Patents Issued in August 16, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070188124
    Abstract: To be able to supply a large drive current to a motor and to be able to downside the motor. In driving to rotate a motor, a first drive cycle of driving transistors to an ON state and driving transistors to an OFF state, and a second drive cycle of driving the transistors to the ON state and driving the transistors to the OFF state are carried out alternately, and in braking the motor provided at an interval between times of driving to rotate the motor, the transistors are driven to the ON state, the transistors are driven to the OFF state. A large drive current is made to be able to supply to the motor and the motor is made to be able to be downsized by using the transistors for driving the motor and for electrostatic resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Kenji Ogasawara, Yoshihiro Shibuya
  • Publication number: 20070188125
    Abstract: An alternating current, multiphase, squirrel cage induction electric motor in a unique inverted design, including a method of applying the motor with controls, operator interface, batteries, and peripheral devices to propel a non-polluting electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: BJ Shepard
  • Publication number: 20070188126
    Abstract: Method and apparatus comprising used batteries for surface charging an automobile battery. A surface charge provides a time limited window in which to start a vehicle comprising a surface charged battery for example. Use of used batteries provides for environmentally effective manner in which to deal with the tremendous amount of used batteries that are discarded worldwide each year. The apparatus may comprise a charging circuit to allow for recharging the used batteries. Recharging “non-rechargeable” batteries at least once provides a destination for used batteries that have until now been discarded. Embodiments may comprise an LED to signify when a target battery comprises sufficient surface charge to warrant an attempt to start an engine. The apparatus is a small portable device that can stored anywhere in a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick Dickson, Rod Bronson
  • Publication number: 20070188127
    Abstract: Electrically driven passenger transport vehicles are supplied with energy by an external electric supply network. If the external energy supply fails, vehicles of this type require special auxiliary devices that do not rely on the supply network, for example rely on auxiliary vehicles, in order to move said vehicles again. A vehicle can move independently during a failure of the external energy supply, by switching the electric drive of said vehicle to a battery drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Markus Glasl, Martin Dorninger, Gunther Jerabek, Matthias Eder, Andreas Trenner
  • Publication number: 20070188128
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a rechargeable power source and a recharging connector arrangement arranged at least partly on an outer surface of the device and configured to connect the power source to a charging apparatus thereof. The recharging connector arrangement is configured to operate as a user interface of the device to control functions of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Carl-Gustaf Blom
  • Publication number: 20070188129
    Abstract: A backup pump control unit can incorporate ports to receive rechargeable batteries such as lithium ion, nickel cadmium or nickel metal hydride batteries. Multiple units can be coupled together to increase the available, stored electrical energy. In the absence of AC-type input power, the batteries can energize a backup pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: John Kochan
  • Publication number: 20070188130
    Abstract: A scalable intelligent power-supply system and method capable of powering a defined load for a specified period of time is disclosed and claimed. Multiple external AC and DC inputs supply power to the system if available and required. An internal DC input from a back-up energy source is on board. The back-up energy source is scalable by adding additional energy cartridges such as batteries in racks mounted within frames of the system. The AC and DC inputs (including the internal DC input) are controlled, measured, sensed, and converted by circuitry controlled by the microprocessor into multiple AC and/or DC outputs. A microprocessor manages power input to, within, and output from the system. The performance of a Lithium-ion batteries used to power an automobile can be determined on the basis individual battery packs or individual battery cells within the packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Karl F. Scheucher
  • Publication number: 20070188131
    Abstract: A battery pack for a mobile device, a method for processing fault notifications for a mobile device, and a mobile device for processing fault notifications are described. The battery pack comprises a housing, at least one battery cell within the housing, and a memory accessible by an application of the mobile device, the memory having stored thereon identifying information for identifying at least one of the battery pack and battery cell. Notifications are sent to mobile device including fault parameters for identifying at least one battery pack and/or battery cell affected by a fault. If the identifying information is within the fault parameters, displaying a fault notification on the display of the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventor: Martin Guthrie
  • Publication number: 20070188132
