Patents Issued in March 6, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140062430
    Abstract: In a multi-phase power supply voltage regulator functioning at a nominal switching frequency, one or more phases are kept off for optimizing energy efficiency at relatively low load conditions. Reactivation of stand-by phases in response to a load increase transient is made more efficiently by exploiting information already present in the output voltage control loop. The technique comprises a) deriving from the control loop information on the equivalent nominal switching frequency given by the product of the nominal switching frequency by the number of active phases; b) updating at every beat of a clock signal the instantaneous value of the equivalent switching frequency; c) determining the band of equivalent switching frequency values to which the instantaneous value belongs; d) logically combining the equivalent switching frequency information with a determined band of output current level, for switching on one or more stand-by phases in response to a load increase transient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.I.
    Inventors: Osvaldo Enrico Zambetti, Daniele Giorgetti, Alessandro Zafarana
  • Publication number: 20140062431
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an input terminal connected to one end of a boot capacitor and a boot terminal connected to the other end of the boot capacitor. A first transistor has a drain connected to the input terminal and a source connected to a switch terminal. A second transistor has a drain connected to the switch terminal and a source connected to ground. Agate of the first transistor is connected to a first driver circuit, which is connected to the boot capacitor. A gate of the second transistor is connected to a second driver circuit. The DC-DC converter includes an oscillator circuit outputting a pulse signal and a voltage detecting circuit which detects the voltage of the boot capacitor. The voltage detecting circuit outputs a signal based on the detected voltage. A timing circuit controls the first and second drivers in accordance with the detected voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kaoru YANASE, Kei Kasai
  • Publication number: 20140062432
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the voltage divider circuit divides the output voltage, and generates a feedback voltage. The output voltage switching transistor has one end connected to a feedback voltage side, and operates based on an output voltage switching signal. The first condenser has one end connected to the one end of the output voltage switching transistor, and the other end connected to a control terminal of the output voltage switching transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Yuichi GOTO
  • Publication number: 20140062433
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-phase switching converter and a converter control module. The multi-phase switching converter receives an input voltage and that supplies an output voltage to a load via a plurality of phases. Each phase includes a plurality of switches, an on-time generator module that determines an on-time of the switches, and a switch control module that controls a switching frequency of the switches based on the on-time and a clock signal, and an inductance that connects the switches to the load. The converter control module varies the switching frequency without varying the on-time or varies the on-time without varying the switching frequency when current through the load varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Serhii M. Zhak, Brett A. Miwa
  • Publication number: 20140062434
    Abstract: A switch mode power supply having an output terminal configured to provide an output voltage which is regulated to an output target, the switch mode power supply has a first switch and a control circuit. When the output voltage increases to a first threshold voltage, the control circuit is configured to turn OFF the first switch until a time period expires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qian Ouyang
  • Publication number: 20140062435
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a charge control circuit for supplying power from an external power source to a first common node and charging a second common node from the first common node. A regulator circuit is coupled between the external power source and the first common node, and a transistor is coupled between the first common node and the second common node. The present invention detects an operation parameter of the transistor and controls an internal voltage source to generate a non-predetermined voltage difference accordingly. When the sum of the voltage at the second common node and the non-predetermined voltage is equal to or higher than the reference voltage, the voltage at the first common node is regulated to a level higher than the voltage at the second common node, and the transistor is in an optimum conductive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Chien-Ping Lu, Nien-Hui Kung, Li-Wei Lee, Chia-Hsiang Lin, Chen-Hsiang Hsiao, Ko-Ching Su
  • Publication number: 20140062436
    Abstract: In various embodiments a voltage regulating circuit is provided which may include a control transistor at least partially formed in an n-type substrate, and a regulating circuit including a regulating output coupled to a control region of the control transistor, wherein the regulating circuit includes at least one transistor which is formed at least one of on and in the n-type substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA AG
    Inventor: Michael Lenz
  • Publication number: 20140062437
    Abstract: A power supply module is disclosed. The power supply module includes: a coil including a coil body and connecting ends; electronic components including at least an integrated circuit chip; a magnetic core which encloses the coil body, wherein at least one side of the magnetic core has a cavity provided therein, and the at least one electronic component is positioned in the cavity; a connector, which abuts against the side of the magnetic core having the cavity therein, covers the surface of the side, and is electronically connected to the coil and the electronic components. The power supply module is able to reduce the damage to the integrated circuit chip, decrease electromagnetic interferences and achieve an excellent cooling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Sumida Electric (H.K.) Company Limited
