Patents Issued in July 3, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080157728
    Abstract: In a conventional reactive-power compensator using a static reactive-power compensator (SVC), there are many cases in which the SVC is operating in a state in which it generates an amount of reactive power equivalent to a large part of its capacity. When an unforeseen large voltage fluctuation occurs in this state, the SVC can not sufficiently generate the amount of reactive power required to mitigate the voltage fluctuation. In some cases, such a voltage fluctuation can not be brought under control. To address this situation, a reactive-power compensator utilizes a reactive-power control apparatus that includes a comparison voltage generator for generating, for a control target voltage and to mitigate voltage fluctuation, a comparison voltage restricted within predetermined limits and obeying a predetermined time-lag characteristic. A differential voltage generator generates a differential voltage that is the difference between the comparison voltage and the control target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohiro Toki, Masatoshi Takeda, Yoshiyuki Kono, Koji Temma
  • Publication number: 20080157729
    Abstract: A voltage generator has a control circuit for controlling a dual-mode charge pump that has multiple control options provided by an optional pull down control signal and an optional stop control signal. The dual-mode charge pump is enabled by a high voltage enable control signal from a control circuit to provide a thigh-voltage output voltage level Vpp or a low-voltage output voltage level Vdd. A current sink transistor is coupled from the output of the dual-mode charge pump to a ground reference through a current sink control switch transistor that is turned on by the optional pull down control signal. A dual output op amp compared a fixed voltage reference to a voltage proportional to the output voltage of the charge pump. The op amp has a high voltage output signal terminal that turns on the current sink transistor and a low voltage output signal that is coupled to the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: ATMEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Johnny Chan
  • Publication number: 20080157730
    Abstract: A high-voltage generation circuit used for a non-volatile memory device reduces the overshoot of a high voltage by controlling a current for sensing the high voltage based on the level of the high voltage or by delaying the operation of an oscillator, which generates a clock signal for generating the high voltage, for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Young-Taek Kim, Byeong-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20080157731
    Abstract: Analog voltage drain with reduced current drain is achieved by a a new capacitive-divided feedback architecture. During the operational phase an op amp monitors a capacitively-divided fraction of the output voltage, and drives a current sink or source accordingly; during an initial phase the output is forced to the correct value by a different circuit, while the opamp is connected to self-tune itself in a way which removes DC offset effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 1, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Feng Pan
  • Publication number: 20080157732
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes a pre-converter stage, which may include a charge pump, and a post-regulator stage, which may include a boost converter. The duty factor of the post-regulator stage is controlled by a feedback path that extends from the output terminal of the DC/DC converter to an input terminal in the post-regulator stage. The pre-converter steps the input DC voltage up or down by a positive or negative integral or fractional value, and the post-regulator steps the voltage up by a variable amount depending on the duty factor at which the post-regulator is driven. The converter overcomes the problems of noise glitches, poor regulation, and instability, even near unity input-to-output voltage conversion ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard K. Williams
  • Publication number: 20080157733
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter includes a pre-regulator stage, which may include a boost converter, and a post-converter stage, which may include a charge pump. The duty factor of the pre-regulator stage is controlled by a feedback path that extends from the output terminal of the pre-regulator stage or the post-converter stage. The pre-regulator steps the input DC voltage up by a variable amount depending on the duty factor, and the post-converter steps the voltage at the output of the pre-regulator up or down by an positive or negative integral or fractional value. The converter overcomes the problems of noise glitches, poor regulation, and instability, even near unity input-to-output voltage conversion ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard K. Williams
  • Publication number: 20080157734
    Abstract: A charge pump for converting a voltage at an input node into a regulated voltage and outputting the regulated voltage at an output node, includes: a first capacitor; a first switch with adjustable on-state resistance coupled between a first electrode of the first capacitor and the output node; a second switch coupled between a second electrode of the capacitor and ground; a third switch coupled between the input node and the second electrode of the capacitor; a fourth switch with adjustable on-state resistance coupled between the input node and the first electrode of the capacitor; a feedback loop for monitoring the regulated voltage of the output node and generating a control signal to regulate resistances of the first, fourth switches; an oscillator for generating a first and second pulse signals to switch the open/close states of the first, third switches and the second, fourth switches, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Fitipower Integrated Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: WEI-WEN FENG, WEN-YEN LEE
  • Publication number: 20080157735
    Abstract: A adaptive pole and zero and Pole-Zero Cancellation Control Low Drop-Out (LDO) regulator is provided, which includes a regulation unit, an error amplifier, a Miller Effect Pole control unit, a Pole Zero Cancellation delay unit, and a feedback network. Pole and Zero could be adaptive regulated depend on various loads and maintain stably in a perfect phase margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yen-Jen Liu, Yung-Pin Lee, Chung-Wei Lin
  • Publication number: 20080157736
    Abstract: A controller is provided for DC-DC converters of the type associated with a half-bridge driving stage of at least one inductive load, with a pair of power MOS transistors in Highside and Lowside configuration being driven by a corresponding converter. The controller includes an input for connection to a terminal of the inductive load. The controller also includes a read block for reading an inductive load phase current at the terminal, an over current comparator having a first input coupled to an output of the read block, and a bypass compensation network including an error amplifier block having a first input coupled to the terminal through a voltage divider, and a second input coupled to a reference potential. The compensation network has an output that is coupled to a second input of the over current comparator, and an output of the over current comparator is supplied to the DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.
