Patents by Inventor Michael Westphal

Michael Westphal 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).

  • Publication number: 20090261246
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet configuration (4; 14) for generating a homogeneous magnetic field B0 in an examination volume (4b), has an interior radial superconducting main field coil (1) which is disposed rotationally symmetrically about an axis (z-axis) and an oppositely driven coaxial radially exterior superconducting shielding coil (2) is characterized in that the magnet configuration (4; 14) consists of the main field coil (1), the shielding coil (2), and a ferromagnetic field formation device (3; 18), wherein the ferromagnetic field formation device (3; 18) is located at the radially inside of the main field coil (1), the main field coil (1) consisting of an unstructured solenoid coil or of several radially nested unstructured solenoid coils (15, 16) which are driven in the same direction, the axial extent Labs of the shielding coil (2) being smaller than the axial extent Lhaupt of the main field coil (1), wherein the axial magnetic field profile (5) generated by the main field coil (1) and the shielding co
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Neuberth, Michael Westphal
  • Patent number: 7567156
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet configuration with a magnet coil (1) of inductance L which is disposed in a cryostat (7) at a cryogenic temperature, for generating a temporally stable magnetic field, in a working volume, which is suitable for NMR measurements, and with current feed lines to an external current source (3) via which a current of a current strength IPS can be supplied, wherein, at a cryogenic temperature, the magnet coil (1) can be exclusively short-circuited via a switch (5), is characterized in that the switch (5) is normally conducting and comprises a mechanically operable bridge (6) with an ohmic resistance R1 which can be predetermined. The inventive magnet configuration ensures straightforward stable permanent operation via a mains supply even at high currents (>1000 A) and also effective discharge of the energy released during a quench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Westphal, Victor Ringeisen
  • Patent number: 7514928
    Abstract: The invention concerns a magnet configuration comprising a superconducting magnet coil (1) within which a gradient system is to be switched. All low temperature oscillation systems (R1) with a temperature T1<10K within the magnet coil (1) are produced from a material having good electrical conducting properties, and at least one warm oscillation system (R2) with a temperature T2>10K within the magnet coil (1) has worse electrical conducting properties and has a considerably different mechanical resonance frequency (separation approximately 500 Hz or more) than at least one of the low temperature oscillation systems (R1). This reduces the undesired heating power supplied to the low temperature oscillation systems due to mechanical oscillations and induced eddy currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20080157771
    Abstract: The invention concerns a magnet configuration comprising a superconducting magnet coil (1) within which a gradient system is to be switched. All low temperature oscillation systems (R1) with a temperature T1<10K within the magnet coil (1) are produced from a material having good electrical conducting properties, and at least one warm oscillation system (R2) with a temperature T2>10K within the magnet coil (1) has worse electrical conducting properties and has a considerably different mechanical resonance frequency (separation approximately 500 Hz or more) than at least one of the low temperature oscillation systems (R1). This reduces the undesired heating power supplied to the low temperature oscillation systems due to mechanical oscillations and induced eddy currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Patent number: 7365540
    Abstract: A co-axial magnet configuration for the production of a magnetic field and investigational volume which is suitable for measurement of magnetic resonance has at least one superconducting solenoid coil or solenoid coils which are radially nested within each other, wherein the windings of the solenoid coil(s) in a radial region about the axis of the magnetic configuration are disposed between r1 and r2, wherein r1<r2 is characterized in that the windings are surrounded by at least one rotationally symmetric magnet body made from ferromagnetic material which extends over a radial region between r3 and r4 wherein r3<r4 wherein r2<r3<1.3 r2 and r4>1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Patent number: 7235975
    Abstract: A magnet system of a magnetic resonance apparatus for generating a magnetic field which is homogeneous and temporally highly stable within a volume under investigation and which extends along a z-axis, with a superconducting magnet coil (3) which is disposed in a cryostat (1) and with a periodically operated refrigerator (2) having a magnetic regenerator material which is disposed in a regenerator housing (5) within the cryostat (1) in the stray field of the magnet coil (3), and which is provided with a device (4) for shielding or compensating a magnetic disturbing field in the volume under investigation generated by the periodic operation of the refrigerator (2) due to regenerator magnetization changes is characterized in that the regenerator housing (5) is surrounded by a compensation coil arrangement (4) which can be superconductingly short-circuited and which is made from a plurality of conductor loops (6, 7a, 7b) which are separately short-circuited during measurement to keep a plurality of magnetic flux
