Abstract: Hall sensor arrangement is disclosed for detection of the change in the position of two components which can move relative to one another into two end positions, with a Hall sensor with at least one Hall measurement field (H; H1, H2) and a field magnet. An actuator is provided for transmitting to the Hall sensor the change in the position of the two components which can move relative to one another. The Hall sensor and the field magnet are combined into a preassembled structural unit. When the position of the field magnet changes relative to the Hall sensor from one end position into the other end position the polarity of the magnetic field acting on the Hall measurement field (H; H1, H2) can change, e.g., the polarity becomes reversed.

Abstract: A magnetic pressure sensing device for rotatably moving parts, of the type including at least one magnetic field source element associated with the rotatably moving part and a magnetic field sensing element associated to a fixed part to measure parameters of a magnetic field determined by the magnetic field source element, the parameters of the magnetic field being a function of the pressure applied to the rotatably moving part. The magnetic field source element includes a device for rotating around at least one axis the direction of the magnetic field as a function of the pressure applied to the rotatably moving part.

Abstract: A procedure for locating a mobile magnetic target (2) using magnetic measurements includes determining first and second positions (P1 and P2), and a first possible speed (V) of the target (2) along a first direction (Y), determining a third position on a trajectory (28) defined relative to the first direction as a function of the first possible speed (V) and of a later moment in time, and determining the approach position of the target and its speed as a function of the first, second and third positions.

Abstract: A motion transducer comprising one or more electromagnetic coils provided on a first element, each of the coils having a magnetic axis of symmetry.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coil arrangement comprising a plurality of electromagnetic sensors located about the periphery of a region and at least one center electromagnetic sensor located at or near the center of the region, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic sensors and the at least one center electromagnetic sensor are located in a single plane. An electromagnetic tracking system and method of use, the electromagnetic tracking system comprising the electromagnetic coil arrangement, at least one complementary electromagnetic sensor, and a processor configured to process a signal comprising data indicative of a mutual inductance between the at least one complementary electromagnetic sensor and each of the electromagnetic sensors of the electromagnetic coil arrangement.

Abstract: A webcam built in an electronic device includes a housing, a video camera, and a latching mechanism. The video camera is movable between a first location in the housing and a second location outside the housing. The latching mechanism maintains the video camera at the first location and the second location.

Abstract: A magnetic detection device has stable characteristics having an area of a resist layer covering an insulating passivation layer, forming the magnetic detection element and a connection layer on a small stepped surface with high-precision, and preventing the resist layer from peeling, thereby providing a method of manufacturing the magnetic detection device. A resist layer 42 is overlapped through the insulating passivation layer 41 on an interconnection layer 35.

Abstract: A seat position detecting apparatus includes a fixed rail fixed on a vehicle floor, a movable rail at which a vehicle seat is supported for sliding on the fixed rail, and a position detecting mechanism directly mounted at one of either the fixed rail or the movable rail for detecting a relative position between the fixed rail and the movable rail by detecting the other of either the fixed rail or the movable rail, wherein a first engaging mechanism is provided at either the fixed rail or the movable rail at which the position detecting mechanism is mounted, and a second engaging mechanism provided complementarily to the first engaging mechanism engages with the first engaging mechanism through the position detecting mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus having a plurality of coils (e.g., numerous thin-film coils formed in an array on a flex circuit), each coil acting as an excitation unit that generates an alternating excitation magnetic signal; and as a sensor configured to detect an eddy-current signal's phase and amplitude changes relative to the excitation magnetic signal. In some embodiments, the apparatus electronically scans a surface (e.g., of a metal plate) by successively switching to individual ones of the plurality of excitation/sensing coils (using, e.g., an analog multiplexer) without physical movement in order to detect anomalous signal changes in a manner that reduces signal changes due to probe lift-off relative to the surface. In some embodiments, the coils are placed across a large area of interest, for inspection of a large surface area in a few seconds without moving the apparatus. This can provide high-sensitivity detection and an accurate indication of flaw locations.