    Inventors: Douglas James Malcolm, Yanfei Liu, Guoping Zhang, Zhuo Wu, Hongnian Zhang, Xinliang Luo
  • Publication number: 20140062438
    Abstract: There is provided a load driving apparatus including: a power converter circuit configured to convert electric power into direct current power; an output electric current detecting circuit configured to detect an output current flowing in the load; and a control circuit section configured to switch ON/OFF-operations of the load depending on an operation instruction information, to perform constant current control during a period of the ON-operation of the load, to output a first pulse signal to the power converter circuit when starting the constant current control, ON-duty of the first pulse signal being substantially same as that during a period of a most recent operation of the load performed immediately before, to perform constant voltage control during a period of the OFF-operation of the load based on an output voltage applied to the load, and to output a second pulse signal to the power converter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro NAKAMURA, Shigemi MASUDA, Toshikazu KOSHIBA, Naoki YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140062439
    Abstract: A switching power supply comprises a noise detecting circuit and a canceling signal generating circuit. The noise detecting circuit detects GND bounce noise developing on a ground line of the control circuit accompanying switching operation of a switching element. The canceling signal generating circuit generates a canceling signal corresponding to the GND bounce noise and in a reversed phase, and adds the canceling signal to the ground line when the noise detecting circuit detects the GND bounce noise. In an embodiment, the canceling signal generating circuit generates a canceling signal based on the current flowing through the switching element. In another embodiment, the canceling signal generating circuit generates a canceling signal of a pulse signal with a pulse height equal to a threshold level for detection determination of the GND bounce noise in the noise detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi NISHIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20140062440
    Abstract: A device and method for sensing an inductor current in an inductor is provided that generates a voltage signal proportionate to the inductor current if the inductor is connected to a positive supply and simulates the inductor current if the inductor is not connected to the positive supply. The voltage signal may be generated by sampling an input voltage from the inductor onto a capacitor if the inductor is connected to the positive supply. The inductor current may be simulated by generating a simulation current and pushing the simulation current onto the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: James Garrett
  • Publication number: 20140062441
    Abstract: A protection and attenuation circuit for sensitive AC loads is described. The circuit provides AC power protection and attenuation utilizing high-efficiency switch-mode techniques to attenuate an AC power signal by incorporating a bidirectional, transistorized switch driven from a pulse width modulation signal, PWM. The circuit monitors characteristics of the AC power signal driving a known load and characteristics of the load or other elements and determines the duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal, PWM, based upon the duration and amplitude of the over-voltage, over-current, over-limit or other event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Intrinsic Audio Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Butler
  • Publication number: 20140062442
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for an integrated voltage regulator with open loop digital control for power stepping. In one aspect, a method for regulating an output voltage includes receiving data indicative of a power setting associated with an identified state of an electrical circuit, the power setting based on a load current demand of the electrical circuit in the identified state, enabling one or more parallel driver segments based on the received data indicative of the power setting. The method further includes sourcing by the enabled one or more parallel driver segments sufficient current to meet the load current demand of the electrical circuit in the identified state while maintaining the output voltage at a predetermined voltage level, and providing the output voltage to the electrical circuit at the predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Seymour, Daniel J. Russell
  • Publication number: 20140062443
    Abstract: A DC-DC converter and a method of controlling an inductor-based switching-mode DC-DC converter in a discontinuous conduction mode are disclosed. In one aspect the method includes providing a DC-DC converter having a first and second switching elements, and, in each conversion cycle, first, turning on a first switching element, while maintaining a second switching element in off state, thereby increasing the current through an inductor. The method also includes detecting when a voltage signal at one connection node of the inductor reaches a first threshold value for the first time after the start of the conversion cycle, and turning on the second switching element, while maintaining the first switching element in off state, thereby decreasing the inductor current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Stichting IMEC Nederland
    Inventors: Stefano Stanzione, Christinus Antonetta Paulus van Liempd
  • Publication number: 20140062444