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20070102634
    Abstract: This invention provides methods, devices and device components for preparing ions from liquid samples containing chemical species and methods and devices for analyzing chemical species in liquid samples. The present invention provides an ion source for generating analyte ions having a selected charge state distribution, such as a reduced charged state distribution, that may be effectively interfaced with a variety of charged particle analyzers, including virtually any type of mass spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Frey, Lloyd Smith, Michael Westphall
  • Publication number: 20070087498
    Abstract: A method of forming buried bit line DRAM circuitry includes collectively forming a buried bit line forming trench, bit line vias extending from the bit line forming trench, and memory array storage node vias within a dielectric mass using only two masking steps. Conductive material is simultaneously deposited to within the buried bit line forming trench, the bit line vias, and the memory storage node vias within the dielectric mass. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventors: Ann Liao, Michael Westphal
  • Patent number: 7196600
    Abstract: A flat multi-layer arrangement (1; 1a–1f) of superconducting wires (4,5) with normally conducting substrate (17) and at least one fiber (16) which is electrically conductingly connected to the substrate (17) and is superconducting under predetermined operating conditions is characterized in that the superconducting wires (4, 5) in a respective layer (2, 3; 22, 23) are substantially disposed such that they do not cross. A resistive electric contact is provided between the superconducting wires (4, 5) of different layers (2,3; 22, 23) and the superconducting wires (4, 5) of at least two neighboring layers (2, 3; 22, 23) do cross, wherein no closed superconducting loops are present in the arrangement (1; 1a–1f). This arrangement permits shielding of the working volume of a magnet coil arrangement against low-frequency stray fields in an efficient and reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Patent number: 7183769
    Abstract: The system describes a means and a method for stabilizing the magnetic field generated in the measuring volume of a high-resolution magnetic resonance spectrometer having an actively shielded magnet coil (4) which is located in a cryostat (2) and which is superconductingly short-circuited. The system comprises a compensation coil (12) which is decoupled from the magnet coil (4), and is disposed on the shielding coil (4b) of the magnet coil (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20070023621
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices and device components for detecting, sensing and analyzing molecules. Detectors of the present invention provide good detection sensitivity over a wide range of molecular masses ranging from a few Daltons up to 10s of megadaltons, which does not decrease as function of molecular mass. Sensors and analyzers of the present invention detect emission from an array of resonators to determine the molecular masses and/or electric charges of molecules which impact or contact an external surface of a membrane that is used to mount and excite the resonators in the array. Resonators in the array are excited via piezoelectric and/or magnetic excitation of the mounting membrane and, optionally, grid electrodes are used in certain configurations for electrically biasing for the resonator array, and for amplification or suppression of emission from the resonators so as to provide detection and mass/electric charge analysis with good sensitivity and resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Blick, Michael Westphall, Lloyd Smith
  • Publication number: 20070024404
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet configuration with a magnet coil (1) of inductance L which is disposed in a cryostat (7) at a cryogenic temperature, for generating a temporally stable magnetic field, in a working volume, which is suitable for NMR measurements, and with current feed lines to an external current source (3) via which a current of a current strength IPS can be supplied, wherein, at a cryogenic temperature, the magnet coil (1) can be exclusively short-circuited via a switch (5), is characterized in that the switch (5) is normally conducting and comprises a mechanically operable bridge (6) with an ohmic resistance R1 which can be predetermined. The inventive magnet configuration ensures straightforward stable permanent operation via a mains supply even at high currents (>1000A) and also effective discharge of the energy released during a quench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Westphal, Victor Ringeisen
  • Patent number: 7170291
    Abstract: An actively shielded superconducting magnet coil system (1) for generating a magnetic field in a working volume (6), which is rotationally symmetric about a z-axis, comprising a radially inner main field winding (5) and a radially outer shielding winding (7), and an electrically highly conductive shielding cylinder (radially inner shielding cylinder) (8a/8b) which is disposed radially inside the main field winding (5) or between main field winding (5) and the shielding winding (7) is characterized in that at least one further electrically highly conductive shielding cylinder (9) is disposed radially outside the shielding winding (7). The inventive magnet coil system prevents generation of a fringe field flash in the outer region of the magnet coil system in case of a quench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20060061361