Abstract: An electronic circuit configuration for optionally connecting an active rotary speed sensor or a passive rotary speed sensor to an electronic control unit of a commercial vehicle.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a downhole method and apparatus for simultaneously determining the horizontal resistivity, vertical resistivity, and relative dip angle for anisotropic earth formations. The present invention accomplishes this objective by using an antenna configuration in which a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna are oriented in non-parallel planes such that the vertical resistivity and the relative dip angle are decoupled. Preferably, either the transmitter or the receiver is mounted in a conventional orientation in a first plane that is normal to the tool axis, and the other antenna is mounted in a second plane that is not parallel to the first plane. This invention also relates to a method and apparatus for steering a downhole tool during a drilling operation in order to maintain the borehole within a desired earth formation.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a downhole method and apparatus for simultaneously determining the horizontal resistivity, vertical resistivity, and relative dip angle for anisotropic earth formations. The present invention accomplishes this objective by using an antenna configuration in which a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna are oriented in non-parallel planes such that the vertical resistivity and the relative dip angle are decoupled. Preferably, either the transmitter or the receiver is mounted in a conventional orientation in a first plane that is normal to the tool axis, and the other antenna is mounted in a second plane that is not parallel to the first plane. Although this invention is primarily intended for MWD or LWD applications, this invention is also applicable to wireline and possibly other applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a resistivity measurement of an earth formation surrounding a borehole in an MWD device uses the drillbit and the adjacent portion of the drill collar as a focusing electrode for focusing the measure current from a measure electrode on the face or side of the drillbit. This provides the ability to see ahead of and azimuthally around the drillbit.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the wall thickness of a hollow part, of the turbomachine blade type, at least at a point having a determined radius of curvature at this point, within determined ranges of radii of curvature and thicknesses, including the determination of impedance values of an electrical circuit formed by an eddy current detector applied to the wall, and the insertion of these values into a digital processing unit with a neural network, wherein the network parameters have been defined in advance by learning on spacers having a determined radius of curvature and thickness in the ranges.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head tester uses closed loop control to accurately control the magnetic field that is generated to test the magnetic recording head. The closed loop control compares the value of the sensed magnetic field to the desired value of the magnetic field and adjusts the magnetic field accordingly. A magnetic field sensor used in the tester may be located in a position that has a substantially different magnetic field magnitude than is experienced by the magnetic recording head. The value of the output signal from the magnetic field sensor is correlated to the magnitude of the magnetic field at the location of the magnetic recording head through calibration. The correlation can then be used to accurately produce the desired magnitude magnetic field at the location of the magnetic recording head.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sensor assembly for measuring an angular position of a rotatable structure includes an annular ring that is eccentrically rotatable about an axis, a first and second sensors, and an sensor transducing circuit for combining the respective output levels from the two sensors. The first and second sensors are rotatable relative to the annular ring and disposed a predetermined distance from the axis such that the first and second sensors have a first and second output level respectively that is proportional to the angular position of the annular ring. The sensor transducing circuit is operable to proportionally combine the first and second output levels into an output signal based upon a weighting factor, the weighting factor being proportional to angular position of at least one of the first and second sensors.

Abstract: A position sensor according to the transit time principle of a mechanical-elastic wave. The position sensor includes a waveguide made out of electrically conductive material, and a detector coil in a detector range being arranged coaxially on the waveguide. A position magnet moveable along the waveguide. A position magnet moves along the waveguide and a flux guide unit is assigned to the detector coil.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a sensor signal provided by a magnetic field sensor which is arranged at a distance from an object which is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The method includes defining an encoding pattern with a sequence of symbols, the sensor signal being dependent on the encoding pattern and at least one transmission parameter; regenerating the symbols of the encoding pattern from a corrected sensor signal using a threshold value detector to obtain an output signal; generating a filtered signal from the output signal using a filter having a plurality of filter coefficients; superposing the sensor signal and the filtered signal to obtain the corrected sensor signal; and wherein the corrected sensor signal and the output signal are used to estimate the at least one transmission parameter, and the filter coefficients are derived from the estimated transmission parameter.

Abstract: A device and a method for determining an angle of rotation between a camshaft (5) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided, the device including a camshaft regulator provided with an electronic regulator, and a device for determining the position of the angle of rotation of the camshaft and the crankshaft.

Abstract: A magnetic characteristics measurement system includes a superconducting quantum interference device which detects a magnetization of a sample located in the vicinity of a superconducting pickup coil and outputs an electrical signal representing the magnetization. A coil is disposed to surround the superconducting pickup coil and is connected to an AC power supply so as to generate an alternating magnetic field. The AC signal output from the superconducting quantum interference device is sampled by use of an A/D converter which is operable in an audio frequency range and outputs a digital signal corresponding to the AC signal. Phase adjustment is performed so as to optimally correct a time shift of the digital signal in relation to a reference voltage signal. The phase-adjusted signal is subjected to Fourier transformation processing so as to detect harmonic components as magnetic characteristics.