Patents Examined by Roger Phillips
  • Patent number: 5614828
    Abstract: An adapter that enables the testing of secondary ignition signals of vehicle engines equipped with wireless secondary ignition systems is disclosed. The adapter detects secondary ignition voltage pulses generated by such an ignition system. It includes an input port coupled to an engine ground for receiving an electrical signal comprising a secondary ignition signal; an output port; and a filter coupled between said input port and said output port, said filter passing an electrical representation of said secondary ignition signal to said output port. In a preferred embodiment, the adapter includes a preamplifier coupled between the input port and the filter to amplify the electrical signal and an amplifier coupled between the filter and the output port to amplify the secondary ignition signal. The output port preferably is coupled to an oscilloscope allowing a technician to visually inspect the secondary ignition system waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: California State Automobile Association
    Inventor: Benny L. Sims
  • Patent number: 5610514
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric circuit for measuring the length of a shock absorber unit of a vehicle, comprising: a coil with windings which are fitted around the shock absorber unit, of which a casing of electrically conducting material connected to a part of the wheel suspension of the vehicle is axially movable relative to the coil when there is a change of length of the shock absorber unit as a result of a change in the force absorbed by the wheel suspension; an oscillator connected to the coil, for exciting the coil with an excitation signal of a predetermined frequency; and processing means which are connected to the coil and are designed for determining the value of a relation between the voltage across the coil and the current through the coil, which value is a measure of the length of the shock absorber unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: V.O.F. Hedon Electronic Developments
    Inventor: Antonius E. T. J. Ramaker
  • Patent number: 5610522
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an open magnetic structure for producing an intense, stable magnetic field, which is amplitude and direction-controlled in a region adjacent to said structure, having at least one magnetic source (4) for producing said magnetic field, characterized in that it also comprises at least one pole piece (5, 6) associated with the magnetic source and having a shape designed so as to control the magnetic field produced.Application to petroleum or oil research in drilled wells and to surface magnetic imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Marcel Locatelli, Christian Jeandey
  • Patent number: 5610519
    Abstract: The device disclosed is for measuring a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in a human body exposed to electromagnetic fields radiating from an antenna, and is constituted by a phantom (a model of the human body) and a probe structure. The phantom has equivalent electric constant of permittivity and permeability as those of a human body. The probe structure has a combination of first and second loop probes orthogonal to each other, and is arranged such that the second loop probe receives only a magnetic field that has been reflected from a surface of the phantom. Thus, the magnetic field radiating from the antenna and the magnetic field reflected from a surface of the phantom are distinguished from each other. The reflected magnetic field is corrected and the SAR can be accurately measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Hankui, Takashi Harada
  • Patent number: 5608325
    Abstract: The method of recalibrating an energy management processor of a battery of accumulators consists, at the end of a defined period of time, in initiating a process of recalibration of evaluation of the quantity of electrical energy contained in the battery, in completely recharging the battery, in detecting the end of the complete recharge of the battery, in performing a partial discharge of the battery, in measuring the quantity of electricity extracted during this discharge, in leaving the battery to rest for a defined time, in totally discharging the battery at a low current while measuring the quantity of electricity thus extracted from the battery, in adding the said two quantities of electricity measured in order to obtain the value of the maximum capacity of the battery at the moment of the recalibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Chabbert, Alain Chatenay, Christian Menard, Dominique Meux
  • Patent number: 5606260
    Abstract: A microdevice is provided for measuring the electromagnetic characteristics of a medium in a borehole. The microdevice includes at least one emitting or transmitting coil (31), and at least one receiving coil (41,51). The microdevice generates an A.C. voltage at the terminals of the transmitting coil and measures a signal at the terminals of the receiving coil. The microdevice also includes an E-shaped electrically insulating, soft magnetic material circuit serving as a support for each of the coils and which is positioned adjacent to the medium in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Patrice Giordano, Henri Glenat, Jean-Michel Ittel, Marcel Locatelli
  • Patent number: 5602473
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for analysis of magnetic characteristics of a magnetic device used for designing a magnetic head. The magnetic head has recording and reproducing characteristics and a recording and reproducing apparatus of magnetic characteristics. The apparatus for analysis of magnetic characteristics includes a data input part, a coupled analysis part, and a result output part. The data input part is provided with data related to the characteristics of substances composing the magnetic device, data related to the magnetic device divided into a plurality of parts, data concerning the boundary conditions for analysis of the magnetic device, and data concerning the boundary conditions for analysis of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Mizoh, Koichi Osano, Masaya Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 5600241