    Inventor: ALESSANDRO ZAFARANA
  • Publication number: 20080157737
    Abstract: A method for designing a digital compensator for a switching mode power supply is provided such that the digital compensator has complex conjugated zero pair or a right hand pole to eliminate the complex conjugated pole pair or right hand zero in the transfer function of the control-to-output voltage of the switching mode power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Wei-Hsu Chang, Dan Chen
  • Publication number: 20080157738
    Abstract: This patent specification describes a DC-DC converter which includes a switch configured to control an output voltage, a driver circuit configured to drive the switch, a flip-flop configured to control the driver circuit, an error amplifier configured to compare a feedback voltage of the output voltage with a reference voltage, a detector configured to sense an output current, a control voltage generator configured to generate a control voltage being ramped and a PWM comparator configured to compare the control voltage with an output voltage of the error amplifier and output a reset signal to the flip-flop. Ramping speed of the control voltage is changed in accordance with an external-control voltage input at an external-control terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Nishida
  • Publication number: 20080157739
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to regulate a power supply with a compensation signal generation circuit. One example regulated power supply includes a sense circuit coupled to sense an output voltage of the regulated power supply. The regulated power supply also includes a switching power converter circuit, which includes a switch coupled to be switched in response to a control signal received from the sense circuit to regulate the output voltage of the regulated power supply. The regulated power supply also includes a compensation signal generation circuit coupled to receive a switching signal representative of a switching of the switch in the switching power converter circuit. The compensation signal generation circuit is to generate a compensation signal to approximate a load current to be delivered from an output of the regulated power supply. The compensation signal is to be received by the sense circuit to modify the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Mayell, Chan Woong Park
  • Publication number: 20080157740
    Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit includes a digital control block, an amplifier and a transistor. The digital control block receives a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage, converts the received voltages from analog to digital signals, performs an integration operation on the converted signals, and converts the result of the integration operation to an analog signal. The amplifier is responsive to the output of the digital control block and to a regulated output voltage of the regulator circuit. The transistor has a first terminal responsive to the output of the amplifier, a second terminal that receives the input voltage being regulated, and a third terminal that supplies the regulated output voltage. The transistor may be an NMOS or a bipolar NPN transistor. The feedback voltage may be generated by dividing the regulated output voltage. The digital control block optionally generates a biasing signal to bias the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Decicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Hakan Ates Gurcan
  • Publication number: 20080157741
    Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a power field effect transistor and a control-loop circuit. The power field effect transistor has a threshold voltage, a drain terminal receiving an input voltage, a source terminal providing an output voltage and a load current, a gate terminal responsive to a control signal, and a bulk terminal. The control-loop circuit is responsive to the output voltage and providing the control signal, and is configured to adjust the control signal to such a value that the output voltage is regulated to a constant value. In addition, the threshold voltage of the power field effect transistor is modified dependent on the load current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Emanuele Bodano
  • Publication number: 20080157742
    Abstract: A power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. A controller (e.g., a processor device, ASIC) monitors an output voltage generated by a combination of multiple power converter phases that supply power to a load. Based on the monitoring, the controller determines: i) a magnitude of an error signal representing a relative difference between the output voltage and a predetermined setpoint value, and ii) a rate-of-change associated with the output voltage. The controller compares the rate-of-change to threshold criteria. In response to detecting that the rate-of-change associated with the output voltage exceeds a threshold value, the controller adjusts a time of turning on of a phase switch (e.g., a power switch configured to convey an input voltage to an inductor that in turn delivers energy to the load) in one or more of the multiple power converter phases depending on the magnitude of the error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Gary D. Martin, Praveen K. Jain