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery pack, which comprises a connecting member including an insulation frame mounted to the upper end of a battery cell and a pair of connection protrusions formed at the upper end surface of the frame, the connection protrusions being in contact with electrode terminals of the battery cell, a protection circuit module (PCM) mounted to the connecting member, the PCM including connection grooves, into which the connection protrusions are inserted such that the PCM can be coupled to the connecting member, and which are connected to a protection circuit, and a cap housing coupled to the connecting member or the battery cell while the PCM is surrounded by the cap housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Jung-hwan Kim, Ki eob Moon, Seogjin Yoon, Cheol Lee
  • Publication number: 20070188133
    Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery; a current detecting unit which detects charging and discharging currents of the battery and outputs an analog signal corresponding to the charging and discharging currents; a modulating unit which modulates the analog signal to be a PDM (pulse density modulation) signal by applying a PDM modulation to the analog signal; a memory in which a conversion program for converting the PDM signal into PCM (pulse code modulation) data and a remaining battery charge calculating program for calculating a remaining battery charge by accumulating the PCM data are stored; and a CPU, which converts the PDM signal into the PCM data which are digital data by being supplied the PDM signal from the modulating unit while executing the conversion program stored in the memory, and calculates the remaining battery charge by accumulating the PCM data while executing the remaining battery charge calculating program stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Itsuki Nakano, Akira Ikeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070188134
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for charging a battery using a switching regulator. Some embodiments include programmable switching battery chargers that can be configured using digital techniques. Other embodiments include switching battery chargers that modify the battery current based on sensed circuit conditions such as battery voltage or input current to the switching regulator. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a USB battery charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Summit Microelectronics, Inc
    Inventors: M. Hussain, Kenneth Adkins, Georgios Paparrizos
  • Publication number: 20070188135
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for charging battery packs. A battery pack connects to an external battery charger. A processor of the battery pack recognizes that the processor is connected the external battery charger. The external battery charger provides charging parameters to the battery pack. The processor sends charging parameters to the external battery in response to recognizing that the processor is connected to the external battery charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Shigefumi Odaohhara
  • Publication number: 20070188136
    Abstract: A battery charge control apparatus includes a memory unit that stores charge termination currents that correspond to a plurality of charge modes, respectively. A control unit receives a designed capacity (full charge capacity) of a battery and an actual charge capacity thereof from a battery pack through a smart bus, and confirms whether the battery is currently in a full charge state. If it is confirmed that the battery is not in the full charge state, the control unit sends a charge unit a charge initiation control signal for controlling initiation of battery charging. Further, if a charge mode is designated, the control unit reads a charge termination current corresponding to the designated charge mode from the memory unit. Moreover, the control unit detects a charge voltage, i.e., a voltage difference ?V between both ends of a resistor R connected between a power supply and the battery pack, and calculates a charge current I using the detected voltage V and the resistance of resistor R.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jang Oh
  • Publication number: 20070188137
    Abstract: A scalable intelligent power-supply system and method capable of powering a defined load for a specified period of time is disclosed and claimed. Multiple external AC and DC inputs supply power to the system if available and required. An internal DC input from a back-up energy source is on board. The back-up energy source is scalable by adding additional energy cartridges such as batteries in racks mounted within frames of the system. The AC and DC inputs (including the internal DC input) are controlled, measured, sensed, and converted by circuitry controlled by the microprocessor into multiple AC and/or DC outputs. A microprocessor manages power input to, within, and output from the system. The performance of a Lithium-ion batteries used to power an automobile can be determined on the basis individual battery packs or individual battery cells within the packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Karl Scheucher
  • Publication number: 20070188138
    Abstract: A voltage balancer device has a plurality of discharge paths. Each pair of the discharge paths correspond to each secondary battery unit. Each of a pair of the discharge paths has a resistance of a different value. Discharging the voltage of each secondary battery unit is at first performed through the discharge path of a smaller resistance value. The voltage balancer device switches the currently used discharge path to another discharge path having a large resistance value at the time the voltage of the secondary battery unit nearly equal a desired voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20070188139
    Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a system and method of charging a battery using a switching regulator. In one embodiment, a switching regulator receives an input voltage and input current. The output of the switching regulator is coupled to a battery to be charged. The switching regulator provides a current into the battery that is larger than the current into the switching regulator. As the voltage on the battery increases, the current provided by the switching regulator is reduced. The present invention may be implemented using either analog or digital techniques for reducing the current into the battery as the battery voltage increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Summit Microelectronics, Inc
    Inventors: M. Hussain, Kenneth Adkins, Georgios Paparrizos
  • Publication number: 20070188140
    Abstract: A charging-discharging control device has a selector, a charging circuit and at least two battery packs. The selector has a controller and a discharging switch. When a controller input voltage is higher than a preset voltage, the controller generates a charge-discharge signal of a first voltage level, and when the controller input voltage is not higher than the preset voltage, the controller generates the charge-discharge signal of a second voltage level, and the discharging switch is turned on. The charging circuit coupled to the selector. When the charge-discharge signal is at the first voltage level, the charging circuit charges the battery packs. When the charge-discharge signal is at the second voltage level, the battery packs supply the power to a loading system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Sheng-Feng Chen
  • Publication number: 20070188141
    Abstract: A method controls a battery pack that includes a rechargeable battery, a control circuit that controls charge operation of the battery, and a charge control element that controls the charge current through the control circuit. In the method, even though the control circuit controls the charge control element so that the charge control element turns to OFF, in a case where the charge current is detected, the control circuit determines that abnormality occurs if detecting that the current flows at a rate not less than a first current value during a first detection period, and additionally determines that abnormality occurs if detecting a state the current flows at a rate less than the first current value for a second detection period longer than the first detection period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hamaguchi, Toru Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20070188142
    Abstract: Provided is a charging and discharging control circuit in which a delay circuit is built in an over discharge detector circuit, an over-charge detector circuit, or the like, and a delay time of the detector circuit can be changed from an external without adding a control terminal, thereby reducing a test time of the detector circuit. A voltage detector circuit is disposed between a power supply terminal and a power supply voltage detection terminal of the charging and discharging control circuit, and the voltage detector circuit detects a specified voltage or higher, to thereby shorten the delay time of the internal control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Takao Nakashimo
  • Publication number: 20070188143
    Abstract: A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for determining an estimated combined battery state-parameter vector are provided. The method determines the estimated combined battery state-parameter vector based on a plurality of predicted the combined battery state-parameter vectors, a plurality of predicted battery output vectors, and a battery output vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Gregory Plett
  • Publication number: 20070188144
    Abstract: An information processing unit of an electronic apparatus includes a power manager managing power of a secondary battery, and has major functions and a supplementary function. The power manager initiates restriction of the supplementary functions, when present remaining battery power of the secondary battery as detected by a detector is below a predetermined threshold. The power manager computes one of the predetermined threshold for the secondary battery and a set operating time for the major functions from the remaining battery power at the predetermined threshold, in accordance with the other of the predetermined threshold for the secondary battery and the set operating time for the major functions from the remaining battery power at the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yasushi Hara, Yoshiyasu Nakashima, Satoshi Kazama, Koichi Yokota, Akira Shiba
  • Publication number: 20070188145
    Abstract: A mobile terminal device and method are provided for displaying remaining battery capacity. The device and method comprise internal and external batteries installed on the mobile terminal, a display unit displaying remaining battery capacity, a battery detecting unit identifying whether the external battery is additionally installed, a remaining battery capacity measuring unit measuring total recharged voltage of the internal and external batteries and a control unit displaying the total remaining battery capacity on the display unit corresponding to the measured total recharged voltage. Accordingly, a user may identify installation of the external battery more easily and avoid confusion due to rapid display changes in remaining battery capacity displayed as a recharged voltage difference between the internal and external batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Bum Kim, Moon Lee, Yun Kim
  • Publication number: 20070188146
