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: 20090261246Abstract: 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 coType: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventors: Gerald Neuberth, Michael Westphal
-
Patent number: 7567156Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 19, 2006Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbHInventors: Michael Westphal, Victor Ringeisen
-
Patent number: 7514928Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20080157771Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Patent number: 7365540Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Patent number: 7235975Abstract: 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 fluxType: GrantFiled: April 27, 2005Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbHInventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20070102634Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2005Publication date: May 10, 2007Inventors: Brian Frey, Lloyd Smith, Michael Westphall
-
Publication number: 20070087498Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2006Publication date: April 19, 2007Inventors: Ann Liao, Michael Westphal
-
Patent number: 7196600Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Patent number: 7183769Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbHInventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20070023621Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Robert Blick, Michael Westphall, Lloyd Smith
-
Publication number: 20070024404Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventors: Michael Westphal, Victor Ringeisen
-
Patent number: 7170291Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Bruker Biospin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20060061361Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2005Publication date: March 23, 2006Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20060008979Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Ann Liao, Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20050253583Abstract: 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 fluxType: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2005Publication date: November 17, 2005Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20050174118Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2005Publication date: August 11, 2005Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventors: Arne Kasten, Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20050110602Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Publication number: 20050110494Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Applicant: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventor: Michael Westphal
-
Patent number: 6667619Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 29, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Bruker BioSpin GmbHInventors: Michael Westphal, Hartmut Schmidt