    Abstract: A boundary conduction mode (BCM) switching regulator controls a power stage to convert an input voltage to an output voltage or output current. The BCM switching regulator detects whether it is operating in continuous conduction mode (CCM) or discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), and adjusts the On-time, Off-time, or frequency of the power stage accordingly, so that the switching regulator operates in or near BCM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: RICHTEK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Jing-Meng Liu
  • Publication number: 20140062445
    Abstract: A voltage generation circuit includes a plurality of voltage generation units each configured to include an internal voltage with a reference voltage, generate a detection signal based on a comparison result between the internal voltage and the reference voltage, and adjust the level of the internal voltage in response to an oscillation signal, a control unit configured to generate an oscillation control signal in response to the detection signals, an oscillator configured to generate the oscillation signal in response to the oscillation control signal, and a selective output unit configured to selectively supply the oscillation signal to one or more of the plurality of voltage generation units in response to the detection signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Jong Man IM
  • Publication number: 20140062446
    Abstract: An electrical assembly includes a substrate, a bridge magnetic device disposed on an outer surface of the substrate, and at least one electrical component. The bridge magnetic device includes (1) a magnetic core disposed over and offset from a first portion of the outer surface of the substrate, (2) N windings wound around at least a portion of the magnetic core and electrically coupled to conductors of the substrate, where N is an integer greater than zero, and (3) a ground return conductor disposed on an outer surface of the magnetic core facing the first portion of the outer surface of the substrate. The at least one electrical component is disposed on the first portion of the outer surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Alexandr Ikriannikov
  • Publication number: 20140062447
    Abstract: A timing control circuit for an electronic device is disclosed. The timing control circuit includes a first power supply voltage input, a second power supply voltage input, a third power supply voltage input, a first output, a second output, a switch circuit and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected with the switch circuit and configured to turn the switch circuit on/off. The switch circuit is connected between the first power supply voltage input and the first output and responds to the control circuit to delay, by means of adjustable (different capacitance values) capacitors, the power connections when the electronic device is turned on but to immediately disconnect the power connections when the electronic device is shut down, thereby controlling the sequence of power applications and avoiding the need for expensive chips or circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HSIN-CHE CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140062448
    Abstract: A circuit for an electronic device translates logic-low and logic-high voltage levels into other voltage levels suitable for digital intercommunication between the host electronic device and external devices, and between different external devices. The circuit comprises a power supply, a processing module, a communicating module, and a voltage converting module. The power supply provides a first voltage, a second voltage, and a pulse voltage with a predetermined duty cycle. The voltage level converting module converts incoming or outgoing logic voltage levels between a first mode and a second or more modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: CHENG-KUANG MI
  • Publication number: 20140062449
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a switching mode converter and a method for controlling thereof. The switching mode converter includes a switching element, a bootstrap capacitor, and a control unit. The switching element is connected between one side of a first semiconductor device, another side of the first semiconductor device is connected to a ground, and an input power. The bootstrap capacitor is configured such that one side of the bootstrap capacitor is connected to the one side of the first semiconductor device. The control unit controls the output current or output voltage of a common charge pump provided to the switching element and the bootstrap capacitor in order to control the charging state of the bootstrap capacitor and the gate voltage of the switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SILICON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wanyuan Qu, Young Jin Woo, Jin Yong Jeon, Dae Keun Han, Young Suk Son
  • Publication number: 20140062450
    Abstract: A capacitive load drive circuit includes a modulation circuit adapted to pulse-modulate a drive waveform signal to thereby generate a modulation signal, two switching elements (transistors) constituting a push-pull circuit and adapted to generate a power-amplified modulation signal, a low-side driver and a high-side driver adapted to switch ON/OFF of the respective switching elements, a bootstrap circuit, a power supply adapted to supply the low-side driver and the high-side driver with a predetermined electrical potential, and a first resistor disposed in a supply channel from the power supply to the bootstrap circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi OSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20140062451
    Abstract: A band gap reference circuit including a band gap reference generator having an output for providing a reference voltage and a startup circuit for controlling current provided to the band gap reference generator when activated. The startup circuit includes a turnoff circuit having an output to deactivate the startup circuit to not control current to the band gap reference generator based on a voltage of the output of the band gap reference generator. The turnoff circuit includes an inverter having a first transistor of a first conductivity type in series with a second transistor of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type. The startup circuit includes a body bias circuit connected to a body of the first transistor to provide a voltage differential between the body of the first transistor and a source terminal of the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: JOSHUA SIEGEL, Khoi B. Mai