  • Publication number: 20080157743
    Abstract: A power supply system delivers current to a load at a corresponding load voltage. The power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. Each power conversion phase comprises a phase switch and a phase inductor. In one embodiment, activation of a corresponding phase switch (e.g., a field effect transistor such as a MOSFET) electrically couples a voltage input (e.g., Vin) to an inductor electrically coupled to deliver current to a load. A controller (e.g., a processor device) associated with the power supply system is configured to monitor the load and/or a change in the current delivered to the load. Based on the monitoring, the controller modifies a relative timing of an initiation and duration of on-times of the phase switches in order to alter a rate-of-change of the current delivered by the power supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Gary D. Martin, Praveen K. Jain
  • Publication number: 20080157744
    Abstract: A voltage supply circuit including: first and second nodes; a predetermined potential; and an output transistor having its control terminal connected to the first node, its first terminal connected to the second node and its second terminal connected to an output terminal. The circuit further includes: a switching element which turns on in response to an active reset signal to connect the potential and the first and second nodes together; a first capacitor connected to the first node and supplied with a clock; a second capacitor connected to the second node and supplied with another clock; and an adjustment section adapted to adjust the clock amplitudes so that the potentials of the first and second nodes vary with a predetermined difference maintained therebetween. The reset signal is basically reverse in phase to the clocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiichiro Jinta
  • Publication number: 20080157745
    Abstract: A circuit system comprising a power supply unit configured by a POL power source and a circuit unit of a low voltage/large current consumption for receiving supply of power from this power supply unit and able to respond to a sudden change of load of the circuit unit at a high speed, whereupon the circuit unit is provided with an increase prediction function unit for predicting in advance an increase of its internal power consumption and wherein when an increase is predicted in the function unit, increase prediction information is given to a power supply control function unit before an output voltage of a power supply unit starts to drop so that a power supply capability of the power supply unit is increased in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Nobuki Nakata
  • Publication number: 20080157746
    Abstract: Bandgap reference circuits capable of preventing start failure. A voltage generation circuit generates a temperature-independent fixed voltage and comprises a current mirror, an operational amplifier, and first and second BJT transistors. A start-up circuit triggers the current mirror until at least one of the first and second BJT transistors operates in a forward-active region when powering on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventor: Mu-Jung Chen
  • Publication number: 20080157747
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling the power in a load supplied by an A.C. voltage and directly connected to a first terminal of application of the A.C. voltage, including two isolated-gate bipolar transistors, connected in anti-parallel between a second terminal of application of the A.C. voltage and the load; circuitry for detecting the zero crossing of the A.C. supply voltage in a first direction; circuitry for generating, at each period of the supply voltage, a pulse of predetermined duration for controlling a first one of said transistors, the time of occurrence of the pulse being conditioned by the detection of the zero crossing of the A.C. voltage and by a desired power reference setting a variable delay of occurrence of the pulse with respect to the detected zero crossing; and circuitry for inverting and transferring said pulse to the second transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Raynald Achart, Laurent Gonthier
  • Publication number: 20080157748
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the power flow in a high voltage network. A phase shifting transformer includes a tap changer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.