    Abstract: A disclosed circuit for detecting remaining battery capacity includes: a current detection unit detecting a charge and discharge current of a battery; a remaining capacity measurement unit measuring remaining capacity of the battery by integrating the charge and discharge current at first time intervals when the charge and discharge current detected in the current detection unit is not more than a predetermined value and at second time intervals shorter than the first time intervals when the charge and discharge current exceeds the predetermined value; and an interrupt signal generation unit generating an interrupt signal when the charge and discharge current exceeds a reference value and instructing the remaining capacity measurement unit to measure remaining capacity of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Itsuki Nakano, Akira Ikeuchi
  • Publication number: 20070188147
    Abstract: A system and method links batteries in parallel to conductors using wire bonds that act as fuses in the event of an overcurrent condition in a battery. To protect the wire bonds in the case of a larger overcurrent condition, a fuse may be added in series to the parallel batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Jeffrey Straubel, David Lyons, Eugene Berdichevsky, Scott Kohn, Ryan Teixeira
  • Publication number: 20070188148
    Abstract: a battery pack includes a switching element, a heat resistor, and a fuse. The switching element turns to ON if the battery pack becomes in an abnormal state. The heat resistor is connected to the switching element and a battery in serial. Current flows through the heat resistor when the switching element turns to ON. The fuse is located in a position where the fuse is heated by the heat resistor through which the current flows. The fuse is connected to the battery in serial so that the fuse is disconnected with heat by the heat resistor at high temperature. Thus, the fuse cut a current flow in the battery. If the battery pack is in an abnormal state, when the capacity or voltage of the battery is less than a preset capacity or voltage value, the fuse is disconnected with heat by turning the switching element to ON.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawasumi, Toru Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20070188149
    Abstract: A battery voltage monitoring apparatus to monitor a voltage of an assembled battery having a plurality of battery cells, the battery voltage monitoring apparatus comprises a first voltage sensor module having a voltage sensor and a first and a second module terminals connected to the voltage sensor, a second voltage sensor module having a voltage sensor different from the voltage sensor included in the first voltage sensor module and a third module terminal connected to the voltage sensor, a first terminal connected to the first and the third module terminals, a second terminal connected to the second module terminal, and a voltage clamp circuit to clamp a voltage between the first and the second terminals disposed between the first and the second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONIC CORPORATIONS
    Inventor: Manabu Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20070188150
    Abstract: A system for supervising a battery that supplies power to an electrical unit includes a control part that is supplied with power from the battery and executes a predetermined process when abnormal discharge of the battery occurs; an activation part that detects current consumed in the battery when the electrical unit and the control part are in a sleep mode and activates the control part when the activation part detects abnormal discharge that occurs when an amount of the current consumed in the battery exceeds a given threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuhi Yamaguchi, Masato Ishio, Shinji Yamashita, Shinji Takemoto, Shinichiro Takatomi
  • Publication number: 20070188151
    Abstract: A power generation control device enables to conduct appropriate charge control and load limitations even if a technique (charge control technique) for restricting power generation by a generator in an accelerating state of a movable body is adopted in a movable body such as a vehicle in which a technique (load limiting technique) for imposing limitations on a power supply when a quantity of suppliable electricity decreased has been adopted. The power generation control device for controlling a generator for a movable body which stores electric power in a battery comprises a unit for restricting power generation by the generator based on a battery suppliable current which can be taken out of the battery, a quantity of electricity generated by the generator, an essential supply current consumed by an electric load to which electric power must be supplied and a load working current consumed by an electric load which does not necessarily require a power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Kazuhi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20070188152
    Abstract: An electric generation control apparatus for a vehicle alternator receives an electric generation control signal transferred from an ECU placed apart from the control apparatus through a data transfer line. The control apparatus has a voltage comparator, a communication state judgment circuit, a serial data communication receiver, a PWM communication receiver, and an electric generation control circuit. The voltage comparator acts as a receiver of receiving the electric generation control signal transferred through the data transfer line. The communication state judgment circuit judges whether the received signal is a PWM signal or a serial data signal. The serial data communication receiver and the PWM communication receiver demodulate an electric generation control parameter from the received control signal based on the judgment result. The electric generation control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle alternator based on the electric generation control parameter demodulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tadatoshi Asada