  • Publication number: 20140062452
    Abstract: A voltage trimming circuit of a semiconductor apparatus includes: a first voltage trimming unit configured to trim a first reference voltage having a first characteristic with respect to temperature based on a first trimming signal, and generate a first trimming reference voltage; a second voltage trimming unit configured to trim a second reference voltage having a second characteristic with respect to the temperature based on a second trimming signal, and generate a second trimming reference voltage; and an adjusting unit configured to trim a voltage formed from a potential difference between the first and second trimming reference voltages based on a select signal, and generate a final trimming reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Seung Han OK
  • Publication number: 20140062453
    Abstract: A power control method includes: detecting a first value of power required for a terminal; detecting a second value of power supplied from a power supply device; comparing the first value with the second value; and controlling power supplied from the power supply device to the terminal according to a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han-Shil CHOI
  • Publication number: 20140062454
    Abstract: Nanosensors including graphene and methods of manufacturing the same. A nanosensor includes a first insulating layer in which a first nanopore is formed; a graphene layer that is disposed on the first insulating layer and having a second nanopore or a nanogap formed therein adjacent to the first nanopore; and a marker element that is disposed adjacent to the graphene layer and identifies a position of the graphene layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20140062455
    Abstract: To accurately measure a frequency characteristic of a waveform generating apparatus, provided is a measurement apparatus that measures a frequency characteristic of a waveform generating apparatus generating a signal having a waveform corresponding to waveform data, comprising a control section that causes a plurality of sine wave signals having different frequencies to be sequentially output from the waveform generating apparatus; a measuring section that measures each of the sine wave signals output from the waveform generating apparatus; and a calculating section that calculates a frequency characteristic of the waveform generating apparatus based on the measurement results of the measuring section. The control section causes trigger signals to be output from the waveform generating apparatus and causes the sine wave signals to be output in synchronization with the trigger signals, and the measuring section measures a phase of each sine wave signal with the corresponding trigger signal as a reference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshikazu NAKAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140062456
    Abstract: A method of identifying multi-phase devices in a time trace disaggregation process can include detecting a multi-phase transition, identifying multi-phase devices based on the detecting, and processing the multi-phase devices separate from single-phase devices. The method can also include initializing a multi-phase array and, for each of a plurality of supply legs, determining whether a qualified transition exists. If so, the method can further include determining whether there is a pending multi-phase transition. If so, the method can further include determining whether the pending multi-phase transition is positive. If so, the method can further include creating a multi-phase instance. The method can also include storing the multi-phase instance in the multi-phase array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: VERLITICS, INC.
    Inventor: Harold Gene Alles
  • Publication number: 20140062457
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a three-phase AC phase sequence detecting method, including the steps of: 1) sampling instant values of three-phase AC electrical signal in real-time; 2) converting said instant values into electrical signal components in a two-phase still coordinate system in manner of coordinate conversion; 3) performing an arc tangent calculation on the electrical signal components to obtain a output signal value; 4) executing step 1) to step 3) one or more times, so as to obtain one or more output signal values; 5) the output signal values obtained from step 3) and the one or more output signal values obtained from step 4) composing a periodic function, if the periodic function is a increasing function within one minimum positive period, the three-phase AC phase sequence is decided to be positive sequence; otherwise, negative sequence. Three-phase AC phase detecting a detecting apparatus using the above detecting method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD
    Inventor: Ping Zheng
  • Publication number: 20140062458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the electric network voltage waveform, comprising: switching means (11) connected to the voltage lines (A, B, C) of a three-phase system, comprising two thyristors (T1, T2) connected to two of the voltage lines (A, B, C) and at least two capacitors (C1, C2) connected to said thyristors (T1, T2), said means (11) being configured to open and close said thyristors (T1, T2) in response to a trigger signal; means for measuring (12) the voltages in said voltage lines and at the input of said capacitors; a thyristor trigger circuit (14) for providing a trigger signal to either thyristor (DT1, DT2) when the voltage in the terminals of said thyristor (T1, T2) crosses zero; control means (13, 23) for giving said trigger order (OD) or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ARTECHE LANTEGI ELKARTEA, S.A.
