Patents by Inventor Gerardus H. J. Somers

Gerardus H. J. Somers 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: 6747854
    Abstract: Multi-channel magnetic head having a high channel density, provided with a head face (1) which extends in a first direction (I) in which a record carrier is relatively movable with respect to said magnetic head, and in a second direction (II) transverse to the first direction. The magnetic head has a structure of layers which, viewed in the first direction, are situated one on top of the other and extend substantially in the second direction and in a third direction (III) transverse to the first and the second direction. Viewed in the second direction, adjacent magnetoresistive sensors (S1, S2, S3) are distinguishable in the structure, each comprising a magnetoresistive measuring element (5), a first magnetic element (7) and a second magnetic element (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus J. M. Ruigrok, Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 6494108
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive stress sensor is provided with a soft-ferromagnetic body having a grain structure, at least a part of the grains having a grain size in the transition region between the one-domain and the two-domain state. At this grain size, which is of the order of 1 to 9 &mgr;m for a ferrite body, a relatively large magnetostrictive effect occurs. In a practical embodiment, the ferromagnetic body is formed by a ferrite core, in particular a ferrite ring, around at least a part of which an electric oil is wound, which is incorporated in a measuring circuit for measuring changes in the self-induction of the coil under the influence of mechanical pressure exerted on the ferrite core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventors: Pieter J. Van Der Zaag, Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5933298
    Abstract: System comprising a magnetic head (1) and a measuring device connected to the magnetoresistive element. The magnetic head has a head face (5) with a transducing gap (15) and comprises a magnetoresistive element (13) and a magnetically conducting yoke with an electrically conducting element (11a) for generating a magnetic field intersecting the magnetoresistive element. The system also comprises a current device connected to the electrically conducting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Lambertus Postma, Gerardus H.J. Somers, Jacobus J.M. Ruigrok
  • Patent number: 5764453
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head provided with a transducing element (23) and at least one flux-guiding element (17a, 17b). An electrically conducting layer (8) of a non-magnetic material and a second electrically insulating layer (9) of a non-magnetic material are successively formed on a first electrically insulating layer (5) of a non-magnetic material. The second electrically insulating layer is subsequently provided with at least an interruption exposing a portion of the electrically conducting layer. Subsequently, the flux-guiding element is formed by electrodepositing a soft-magnetic material on said portion until the interruption is filled, whereby the flux-guiding element and the second electrically insulating layer constitute an at least substantially plane surface on which an electrically insulating spacer layer (21) is formed. Subsequently, the transducing element is provided on the spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Lambertus Postma, Arie J. Van Straalen, Gerardus H.J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5680029
    Abstract: Apparatus for recharging a battery, comprising a compartment which holds the battery so that its electrical terminals are in contact with a pair of electrodes. The electrodes are connectable to the poles of a controllable source of electrical energy. In the compartment a ferromagnetic body is positioned so as to be subjected to mechanical stress in response to mechanical deformation of the battery. An electrical device monitors the magnetic permeability .mu. of the ferromagnetic body by measuring the self-inductance of a coil surrounding at least a portion of the ferromagnetic body. The .mu. of the ferromagnetic body changes by magnetostrictive effects arising from mechanical stress of the ferromagnetic body in response to mechanical deformation of the battery (5) during charging. Expansion of the battery can be used as an indicator that charging has been completed, and that the battery should be disconnected from the source of electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. M. Smits, Eduard E. A. Gillissen, Johann R. G. C. M. Van Beek, Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5531016
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head in which a main layer (5) of a non-magnetic material is formed on a support, which layer is recessed by removing material from a side remote from the support, said recess being subsequently filled up with a soft-magnetic material for forming a flux guide (17a, 17b), whereafter the main layer provided with the filled recess is mechanochemically polished for forming a main surface (19) at which subsequently a layer of a magnetoresistive material is provided for forming a magnetoresistive element (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Lambertus Postma, Henricus G. R. Maas, Jan Haisma, Jacobus J. M. Ruigrok, Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5483735
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive magnetic head in which a first insulation layer (5) of a non-magnetic material is formed on a support face (3a), on which insulation layer a soft-magnetic layer having an upper face remote from the first insulation layer is formed by deposition of a soft-magnetic material. Subsequently a layer portion is removed for forming the flux-guiding elements (17a, 17b) and an aperture extending between said elements, and non-magnetic material for forming a second insulation layer (18) having an upper face remote from the soft-magnetic layer is deposited on the soft-magnetic layer and in the aperture formed therein, which second insulation layer has such a thickness that, viewed in a direction transverse to the support face, the smallest distance between the support face and the upper face of the second insulation layer is larger than the largest distance between the support face and the upper face of the soft-magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Lambertus Postma, Jan Haisma, Jacobus J. M. Ruigrok, Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5473490
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is situated on a carrier (2) on which an electrically conducting plating-base (2) is provided on which by electroplating flux conductors and a magnetically insulating layer (8) are grown. This provides a planar structure on which an electrically insulating layer and a magneto-resistance element are provided. The plating-base also constitutes the gap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardus H. J. Somers, Antonius B. Voermans
  • Patent number: 5291363
    Abstract: A magnetic head (1) for reading information comprises a magnetoresistive element (21) which is arranged between two flux guides (7, 9) present on a support and is partly located on thinner ends (25, 27) of the flux guides. The flux guides are composed of a basic layer (13, 15) and a main layer (17, 19) which partly covers the basic layer. Subsequently the magnetoresistive element is partly provided on the parts (25, 27) of the basic layer which have been left free by the main layer so that the magnetoresistive element is magnetically coupled to the flux guides via coupling parts (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5284572