  • Publication number: 20070188153
    Abstract: The main purpose of this invention is a system for conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy by electrostatic conversion, comprising at least one fixed electrode (2) and at least one mobile electrode (4) that can be vibrated by mechanical energy, facing the fixed electrode, said fixed (2) and mobile (4) electrodes being separated at rest by an air gap distance (?), said system comprising means (12) of modifying the air gap distance as a function of the variation of the vibration amplitude of the mobile electrode (4). Another purpose of this invention is an energy conversion method using such a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Thomas Jager, Jean-Jacques Chaillout, Ghislain Despesse
  • Publication number: 20070188154
    Abstract: A linear voltage regulator comprises a transistor for converting a supply voltage to an output voltage. By directly monitoring the supply voltage and thereby rapidly responding when the supply voltage suffers a ripple, the linear voltage regulator enhances the stability of the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsuan Fan, Chao-Hsuan Chuang, Hung-Che Chou, Ching-Hsiang Yang, Chih-Ping Tan
  • Publication number: 20070188155
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit device having an output portion that outputs via a switch element a predetermined voltage to the outside from a voltage output terminal through a voltage output line and a control portion that performs predetermined control based on a control signal inputted from outside to a signal input line or a signal input terminal that is so arranged as to be adjacent to a voltage output line or a voltage output terminal. To achieve a highly-reliable semiconductor integrated circuit device that is prevented from being broken even when the voltage output terminal and a terminal adjacent thereto are short-circuited, there is provided a voltage detection portion that detects that a voltage higher than a reference voltage is inputted to the signal input line or the signal input terminal and feeds the resultant signal to the output portion as a voltage detection signal, and the output portion opens the switch element when the voltage detection signal is provided thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Hirokazu Oki, Yuzo Ide
  • Publication number: 20070188156
    Abstract: Circuits and methods to provide an LDO output stage implemented with low-voltage devices and still allowing higher voltage levels have been achieved. The output stage has been built using two low voltage MOS devices in series. During the time the regulator is in active mode the second MOS device acts as a small resistor in series to the pass device. During power down this second device actively protects the MOS pass device and itself from high voltage stress levels. This is achieved by a robust regulating mechanism that compensates leakage currents. These leakage currents normally determine the different potentials of the output stage during power down. Although the second transistor presents a resistive obstacle during active mode the total chip area required is smaller compared to a single pass device tolerating e.g. 5 Volts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Matthias Eberlein
  • Publication number: 20070188157
    Abstract: It is intended to reduce a size and a cost of a high-voltage power supply unit applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a neon billboard, The high-voltage power supply includes at least a high-voltage transformer and a driving circuit for driving the high-voltage transformer and supplies power to a load connected to a secondary side of the high-voltage transformer. The high-voltage power supply further includes: a high-voltage switching circuit for switching polarity of a DC output voltage generated on the secondary side of the high-voltage transformer; and a control circuit for controlling switching by the high-voltage switching circuit based on a load current that is caused to flow by application of the DC current output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Hatano
  • Publication number: 20070188158
    Abstract: A locating device, in particular a hand-held locating device, for detecting objects enclosed in a medium, having a housing and at least one sensor system provided in a housing, as well as an opening penetrating the device. The opening in the measuring device and penetrating the device is illuminable by at least one light source provided in the measuring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Uwe Skultety-Betz
  • Publication number: 20070188159
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit comprises: a latch circuit constituted with a drive inverter and a feedback inverter so as to be connected in a cyclic form, wherein at least one of the drive inverter and the feedback inverter comprises a MOS transistor; and a current source connected to at least one of latch nodes of the latch unit. The magnitude relation of electric current flown in the MOS transistor and electric current flown in the current source is judged based on presence or absence of inversions in data values latched in the latch node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Kouhei Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20070188160
    Abstract: A detection seat for an IC detection device includes a frame and an integrated circuit coupling seat. The frame is mounted on a detection board of an integrated circuit detection device. The IC coupling seat includes an outer perimeter releasably engaged with the frame. The IC coupling seat includes a recessed portion adapted for receiving an integrated circuit to be tested. The recessed portion includes a plurality of contact terminals arranged corresponding to a plurality of pins of the integrated circuit to be tested. When the detection board is changed, the frame or the IC coupling seat can be replaced with a desired one without the need of replacing the whole IC detection seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Simon Shiu