    Inventors: Joan Gabriel Bergas, Joaquim López Mestre, Hector Ali Rivas Guerrero, Natalia Sangroniz Palacio, César Chávez Soria
  • Publication number: 20140062459
    Abstract: A flexible current and voltage sensor provides ease of installation of a current sensor, and optionally a voltage sensor in application such as AC branch circuit wire measurements, which may require installation in dense wiring conditions and/or in live panels where insulating gloves must be worn. The sensor includes at least one flexible ferromagnetic strip that is affixed to a current sensing device at a first end. The second end is secured to the other side of the current sensing device or to another flexible ferromagnetic strip extending from the other side of the current sensing device to form a loop providing a closed pathway for magnetic flux. A voltage sensor may be provided by metal foil affixed to the inside of the flexible ferromagnetic strip. A clamp body, which can be a spring loaded handle operated clamp or a locking fastener, can secure the ferromagnetic strip around the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wael El-Essawy, Alexandre Peixoto Ferreira, Thomas Walter Keller, Karthick Rajamani, Juan C. Rubio, Michael A. Schappert
  • Publication number: 20140062460
    Abstract: A system for power measurement in an electronic device includes a sensing unit, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a controller. The sensing unit senses voltage across a power source and modulates a carrier signal based on the sensed voltage. The ADC converts a combination of the modulated carrier signal and audio signals received by the electronic device to generate a digitized combined signal and provides the digitized combined signal to the controller. The controller separates digitized modulated carrier signal and digitized audio signals. The digitized modulated carrier signal is demodulated to generate an output signal that provides a measure of the power consumed by the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Surinder Pal SINGH, Kaushik SAHA
  • Publication number: 20140062461
    Abstract: Liquid level detectors are described. An example liquid level detector includes a housing and an arm extending through the housing. A lever assembly is coupled to the arm and the housing, and movement of the arm causes the lever assembly to open or close a switch via a magnetic field when a liquid reaches a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Bob Yuan
  • Publication number: 20140062462
    Abstract: Techniques for mounting a sensor are disclosed. In some implementations, a molded interconnect device carries a sensor for transducing a position of a rotor of the implantable blood pump. The molded interconnect device includes one or more integrated electronic circuit traces configured to electrically connect the Hall sensor with a printed circuit board of the implantable blood pump, and the molded interconnect device is configured to be mounted to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Mark McChrystal, Joseph C. Stark, III
  • Publication number: 20140062463
    Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object provides a threshold selection module that uses one or more threshold signals identified prior to a present cycle of magnetic field signal in order to establish a threshold signal used for a present cycle of the magnetic field signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Andreas P. Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20140062464
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a magnetically conductive object in a detection area has an electrical coil and at least one sensor element. The apparatus is intended to be as free of degradation processes as possible and thus requires little maintenance and is configured and set up with the highest possible degree of redundancy and measurement reliability. For this purpose, the coil is set up to form a magnetic field in the detection area and the sensor element is configured to detect a magnetic field with a field strength, the magnitude of which is greater than a predefined threshold value. The threshold value is set to be higher than the field strength present in the detection area when the magnetically conductive object is absent and lower than the field strength present therein when the object is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: AREVA GMBH
    Inventors: MARKUS REYMANN, NAEEL MUHAMAD ALI
  • Publication number: 20140062465
    Abstract: A rotation detecting device includes rotation detecting device includes a first supporting member and a second supporting member disposed around an axial line. The rotation detecting device further includes a pair of magnetic field generating portions for generating a magnetic field in a region between the first supporting member and the second supporting member. The rotation detecting device further includes at least one magnetic field detecting portion attached to the second supporting member for detecting the magnetic field. The rotation detecting device further includes a first magnetic member for covering one end portion of the magnetic field detecting portion and a second magnetic member for covering the other end portion of the magnetic field detecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji OYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140062466