    Inventors: Bertil Berggren, Mojtaba Noroozian
  • Publication number: 20080157749
    Abstract: A method for estimating a DC offset in a received signal, the method comprising: detecting a plurality of zero crossings of the signal (220); determining a variable time window (235) based upon a predetermined number of said detected zero crossings (230); estimating the DC offset (240) of the signal in the variable time window from at least one minimum amplitude and at least one maximum amplitude of the signal (215) in the variable time window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventor: KAR BOON OUNG
  • Publication number: 20080157750
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for measuring terahertz time-domain spectrum, which relate to the field of terahertz time-domain spectrum. The method comprises the steps of: generating a first pulse laser beam from a first femtosecond laser device at a preset repetition frequency to generate THz pulses; generating a second pulse laser beam from a second femtosecond laser device at the repetition frequency; measuring electric field intensities of the THz pulses at respective phase differences between the first pulse laser beam and the second pulse laser beam; and obtaining a THz time-domain spectroscopy by performing Fourier transformation of data representative of the electric field intensities. Compared with prior art, THz spectrum measured according to the method and apparatus of present invention has higher spectroscopy resolution and broader detection range, which makes the technology of present invention have stronger capability for discriminating substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Yuanjing LI, Bing Feng, Ziran Zhao, Yingxin Wang, Dongmei Yu
  • Publication number: 20080157751
    Abstract: Disclosed is a current sensing apparatus which includes a first current transformer that, when energized, has a first input current and a first output current, the first output current being less than the first input current, the first current transformer stepping down the current. The current sensing apparatus includes a second current transformer in electrical communication with the first current transformer that, when energized, has a second input current and a second output current, where the second input current is substantially less than the first output current. The second output current being greater than the first output current, the second current transformer stepping up the current. The stepped up second output current is substantially equal to a nominally rated input current of a low voltage device in electrical communication with the second current transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Kent Warren Jones
  • Publication number: 20080157752
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved motor current sensor and methods thereof. A first embodiment of the present invention provides a circuit having a signal transfer unit for receiving first and second input signals from opposing terminals of a shunt resistor and a signal conditioner unit for conditioning output signals from the signal transfer unit for a low power control unit. A second embodiment of the present invention provides a circuit having a signal conditioner unit for receiving first and second input signals from opposing terminals of a shunt resistor and delivering output signals to a signal transfer unit and finally to a level shifter for providing first and second voltage signals to a control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Qixiang Lu
  • Publication number: 20080157753
    Abstract: This system for determining the performance of an interconnection network of functional blocks of a specialized integrated circuit, comprises a set of probing modules disposed on the network and comprising means for detecting an event on at least one communication link of the network and means for determining a characteristic indicative of the activity of the said at least one link on the basis of the detection of the said event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Philippe Boucard, Alain Fawaz
  • Publication number: 20080157754
    Abstract: Provided is a swivel portable terminal. The swivel portable terminal is configured to allow first and second magnet detecting units installed at one body of a main body and a swivel body at a predetermined interval therebetween to detect first and second magnets installed at the other body and corresponding to the first and second magnet detecting units. A rotation direction in which the swivel body rotates is determined according to a time difference of a change in a magnet detecting state of the first and second magnet detecting units when the swivel body rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun-Seok KIM, In-Kook Yoon, Young-Chul Shin, Jae-Woong Jeon
  • Publication number: 20080157755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for correction of the position (x) of a field sensor (4) measured by means of a magnetic localization device. External field distortions, such as caused for example by the rotating components (1a, 1b) of a computer tomograph (1), are then determined with the help of reference sensor (3) placed at a known position. It is possible to deduce, for example, the current angle of rotation (?) of the computer tomograph (1) from the measurement signals of the reference sensor (3). Based on an empirically determined correction (?(x, ?)), the uncorrected determined positions (x) of the field sensor (4) can then be converted to corrected positions (x?) in relation to the field distortions. The field generator (2) and the reference sensor (3) are preferably fastened to the gantry in order to eliminate the dependency of the field distortions on an inclination of the gantry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Sascha Kruger, Hans-Aloys Wischmann, Holger Timinger, Jorg Sabczynski, Jorn Borgert
  • Publication number: 20080157756