  • Publication number: 20070188161
    Abstract: The purpose is to achieve size reduction, weight reduction and thickness reduction of a magnetic material detecting device (1). The device comprises a liearly displaceable magnet (12) and a Hall IC (14) for detecting the displacement of the magnet (12). When an iron piece (28) is positioned within a predetermined distance from the main body of the magnetic material detecting device (1), the iron piece (28) is strongly magnetized to attract the magnet (12) so that the latter is displaced toward the iron piece (28). Therefore, when the displacement of a magnet (14) is detected by the Hall IC (14), it is possible to detect the fact that the iron piece (28) has been positioned within the predetermined distance from the main body of the magnetic material detecting device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Yukihiro Asa
  • Publication number: 20070188162
    Abstract: The invention concerns position sensors, in particular their detector unit. The role of the existing invention is to simplify a position sensor of this construction principal so that function is guaranteed with sufficient accuracy, despite clearly lower production costs. It was determined that when using an electrically conductive waveguide, which simultaneously serves as an electrical conductor, with coaxial configuration of the detector coil directly on the electrical conductor and configuration of a corresponding shielding around the detector coil, in particular in the form of a flux-guide component, the information signal sufficiently differentiates itself from the existing interfering signal, in particular if the shielding surrounds the detector coil as tightly as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Klaus Steinich
  • Publication number: 20070188163
    Abstract: A sensor device is suggested, comprising a sensor module with a housing, with at least one sensor element which is arranged in the housing, at least one active sensor face and a sensor module connection device and a holding module for holding the sensor module, a holding module connection device which is adapted to the sensor module connection device, wherein the sensor module can be fixed to the holding module via the sensor module connection device and the holding module connection device and an electrical connection can be made available between the sensor module and the holding module, and wherein the holding module is provided for the fixing to an application or is part of an application, the supply of energy to the sensor module is brought about via the holding module and the coupling out of signals is brought about via the holding module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Jagiella, Winfried Kunzweiler, Urs Matter, Simon Mahler
  • Publication number: 20070188164
    Abstract: A device for detecting the linear and angular positions of a moving element such as a gearchange finger in a motor vehicle gearbox, the moving element carrying at least one permanent magnet that is movable past a printed circuit card mounted on a stationary support and carrying magnetoresistance cells. The invention enables the transmission ratio engaged in a gearbox to be detected continuously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Guillaume Hodin, Stephane Rosson, Jean-Pierre Baz
  • Publication number: 20070188165
    Abstract: Conductive wires run parallel to each other and connect a Hall element and an ECU. The conductive wire includes an extracting part and a wiring part. The extracting part runs along a surface of a base, on which the Hall element is positioned, and in a direction of a sensitivity of the Hall element. The wiring part extends from the extracting part and runs near a rotating crankshaft in an axial direction of the crankshaft. Similar to the conductive wire, the conductive wire includes an extracting part and a wiring part. Conductive wires run parallel to each other and connect a Hall element and the ECU. The conductive wires include an extracting part and a wiring part, and an extracting part and a wiring part, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kitanaka, Takashi Kawashima, Koichiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20070188166
    Abstract: A magnetic head testing apparatus and a method of testing a magnetic head cause electromagnetic waves to act upon a magnetic head and therefore can test the characteristics of a magnetic head more precisely and improve the quality of magnetic heads. The magnetic head testing apparatus includes: a magnetic field generating unit for causing a magnetic field to act upon a tested object on which a magnetic head including an MR element is formed; a resistance detecting unit for measuring changes in resistance of the MR element of the magnetic head formed on the tested object when the intensity of the magnetic field is increased and decreased by the magnetic field generating unit; and an electromagnetic wave generating unit for causing electromagnetic waves to act upon the tested object to detect the characteristics of the tested object in an environment where electromagnetic waves act thereupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Song Suk
  • Publication number: 20070188167