    Abstract: A method of producing a thin-film magnetic head on a carrier (1) comprising depositing an electrically conducting plating-base (2) and electroplating flux conductors (4a, 4b) and a magnetically insulating layer (8) on the plating-base. This provides a planar structure on which an electrically insulating layer (9) and a magneto-resistance element (10) are applied. The plating-base (2) also constitutes the gap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardus H. J. Somers, Antonius B. Voermans
  • Patent number: 5247412
    Abstract: With a thin-film magnetic head (20) having a flux conductor (21) and a magneto-resistance element (28) the flux conductor is divided into a plurality of flux conductor portions (23) which are spaced apart along the length (25) by a distance (27). This accomplishes a decrease in the mechanical tensions in the flux conductor (21) as a result of which a signal to be read is distorted to a lesser extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5241439
    Abstract: Thin-film magnetic head comprising a substrate (2), an inductive element (23) and a magnetoresistive element (7), and substantially parallel extending flux guides of a magnetic conducting material for magnetic cooperation with said elements. The flux guides are mutually arranged in such a way that two pairs of flux guides (3A, 3B; 5A, 5B) mutually separated by an insulation layer (19) of a non-magnetic material are present, a first pair constituting a first magnetic circuit, provided with a write gap (27), for the inductive element and a second pair constituting a second magnetic circuit, provided with a read gap (17), for the magnetoresistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: P. Michalek, Victor Zieren, Jacobus J. M. Ruigrok, Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5217819
    Abstract: For a tape contact face to be formed in a thin-film magnetic head having at least one transducing element, by removing material, a reference plane (29) corresponding to the tape contact face is detected by means of a plurality of markers (27A-27J) juxtaposed in a layer and extending transversely to the tape contact face, which markers have first end portions (27A1-27J1) pointing in one direction and second, spatially separated end portions (27A2-27J2) pointing in an opposite direction, with the second end portions located at different distances from the reference plane, inclined with respect to the reference plane, and adjoining each other steplessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Peterson, Johannes F. De Proost, Gerardus H. J. Somers, Franciscus A. Pronk, Victor Zieren, Helmut J. Gassen, Johannes H. C. Franssen, Rudolf A. Van Doorn
  • Patent number: 5144502
    Abstract: A read head arrangement comprising n first read heads (h.sub.a.1, . . . , h.sub.a.n) and n second read heads (h.sub.b.1, . . . , h.sub.b.n) of the magnetoresistance type, n transistors (Tr.sub.1, . . . , Tr.sub.n) and switching means (S), where n is an integer greater than two. The first main electrode (collector) of a transistor (Tr.sub.i) is coupled to an i-th output (U.sub.i) of the arrangement. The second main electrode (emitter) of the transistor (Tr.sub.i) is coupled to a first terminal (t.sub.1) of a first read head (h.sub.a.i) and a second read head (h.sub.b.i). The second terminal (t.sub.2) of the first read head (h.sub.a.1) is coupled to a first terminal (a) of the switching means (S). The second terminal (t.sub.2) of the second read head (h.sub.b.1) is coupled to a second terminal (b) of the switching means (S), of which a third terminal (c) is coupled to a point of constant potential (earth), while i ranges from 1 to n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5115364
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a magnetic yoke, having a first and a second flux conductor (1, 2) and a magneto-resistance element (4) remote from a head face (7). A first edge portion (4a) of the magneto-resistance element (4) is located closer to the head face (7) than a second edge portion (4b). The first flux condutor (1) extends from the head face (7) to close to the first edge portion (4a) and the second flux conductor (2) extends from the head face at least to the second edge portion (4b). Furthermore, the magnetic head includes a further magneto-resistance element (5) which forms part of the magnetic yoke and is located between the first and the second flux conductors (1, 2) at the head face (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 5097371
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a magnetic yoke having first and second flux conductors (3, 4) and a magneto-resistance element (7), located remotely from a head face (1). An edge portion (7a) of the magneto-resistance element (7) is located closer to the head face (1) than a second edge portion (7b). The first flux conductor (3) extends from the head face (1) to close to the first edge portion (7a) and the second flux conductor (4) extends from the head face at least to the second edge portion (7b). The magnetic head furthermore comprises a third flux conductor (5) which extends from the head face (1) to close to an end portion (16) of the first flux conductor (3) located near the first edge portion (7b). A transducing gap (17) and an inductive element (9) are located between the first and the third flux conductors (3, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 4814918
    Abstract: Elongate magneto-resistive elements (3) spaced apart on a substrate (9) incorporated in a magnetic circuit constituted by a magnetic yoke (5, 7, 9) which is provided with pole faces (19, 21) for the purpose of co-operating with the registration medium, while each magneto-resistive element is provided with two contacts (3A) for connection to a measuring current source. To improve the stability of the magneto-resistive elements, the magnetic head has strip-shaped coupling elements (17) which magnetically couple the magneto-resistive elements and keep them electrically separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 4617600
    Abstract: A magnetic head for reading analogue information on a track of a recording medium associated with the magnetic head. The head has a strip of magnetoresistive material serving as a reading element and arranged in a magnetic yoke at a given distance from the pole faces formed by the ends of the limbs of the magnetic yoke, the strip being connected in the magnetic circuit formed by the magnetic yoke. The magnetic yoke comprises three limbs separated by non-magnetic layers. The pole face of one of the outer limbs is located at a greater distance from the recording medium than the pole faces of the central limb and the other outer limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers
  • Patent number: 4320428
    Abstract: Elimination of cross talk in an array of integrated magnetic transducing heads by not arranging the electric input and output leads to which the individual transducing elements are connected in one plane but stacking them one on the other with the interposition of an electrically insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Gerardus H. J. Somers