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive position measuring device or goniometer having two to no more than five digital oscillators, each of which contains measuring coils or reference coils. Particularly favorable for one application as a transmission sensor is a coil array for three or four oscillators that includes two measuring coils and/or two reference coils. When one plate-shaped measuring element that is sensitive for eddy currents passes through the measuring area, a measuring coil arranged in a planar manner is increasingly covered. One reference coil is arranged such that it does not touch the movement track of the measuring element, but is exposed to the same ambient conditions (temperatures) as the measuring coil. Another reference coil is arranged such that it is covered by the measuring element in the entire measuring area and therefore can compensate the fluctuations in the spacing height between the planar coil array and the measuring element that occur during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Markus Eissner, Michael Schreiber, Josef Habenschaden
  • Publication number: 20080157757
    Abstract: A motion sensor which has a coil that surrounds a ferromagnetic core and at least one magnet that is longitudinally movable along the coil. The magnet causes a magnetic saturation of the ferromagnetic core in an associated zone that covers a portion of the length of the coil. An evaluation unit generates a position signal in dependence on the position of the movable magnet along the longitudinal extent of the coil. The coil has at least two superimposed winding layers that surround the ferromagnetic core and are wound in opposite directions. The windings of adjacent segments generally have about the same width over which the winding density remains constant. Thus, the winding density of the segments of one of the winding layers increases linearly over the length of the sensor while the winding density of the segments in the other winding layer linearly decreases over the sensor length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Sick-AG
    Inventor: Stefan Hubrich
  • Publication number: 20080157758
    Abstract: A magnet's N and S polarity can be alternately assembled within a MR sensor housing to determine the type of sensor that is assembled. In an MR sensor package including a housing having a sensing face and adapted for containing a sensing transducer and magnet, it can be determined if the MR sensor package is to be an X-type or Y-type sensor by testing the MR sensor package prior to labeling, shipping and/or use to determine its type by measuring the magnetic field emanating from the sensing face using a magnetic gauss probe. During assembly, the magnets N or S polarity is positioned to face the sensing face of the sensor to indicate the sensor type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher S. Kenney, Nicholas F. Busch
  • Publication number: 20080157759
    Abstract: A combined sensor and bearing assembly including a rolling bearing unit and a rotation sensor unit. The rolling bearing unit is made up of a rotatable raceway member, a stationary raceway member and at least one row of rolling elements. The rotation sensor unit includes a to-be-detected member having a magnet and fitted to one of the raceway members, and a magnetic detecting member fitted to the other raceway member at a location confronting the to-be-detected member. This combined sensor and bearing assembly is used at a location close to an electromagnetic coil emanating a leakage magnetic field, in a condition in which a direction of flow of an electric current through the electromagnetic coil is fixed in one direction so that a direction of a magnetic flux, with which the magnetic detecting member is switched off, may coincide with a direction of the leakage magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Koike, Tomomi Ishikawa, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Publication number: 20080157760
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method and System for Hard Drive component testing, particularly for magnetic recording head testing. The method of testing magnetic recording heads includes: performing a magnetic write width test (on a plurality of disk drive heads), sorting the plurality of heads into a first group and a second group based on the magnetic write width test, testing the first group with signal to noise ratio tests with adjacent tracks present under a first set of parameters, wherein the first set of parameters are based on the magnetic write width test, testing the second group with signal to noise ratio tests with adjacent tracks present under a second set of parameters, wherein the second set of parameters are based on the magnetic write width test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Yong Shen
  • Publication number: 20080157761
    Abstract: A magnetic screening system uses directional gradiometers with high resolution and accuracy to measure magnetic field signatures of target objects (e.g., gun, knife, cell phone, keys) in a volume of interest. The measured signatures can be compared to signatures of known objects stored in a local database. Various mathematical processes may be used to identify or classify target object signatures. In a network of magnetic screening systems, the magnetic screening systems can transmit signatures to a central signature database, and a management computer can share the central signature database with all of the magnetic screening systems on the network. The magnetic screening system can operate in multiple modes, such as a tracking mode, measurement mode, and self-test mode. Through use of unique processes and designs, the magnetic screening system can achieve a high rate of processing persons for target objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kai Wing Li, Louis Stephen Palecki, Antonio G. Rizzo, Edward P. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20080157762
