Patents by Inventor Dirk A. Elsmore

Dirk A. Elsmore has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5416411
    Abstract: A system is provided for measuring the thickness of a ferromagnetic layer formed over a conductive base layer. An eddy current probe is provided for measuring the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer. The eddy current probe can be placed in direct contact with the ferromagnetic layer, or it may be spaced above its surface by an unknown standoff distance. This spacing may be caused by the presence of an overlying nonferrous, nonconductive layer applied over the ferromagnetic layer, or it may be an air gap over the ferromagnetic layer. An analog detector connected to the probe provides output values in two dimensions corresponding to the modulation of the probe's magnetic field by the ferromagnetic and conductive layers. These values are utilized to determine a mapping between the detector output values and ferromagnetic layer thickness and standoff values. The output of the mapping function provides two values, a ferromagnetic layer thickness and a standoff distance, which corresponds to the detected values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Lockheed Fort Worth Company
    Inventor: Dirk A. Elsmore