Abstract: In a vibrational energy harvester, an external vibration causes relative motion between a permanent magnet and a magnetic field sensing element composed of a magnetostrictive material bonded to an electroactive material. The changing magnetic field causes a rotation of magnetization in the magnetostrictive material and the rotating magnetization generates a stress in the magnetostrictive material. The stress is transmitted to the electroactive material, which responds by generating electrical power.

Abstract: Passive solid-state magnetic sensors comprise a magnetostrictive material in contact with a piezoelectric material. The magnetostrictive material strains under the influence of an external magnetic field and imparts stress to the piezoelectric material to produce a detectable voltage signal indicative of the external field. Sensors have applications in rotor speed detection, electrical current measurements, magnetic imaging, magnetic field detection, read heads, and MRAM, for example.

Abstract: Passive solid-state magnetic sensors are based on the combination of magnetorestrictive materials and piezoelectric materials. Sensors have applications in rotor speed detection, magnetic field detection, read heads, and MRAM, for example.

Abstract: Coatings for inplantable electrodes such as pacing electrodes, neurostimulator electrodes, and electroporating electrodes and sensing electrodes are described. The coatings are highly biocompatible, having low polarization. They consist of a biocompatible, conductive substrate, such as of sintered platinum/10% iridium; a thin film outer layer of biocompatible, conductive carbon; and a biocompatible, conductive intermediate layer having a high surface area. The intermediate layer is preferably of sputtered titanium nitride and increases the surface area of the carbonaceous outer layer.

Abstract: Passive solid-state magnetic sensors are based on the combination of magnetorestrictive materials and piezoelectric materials. Sensors have applications in motor speed detection, magnetic field detection, read heads, and MRAM, for example.

Abstract: Passive solid-state magnetic sensors are based on the combination of magnetorestrictive materials and piezoelectric materials. Sensors have applications in rotor speed detection, magnetic field detection, read heads, and MRAM, for example.

Abstract: Passive solid-state magnetic sensors are based on the combination of magnetorestrictive materials and piezoelectric materials. Sensors have applications in rotor speed detection, magnetic field detection, read heads, and MRAM, for example.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magneto-mechanical marker has a resonant frequency characteristic that is at a minimum at a bias field level corresponding to the operating point of the magnetomechanical marker. The magnetostrictive element has a magnetomechanical coupling factor k in the range 0.28 to 0.4 at the operating point. The magnetostrictive element is formed by applying cross-field annealing to an iron-rich amorphous metal alloy ribbon (45 to 82 percent iron) which includes a total of from 2 to 17 percent of one or more of Mn, Mo, Nb, Cr, Hf, Zr, Ta, V. Cobalt, nickel, boron, silicon and/or carbon may also be included. The metal alloy may include one early transition element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf and Ta, and also a second early transition element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Mo, Nb, Cr, and V.

Abstract: A magnetomechanical EAS marker is formed of a housing, a magnetostrictive active element in the housing and a bias element fixedly mounted on the housing. A central portion of the active element is secured to the housing to keep the active element from shifting in a longitudinal direction relative to the bias element and to keep ends of the active element spaced from the housing. The active element remains free to mechanically resonate in response to an EAS interrogation signal. The stable positioning of the active element prevents variations in the bias magnetic field due to shifting relative to the bias element, while keeping ends of the active element free from frictional damping due to mechanical loading from contact with the housing.

Abstract: Magnetically-controlled actuator materials are provided that produce large actuation stroke, that exhibit fast actuation response time and corresponding high-frequency operation, and that enable efficient actuation energy conversion at convenient operating temperatures. The actuator materials exhibit an austenitic crystal structure above a characteristic phase transformation temperature and exhibit a martensitic twinned crystal structure below the phase transformation temperature. One actuator material provided by the invention is an alloy composition that can be defined generally as (Ni.sub.a Fe.sub.b Co.sub.c).sub.65-x-y (Mn.sub.d Fe.sub.e Co.sub.f).sub.20+x (Ga.sub.g Si.sub.h Al.sub.i).sub.15+y, where x is between about 3 atomic % and about 15 atomic % and y is between about 3 atomic % and about 12 atomic %, and where a+b+c=1, where d+e+f=1, and g+h+i=1.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical marker has a resonant frequency characteristic that is at a minimum at a bias field level corresponding to the operating point of the magnetomechanical marker. The magnetostrictive element has a magnetomechanical coupling factor k in the range 0.28 to 0.4 at the operating point. The magnetostrictive element is formed by applying current-annealing to an iron-nickel-cobalt based amorphous metal ribbon, or by cross-field annealing an iron-nickel-cobalt alloy that includes a few percent chromium and/or niobium.