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes a transmit coil (22) and one or more receive coils (32). The transmit coil includes one or more circuit segments (44, 44, 80, 90) including a light-sensitive metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitor (50) which is connected by an optic fiber to one of a plurality of variable light sources (68). In the set-up mode, the transmit coil transmits RF pulses into an examination region (14). A plurality of the receive coils are disposed around the imaging region. The tuning processor (60) analyzes the received RF fields from around the imaging region and determines adjustments to the amount of light transmitted to each light-sensitive capacitor to shim or tune the transmit coil to optimize RF field homogeneity. Further, the receive coils (32) include a light-sensitive capacitor whose illumination is changed during RF transmission to detune the receive coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Steffen Weiss
  • Publication number: 20080157763
    Abstract: An MR data acquisition method for acquiring data D_?fat according to a steady-state pulse sequence specifying that a phase of an RF pulse is varied in order of 0, 1×?fat, 2×?fat, etc., wherein ?fat=(2?TR/T_out+2×m)×? is established on an assumption that m denotes an integer equal to or larger than 0 and meets TR/(2×T_out)?1<m<TR/(2×T_out) where TR denotes a repetition time and T_out denotes a time during which spins in water and spins in fat are out of phase with each other due to chemical shifts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Miyoshi, Aki Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20080157764
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for generating an image related to a radiographing area of a subject on the basis of a magnetic resonance signal produced in the radiographing area within a static magnetic field space, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a fiber tracking device for tracking a running fiber in the radiographing area on the basis of a diffusion tensor calculated from the magnetic resonance signal; and a diffusion tensor color map image generating device for generating as said image a diffusion tensor color map image so as to match a curved surface including a tract extracted in the fiber tracked by the fiber tracking device, wherein the diffusion tensor color map image generating device generates the diffusion tensor color map image in such a manner that, in the fiber tracked by the fiber tracking device, pixels corresponding to the fiber running as the tract along the curved surface are made equal in color, and the pixels corresponding to the fiber running as the tract alo
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kabasawa
  • Publication number: 20080157765
    Abstract: In a method and device for monitoring the physiologically effective radio-frequency exposure in at least one specific volume region of an examination subject in a magnetic resonance data acquisition scan in a magnetic resonance system, the magnetic resonance system having a radio-frequency antenna structure with a number of individually controllable radio-frequency signal channels for generation of radio-frequency field distributions in an examination volume including the examination subject, amplitude values are acquired that respectively represent, at specific acquisition points in time, a signal amplitude of the radio-frequency signals emitted or to be emitted via the radio-frequency signal channels in the course of the magnetic resonance measurement. Also, phase values are acquired that represent the phases of the appertaining radio-frequency signals at these points in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Joerg Ulrich Fontius, Juergen Nistler, Wolfgang Renz, Franz Schmitt, Karsten Wicklow
  • Publication number: 20080157766
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 20 includes a phase difference calculation unit 44 configured to perform a one-dimensional Fourier transform on complex data not phase-encoded extracted from complex data of a nuclear resonant signal collected by dynamic scanning, and determining a phase difference in time of data obtained by performing a one-dimensional Fourier transform on the complex data not phase-encoded, and a correction unit 50, 51 configured to correct for a non-uniformity of static magnetic field caused during the dynamic scanning, depending upon the phase difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Nozaki, Yoshimori Kassai
  • Publication number: 20080157767
    Abstract: Disclosed is a new propeller EPI pulse sequence with reduced sensitivity to field inhomogeneities is proposed. Image artifacts such as blurring due to Nyquist ghosting and susceptibility gradients are investigated and compared with those obtained in previous propeller EPI studies. The proposed propeller EPI sequence uses a readout that is played out along the short axis of the propeller blade, orthogonal to the readout used in previous propeller methods. In contrast to long-axis readout propeller EPI, this causes the echo spacing between two consecutive phase-encoding (PE) lines to decrease, which in turn increases the k-space velocity in this direction and hence the pseudo-bandwidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Roland BAMMER, Stefan T. SKARE
  • Publication number: 20080157768
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for a coil having a plurality of resonant elements with one or more openings between elements. In some instances, resonant elements are spaced such that an opening is defined between each pair of adjacent resonant elements. An impedance is coupled to adjacent resonant elements. Cables are coupled to each resonant element and are gathered at a junction in a particular manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Simon A. Lovell, Joshua J. Holwell, Mark A. Watson, Labros L. Petropoulos
  • Publication number: 20080157769
