circuit drives a plurality of dust reduction optical elements to vibrate. When the optical elements have different resonance frequencies, it can be configured such that the vibration exciting frequency can be changed in a range including the resonance frequencies of all the optical elements. In this case, the optical element driven can also be switched according to the change in frequency so that only the optical element having a resonance frequency close to the driving frequency will be driven. Alternatively, it can be configured such that the driving time or applied voltage can be changed according to the characteristics of the optical element driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Masataka Ide, Junichi Ito