    Abstract: A magnetic head suffers mechanical stresses by striking against a magnetic disc surface and dust, so that there are problems such as the reduction of reproduction output due to the mechanical stresses and the reversal of output polarity due to the mechanical stresses. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to a method of testing reliability of reproduction elements of a magnetic head against outside stress. In a first step, a Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) element on a row bar of the object of inspection, or a GMR element on a slider is measured for the output against external magnetic field. In the next step, prescribed shearing stress is applied with indenter to the edge where the GMR element-formed surface of the row bar or slider and the air-bearing surface are crossed. Then, output of the GMR element is measured again. Lastly, the outputs of the GMR element before and after application of stress are compared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Shinji Sasaki, Makoto Torigoe, Takayoshi Ohtsu, Kouji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20070188168
    Abstract: A coil is operatively associated with a magnetic circuit of a vehicle body, and is adapted to cooperate with a time-varying magnetic flux therein responsive to a condition of the vehicle body sensed by the magnetic sensor. A capacitance in series with the coil provides for reducing the reactance of the resulting series LC circuit, and provides for increasing the sensitivity of changes in impedance and impedance phase angle of the impedance thereof responsive to changes in the associated resistance or inductance thereof. A second inductance in the series LC circuit provides for independently selecting the associated capacitance value, and an associated adjustable inductance and/or capacitance in the series LC circuit provides for adapting to variation in the inductance of the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: James Stanley, Timothy Bomya
  • Publication number: 20070188169
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the thickness of material by penetrating the material, in particular a method for measuring the thickness of walls, ceilings and floors, with which a measurement signal (28) in the gigahertz frequency range emitted using a high-frequency transmitter (24) penetrates the material (10) to be investigated at least once and is detected by a high-frequency receiver (38). According to the present invention, it is provided that the thickness (d) of the material (10) is measured via at least two transit-time measurements of the measurement signal (28) performed at various positions (20, 22) of the high-frequency transmitter (24) and/or the high-frequency receiver (34). The present invention also relates to a device system (12; 40, 140, 240, 340) for carrying out the method described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: ROVERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Mahler, Ulli Hoffmann, Reiner Krapf, Christoph Wieland, Felix Wewers
  • Publication number: 20070188170
    Abstract: A flexible fluxgate including: at least two ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic, flexible cores; at least two sets of a plurality of windings of an electrically conductive material, at least one set of windings being wound around each of the cores; and an electrically conductive, flexible shield enclosing the cores and the windings. The fluxgate may have a considerable length, e.g. several hundreds of metres, and can be arranged in an open loop. The fluxgate may be used in an access control system. Various fluxgate magnetometers are disclosed as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Geoffrey Bartington
  • Publication number: 20070188171
    Abstract: A method of magnetic resonance is provided that uses a frequency swept excitation wherein the acquired signal is a time domain signal is provided. In one embodiment, the sweeping frequency excitation has a duration and is configured to sequentially excite isochromats having different resonant frequencies. Acquisition of the time domain signal is done during the duration of the sweeping frequency excitation. The time domain signal is based on evolution of the isochromats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Garwood, Djaudat Idiyatullin
  • Publication number: 20070188172
    Abstract: A method of magnetic resonance is provided that uses a frequency swept excitation wherein the acquired signal is a time domain signal is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises, applying a sweeping frequency excitation and acquiring a time domain signal. The sweeping frequency excitation has a duration and is configured to sequentially excite isochromats having different resonant frequencies. Acquisition of the time domain signal is done during the duration of the sweeping frequency excitation. The time domain signal is based on evolution of the isochromats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Garwood, Djaudat Idiyatullin, Curt Corum, Steen Moeller
  • Publication number: 20070188173
    Abstract: A magnetic field gradient coil includes upper and lower sections (40, 42) that define a coil bore (44) therebetween. The upper section (40) has an arcuate curvature (Cupper)transverse to a longitudinal direction and a length (Lupper)in the longitudinal direction that is smaller than a longitudinal length (Llower) of the lower section (42). Gradient coil windings (70, 72, 74, 76, 102, 104, 112, 114) impose one or more transverse magnetic field gradients on a static magnetic field generally oriented in the longitudinal direction. The coil windings are supported by both the upper and lower sections (40, 42) of the coils support. The coil windings supported by the upper section (40) are longitudinally limited in distribution to the longitudinal length (Lupper) of the upper section (40), which is shorter than its diameter. The coil windings supported by the lower section (42) are longitudinally distributed across substantially the longitudinal length. (LioWer) of the lower section (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Overweg