Abstract: A self-biasing magnetostrictive element for use in a magnetomechanical EAS marker is a strip of amorphous alloy with crystalline particles of semi-hard or hard magnetic material distributed throughout the bulk of the amorphous alloy strip. The crystalline particles are magnetized to bias the amorphous alloy strip to resonate in response to an interrogation signal. The crystalline particles are formed by heat-treating the amorphous alloy strip at a temperature above the Curie temperature of the amorphous alloy in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field. The alloy strip is then cross-field annealed at a temperature below the Curie temperature of the amorphous alloy to form a transverse anisotropy in the amorphous bulk of the alloy strip. A preferred alloy composition includes iron, cobalt, niobium, copper, boron and silicon.

Abstract: A semi-hard magnetic element is formed of an amorphous soft iron-metalloid material containing at least 50 atomic percent iron and at least a part of the bulk of which has been crystallized to give the overall element semi-hard magnetic properties.

Abstract: Bulk rapidly solidified magnetic materials having a density of greater than 90%, a thickness of at least 250 microns, and preferably a low oxygen content, are produced by a liquid dynamic compaction process which, depending upon the chosen operating conditions, can yield materials ranging from crystalline to partially crystalline to amorphous. The materials so produced are directly useful, i.e. without having to be reduced to a powder and consolidated into a shape, to produce permanent magnets.

Abstract: A magnetic material melt is solidified by cooling the material from two opposing surfaces while deforming the material by applying compressive pressure to the two opposing surfaces. Twin roller quenching is a preferred method for producing the flakes. The flakes exhibit strong texture normal to their surface, that is, there is a high degree of alignment of the magnetically easy axes of the crystals within the polycrystalline flake. The strong crystal orientation appears to result both from directional solidification in a thermal gradient and uniaxial deformation of the solid phase in the twin rollers. Magnetization studies on individual flakes show intrinsic coercivities of 14 kOe and a nearly 50% higher remanance for field normal to the flake surface than in the flake plane. Splat quenching is another suitable technique for carrying out the invention.

Abstract: A mixture including at least one iron oxide and a mon-magnetic matrix material is melted or vaporized and then heat is rapidly removed from the material. The resulting magnetic oxide precipitates are densely packed in the non-magnetic matrix. The precipitates have a narrow particle size distribution which results in a high signal-to-noise ratio when the oxides are used for magnetic recording purposes. The non-magnetic matrix can be removed to yield homogeneous, small particle iron oxide containing magnetic powder. Alternatively, the non-magnetic matrix/iron oxide material can be processed to yield a shaped recording medium.

Abstract: Cobalt rich amorphous metal alloys have a value of magnetostriction of about -6.times.10.sup.-6 to +4.times.10.sup.-6 and a saturation induction of about 0.1 to 1.0T. The alloys, especially suited for soft magnetic applications, have the formula (Co.sub.1-x T.sub.x).sub.100-b (B.sub.1-y Y.sub.y).sub.b, where T is at least one of Cr and V, Y is at least one of carbon and silicon, B is boron, x ranges from about 0.05 to 0.25, y ranges from about 0 to 0.75 and b ranges from about 14 to 28.

Abstract: Cobalt rich amorphous metal alloys have a value of magnetostriction of about -6.times.10.sup.-6 to +4.times.10.sup.-6 and a saturation induction of about 0.1 to 1.0T. The alloys, especially suited for soft magnetic applications, have the formula (Co.sub.1-x T.sub.x).sub.100-b (B.sub.1-y Y.sub.y).sub.b, where T is at least one of Cr and V, Y is at least one of carbon and silicon, B is boron, x ranges from about 0.05 to 0.25, y ranges from about 0 to 0.75 and b ranges from about 14 to 28.

Abstract: Cobalt rich amorphous metal alloys have a value of magnetostriction of about -6.times.10.sup.-6 to +4.times.10.sup.-6 and a saturation induction of about 0.1 to 1.0T. The alloys, especially suited for soft magnetic applications, have the formula (Co.sub.1-x T.sub.x).sub.100-b (B.sub.1-y Y.sub.y).sub.b, where T is at least one of Cr and V, Y is at least one of carbon and silicon, B is boron, x ranges from about 0.05 to 0.25, y ranges from about 0 to 0.75 and b ranges from about 14 to 28.

Abstract: A magnetic glassy metal alloy sheet is annealed at elevated temperature in a first magnetic field oriented in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the sheet. A second anneal may be performed in a weaker magnetic field in a direction substantially normal to the first field to minimize AC hysteresis losses. The annealed magnetic glassy metal alloy sheet has improved soft magnetic properties such as low hysteresis losses and may be used for transformer cores and the like.