    Abstract: A method for determining the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility of a sample includes determining the resonant frequency of the sample in substantially zero magnetic field, the resonant frequency being for flexure vibration in a selected plane of vibration. A second step is applying a uniform dc magnetic field to the sample, the magnetic field having a component in the selected plane of vibration. A third step is determining the resonant frequency of the sample in the presence of the applied magnetic field, the resonant frequency being for flexure vibration in the selected plane. The fourth step is determining the anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility of the sample, based on the amplitude of the magnetic field component and on the above-determined resonant frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ronald L. Jacobsen, Jr., Alexander C. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 5600239
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive element having a large magnetomechanical coupling factor long its axis, is selected to determine strain by measurement of changes in its electrical impedance along such axis. Such measurement is maximized by generation of current of a predetermined frequency conducted through the magnetostrictive element to correspondingly penetrate the magnetostrictive element to a substantial skin depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Kristl B. Hathaway, James B. Restorff, Marilyn Wun-Fogle, Arthur E. Clark
  • Patent number: 5594334
    Abstract: A bearing with integrated data sensor has a stationary bearing ring, a rotatable bearing ring, and rolling elements in contact with the bearing rings. An encoder is mounted on the rotatable bearing ring, and a sealing gasket is mounted on the stationary bearing ring. A sleeve for protection of a sensor cable is integrally connected to the sealing gasket and has a groove for housing a sensor means which is connected to the sensor cable. The sleeve has a wall of its extremity which is substantially perpendicular to an external side of the sealing gasket through which the sensor cable exits such that it is tangential to said external side of the sealing gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Claude Sonnerat, Denis Alff, Christian Hajzler
  • Patent number: 5594343
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a property of earth formations surrounding a borehole is presented. In accordance with a particular embodiment, an elongated logging device movable through a borehole is provided with a transmitter array consisting of only first, third, and second transmitting antennas longitudinally spaced on the device. A pair of longitudinally spaced receiving antennas are also provided and are located between the second transmitting antenna and one of the first and third transmitting antennas. In particular, the first, third, and second transmitting antennas are spaced from the midpoint between the receiver pair by first, third, and second distances, respectively, where the first and second distances are substantially the same while being different from the third distance. This antenna arrangement is possible while still providing a borehole compensated output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Clark, Peter T. Wu, Victor E. Grijalva
  • Patent number: 5592091
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance signals are multiply excited and a plurality of data sets corresponding to the nuclear magnetic resonance signals are obtained and are used for calculating the coefficients of a spherical harmonic function that describes the magnetic field distribution in the examination space. Each data set acquired in this way has a weighting that correlates with the plausibility (reliability) of the data set allocated to it. Taking the respective weighting into consideration, coefficients of the spherical harmonic functions are acquired from the data sets acquired and are used to calculate respective currents that are supplied to the corresponding shim coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Atsutaka Manabe
  • Patent number: 5592093
    Abstract: An electronic battery testing device includes first and second electrical probes for coupling to first and second battery terminals, respectively, and electrical circuitry coupled to the electrical probes for providing an output related to battery condition. The probes each have a pair of electrical connections. A bridge circuit connected between the first and second electrical probes provides a bridge output. An amplifier connected to the bridge output provides an amplified output. The amplified output is indicative of a loose connection between an electrical probe and a battery terminal. The amplified output may be used to indicate an alarm condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: August G. Klingbiel
  • Patent number: 5592080
    Abstract: In a record medium checking device, a signal recorded on record medium is reproduced, then the absence of reproduced signal is detected. The device includes a reproducing means for reproducing the signal recorded on the record medium to output the reproduced signal, a discriminating means for comparing the reproduced signal with a reference signal to output a discriminating signal, a signal generating means for generating detecting clock pulses, and a counter to count the detecting clock pulses. The output of the counter is a check signal based on the discriminating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Otari Inc.