    Abstract: A whole-body antenna for a magnetic resonance system has an antenna structure including at least one antenna rod extending in a longitudinal direction. The antenna rod can be charged with a transmission current to cause an excitation signal to be emitted that causes magnetic resonance signals to be excited in an examination subject arranged in an examination region. Microwave elements for emission of microwave signals into the examination region and/or for acquisition of microwave signals from the examination region are integrated into the first antenna rod on the side thereof facing toward the examination region. The microwave elements include antenna elements and circuit components associated with the antenna elements. The antenna elements are arranged on the side of the antenna rods facing toward the examination region. The circuit components are surrounded by the antenna rods both on the side thereof facing toward the examination region and on the side thereof facing away from the examination region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Wolfgang Renz, Markus Yester
  • Publication number: 20080157770
    Abstract: A dual-tuned hybrid resonator coil for high field multinuclear MRI/MRS combines both the TEM and the BC designs, such that the mode splitting is significantly increased. The coil includes TEM elements and BC coil windows, where the TEM elements are positioned in each of the windows and oriented orthogonally thereto. This arrangement allows retaining all of the advantages of the TEM technology at high frequencies, while drastically reducing mode mixing and the associated shading artifact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: RF SENSORS, LLC
    Inventor: Alexey S. Peshkovsky
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20080157772
    Abstract: A radio frequency coil assembly is provided. The radio frequency coil assembly includes: a first radio frequency coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from a tested body; a second radio frequency coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from the tested body; and a third radio frequency coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from the tested body and having a shape which is different from that of at least one of the first and second radio frequency coils so as to increase a local sensitivity in an image-picked-up region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Okamoto, Shinji Mitsui, Manabu Ishii
  • Publication number: 20080157773
    Abstract: Multi-component induction measurements are made using a resistivity logging tool in an anistropic earth formation. A subset of the multi-component measurements are inverted to first determine horizontal resistivities. Using the determined horizontal resistivities and another subset of the multi-component measurements, the vertical resistivities are obtained. Results of using the in-phase signals are comparable to those obtained using multifrequency focusing of quadrature signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Liming Yu, Berthold Kriegshauser
  • Publication number: 20080157774
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for testing an electronic circuit comprising a plurality of switching elements arranged in a H-bridge configuration, the electronic circuit being adapted to drive an associated DC-motor operatively connected to the H-bridge, the DC-motor being adapted to move an associated piston rod in an injection device, the method comprising the steps of providing a test signal to the electronic circuit, and measuring a value of a return signal in response to the provided test signal and determining whether the value of the return signal is in agreement with an expected value, the providing of the test signal and the measuring of the return signal being performed while one or more switching elements is/are switched off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventor: Bo Vestergard Jensen
  • Publication number: 20080157775
    Abstract: The invention consists of a relay device including: at least one mode change device for changing the relay device from a normal mode to a test mode; an interface for receiving test script from a source; a waveform generator for running the test script received from the source and outputting test results, wherein the source signals the relay to switch from the normal mode to the test mode; a logic device for providing a logic output to the waveform generator when the relay is in test mode and setting the waveform generator to a predetermined value; a data preparation component for calculating current and voltage samples from power system input data; and a data processor for performing phasor estimation and frequency tracking of the current and voltage samples from the power system input data and performing protection calculations to determine the output of the relay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Dale Finney
  • Publication number: 20080157776
    Abstract: A monitor circuit is provided which detects various incipient failure modes of a circuit breaker. The monitor circuit includes a processor and a primary circuit connected in circuit with the processor. The primary circuit may be configured for preventing transients and high currents associated with the operation of the circuit breaker from damaging the processor. A secondary circuit may be connected in circuit with the processor and the primary circuit. The secondary circuit provides an analog voltage input and a current input to the processor that is representative of an aspect of the circuit breaker and wherein the processor is configured to detect at least one failure mode of at least one circuit breaker from the analog voltage and current input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Adil Jaffer, Zhihong Mao
  • Publication number: 20080157777
    Abstract: Error in an electromotive force Ve of a secondary battery calculated on the basis of a polarized voltage Vp is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: PANASONIC EV ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norito Yamabe