    Abstract: A co-axial magnet configuration for the production of a magnetic field and investigational volume which is suitable for measurement of magnetic resonance has at least one superconducting solenoid coil or solenoid coils which are radially nested within each other, wherein the windings of the solenoid coil(s) in a radial region about the axis of the magnetic configuration are disposed between r1 and r2, wherein r1<r2 is characterized in that the windings are surrounded by at least one rotationally symmetric magnet body made from ferromagnetic material which extends over a radial region between r3 and r4 wherein r3<r4 wherein r2<r3<1.3 r2 and r4>1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20060008979
    Abstract: A method of forming buried bit line DRAM circuitry includes collectively forming a buried bit line forming trench, bit line vias extending from the bit line forming trench, and memory array storage node vias within a dielectric mass using only two masking steps. Conductive material is simultaneously deposited to within the buried bit line forming trench, the bit line vias, and the memory storage node vias within the dielectric mass. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Ann Liao, Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20050253583
    Abstract: A magnet system of a magnetic resonance apparatus for generating a magnetic field which is homogeneous and temporally highly stable within a volume under investigation and which extends along a z-axis, with a superconducting magnet coil (3) which is disposed in a cryostat (1) and with a periodically operated refrigerator (2) having a magnetic regenerator material which is disposed in a regenerator housing (5) within the cryostat (1) in the stray field of the magnet coil (3), and which is provided with a device (4) for shielding or compensating a magnetic disturbing field in the volume under investigation generated by the periodic operation of the refrigerator (2) due to regenerator magnetization changes is characterized in that the regenerator housing (5) is surrounded by a compensation coil arrangement (4) which can be superconductingly short-circuited and which is made from a plurality of conductor loops (6, 7a, 7b) which are separately short-circuited during measurement to keep a plurality of magnetic flux
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20050174118
    Abstract: The system describes a means and a method for stabilizing the magnetic field generated in the measuring volume of a high-resolution magnetic resonance spectrometer having an actively shielded magnet coil (4) which is located in a cryostat (2) and which is superconductingly short-circuited. The system comprises a compensation coil (12) which is decoupled from the magnet coil (4), and is disposed on the shielding coil (4b) of the magnet coil (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20050110602
    Abstract: A flat multi-layer arrangement (1; 1a-1f) of superconducting wires (4,5) with normally conducting substrate (17) and at least one fiber (16) which is electrically conductingly connected to the substrate (17) and is superconducting under predetermined operating conditions is characterized in that the superconducting wires (4, 5) in a respective layer (2, 3; 22, 23) are substantially disposed such that they do not cross. A resistive electric contact is provided between the superconducting wires (4, 5) of different layers (2,3; 22, 23) and the superconducting wires (4, 5) of at least two neighboring layers (2, 3; 22, 23) do cross, wherein no closed superconducting loops are present in the arrangement (1; 1a-1f). This arrangement permits shielding of the working volume of a magnet coil arrangement against low-frequency stray fields in an efficient and reliable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Publication number: 20050110494
    Abstract: An actively shielded superconducting magnet coil system (1) for generating a magnetic field in a working volume (6), which is rotationally symmetric about a z-axis, comprising a radially inner main field winding (5) and a radially outer shielding winding (7), and an electrically highly conductive shielding cylinder (radially inner shielding cylinder) (8a/8b) which is disposed radially inside the main field winding (5) or between main field winding (5) and the shielding winding (7) is characterized in that at least one further electrically highly conductive shielding cylinder (9) is disposed radially outside the shielding winding (7). The inventive magnet coil system prevents generation of a fringe field flash in the outer region of the magnet coil system in case of a quench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Westphal
  • Patent number: 6667619
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus comprising a main field magnet system with a tubular opening for receiving the object to be investigated and at least one tubular mechanically oscillatory component, disposed in this opening, in particular a gradient coil system, and at least one cylindrical element of electrically conducting material surrounded by the main field magnet system, which is rigidly mechanically connected to at least one of the mechanically oscillatory components or forms an integral mechanical component thereof, the sum of the products p of the electric conductivities &sgr;, the cylinder radii R and the wall thicknesses d of the cylindrical element per mechanically oscillatory component is between 1 Am/V and 10,000 Am/V, preferably between 10 Am/V and 1000 Am/V, and particularly preferred between 20 Am/V and 500 Am/V. This produces good noise damping in an inward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Westphal, Hartmut Schmidt