    Inventor: Tohru Matsuno
  • Patent number: 5589772
    Abstract: A non-destructive testing equipment comprises a magnetic field generator for generating a uniform magnetic field, and a magnetic sensor accommodated in a thermal insulation container and filled with a liquid nitrogen. The thermal insulation container is located within a magnetic shield container having an opening. The magnetic sensor includes a SQUID that is a magnetic sensor having very high sensitivity. The magnetic sensor can detect, through the opening, an appreciable variation of the magnetic field that is caused by small impurities or minor defects contained in the object to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kugai
  • Patent number: 5589773
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing the electric and magnetic field generated by equipment under test (EUT) by maintaining the EUT in a specified, fixed tilt position, allowing the EUT to rotate while in that specified position and tilting the TEM cell through at least two angles about the EUT. Embodiments contemplate that a fixed tilt mechanism for maintaining the EUT in a fixed position relative to the tilting of the TEM cell is used. The present invention further contemplates various schemes for determining the electric and magnetic fields generated from the EUT based upon the composite electromagnetic reading from the TEM cell. These schemes, which result in improved measurements of the magnetic and electric fields, determine the angles to which the TEM is tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Rolm Communications Inc.
    Inventors: H. Stephen Berger, Martha L. Vela de Casillas, Harry L. Cochrane
  • Patent number: 5589767
    Abstract: A mechanism for the attachment of a speed sensor to a vehicle comprising a rotary body for attachment to an end of a wheel axle such that the rotary body rotates with the wheel axle, the rotary body having an outer peripheral surface, the outer peripheral surface having a gear wheel with teeth; a sensor mounting body within which the rotary body rotates by means of a bearing therebetween; a speed sensor attached to the sensor mounting body and aligned opposite to the gear wheel with teeth of the rotary body, the bearing maintaining a predetermined gap between the speed sensor and the gear wheel with teeth, the teeth providing the change in magnetic field sensed by the speed sensor when the rotary body is rotating with the wheel axle so that the speed sensor generates a signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the wheel axle; and a connection link through which the sensor mounting body is connected to a frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: NABCO Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 5585718
    Abstract: A device for detecting a bending magnitude of a rotary shaft comprises a first pair of coils spaced from and facing the outer surface of a shaft and having an inductance value, and a second pair of coils spaced from and facing the outer surface of the shaft and connected in series to the first pair of coils at respective nodal points. The second pair of coils has an inductance value different from the inductance value of the first pair of coils. A pair of high frequency oscillators applies a high frequency voltage across the first and second pairs of coils to generate at each of the nodal points an output signal corresponding to a bending magnitude of the shaft, each output signal having a constant linearity characteristic resulting from the difference in inductance value between the first and second pairs of coils. An amplifier is connected to each of the nodal points for amplifying the output signals from the nodal points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Seiko Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Okikazu Kuwahara, Hideki Omori
  • Patent number: 5578918
    Abstract: A modular meter movement having two or more coil assemblies. One embodiment of the meter is modular and includes coil assemblies that are formed as separate parts and configured to be attached to a magnet housing that houses a rotatably mounted permanent magnet. The magnet housing includes a plurality of arms that can accept either two or three coil assemblies depending upon the embodiment. The coil assemblies are placed over the magnet housing such that the coil assemblies at least partially surround the magnet housing. The magnet housing and coil assemblies are placed within a shield pot formed from a magnetically susceptible material. In one embodiment, the shield pot is non-cylindrical and the axis of rotation of the permanent magnet is mounted off the central axis of the shield pot. The shield pot is shaped so that even though it is non-cylindrical, it does not induce a homing position in the resulting meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Floscan Instrument Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilfried Baatz
  • Patent number: 5574374
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a measurement-while-drilling logging tool which includes a minimum number of analog electrical and electronic components, and which instead utilizes digitally-controlled electronic and electrical components to obtain an accuracy which is not possible utilizing prior art measurement-while-drilling logging tools. Additionally, the present invention allows for calibration operations to be conducted before, during, and after logging operations. Preferably, the calibration operations are performed periodically or intermittently during logging operations, and recorded, to be utilized later in explaining any irregularities in the log data. This calibration operation during drilling operations is not found in prior art devices, and is rendered practical by the utilization of digitally-controlled electrical and electronic components in lieu of analog components which are traditionally utilized in logging tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry W. Thompson, Macmillan M. Wisler