    Abstract: A security apparatus is described for determining a condition of a door or window. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a sensor for measuring an attribute that varies as a first door or window condition is achieved and as a second door or window condition is achieved, and for generating signals indicative of the attribute, and a processor coupled to the sensor for determining the first door or window condition and the second door or window condition based on the signals from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Thibault, Michael Bailey, Michael Lamb, Carlo Petrucci, George Seelman
  • Publication number: 20140062467
    Abstract: A waterproof coding device with a built-in magnetic disc, comprising: a magnetic disc; a knob with a shaft, elastic positioning pieces and a magnet conducting ring; a positioning shaft, the magnetic disc and an inductive circuit board being mounted on the positioning shaft; and, a circular support base being located above a panel, the wall of the base is provided with positioning grooves; the head part of the positioning shaft is penetrated through the panel to be screwed; the knob is mounted on the base, the shaft is movably fitted with a sleeve inside the base, the magnet conducting ring is gripped by magnets on the magnetic disc so that the magnetic disc can rotate synchronously with the knob. The coding device has the advantages of compact structure, water tightness and shock resistance, and is specifically suitable for applications in high-humidity environments and occasions with high shock possibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Jia WANG, Xiuwen YANG, Jianzhuo YANG
  • Publication number: 20140062468
    Abstract: A device for globally measuring a thickness of a metal film (901), comprises: a base (10); a rotating unit (20) comprising a fixed member (21) fixed on the base (10) and a rotating member (22) having a rotating joint (23); a working table (50) fixed on the rotating member (22) and having a vacuum passage which is formed therein and connected with the rotating joint (23); a linear driving unit (30) including a guide rail (31) fixed on the base (10) and a sliding block (32) slidable along the guide rail (31); a cantilever beam (40) disposed horizontally and defining a first end fixed with the sliding block (32) and a second end; a measuring head (80) connected to the second end of the cantilever beam (40), facing a surface of the working table (50) and having an eddy current probe (82) disposed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Xinchun Lu, Dewen Zhao, Zilian Qu, Qian Zhao, Yongyong He, Yonggang Meng
  • Publication number: 20140062469
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with magnetic sensors for detecting the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic sensors may include thin magnetic sensors located in magnetically quiet regions of the device. The magnetic sensors may be attached to a device housing or a component such as a battery or a cover structure for a battery. The device may include unidirectional magnetic sensors aligned in three orthogonal directions or sensors with two or three magnetic sensor elements aligned in orthogonal directions. Magnetic field data from the three orthogonally aligned sensors or sensor elements may be combined to form directional compass data for the device. Each magnetic sensor may include one or more magnetic sensor elements for detecting the magnetic field and one or more shielded reference sensor elements for detecting environmental changes that can affect the magnetic sensor element. Reference sensor elements may be shared elements for multiple magnetic sensors elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Henry H. Yang, Chiajen Lee, Shawn Xavier Arnold
  • Publication number: 20140062470
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) in-plane magnetic sensor includes a first magnetic sensor, a second magnetic sensor, a third magnetic sensor and a circuit. The first magnetic sensor, second magnetic sensor and third magnetic sensor are installed on a same plane to measure the magnetic field component of first direction, second direction and third direction, where the third direction is perpendicular to the first and second direction. The third magnetic sensor includes a third fixed layer, a third magnetic insulating layer and a third free layer. The magnetoresistance of the third free layer is an intermediate value in the spontaneous magnetization direction, and is varied when interfered by an external magnetic field. In short, the 3D in-plane magnetic sensor is manufactured with semiconductor processing which does not require vertical adhesion, and also bring the benefits of improved production capacity, prolonged product life, reduced manufacturing cost and time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Meng-Huang Lai, Fu-Te Yuan, Hai-Tao Pan, Jen-Hwa Hsu, Ching-Ray Chang
  • Publication number: 20140062471
    Abstract: A single-package power meter is disclosed for measuring the power consumed by a load connected to an electrical conductor. The power meter is galvanically isolated from the electrical conductor through the use of magnetic sensors or through the combination of magnetic sensors and capacitors. Instantaneous power consumed at the load and other desired parameters are determined by measuring the voltage of the load and current flowing through the electrical conductor. Current is measured using a magnetic sensor to detect the magnetic field associated with the current flowing through the electrical conductor. Voltage is measured by one of two possible techniques involving magnetic sensors to measure the current flowing through a coil connected in parallel with a load, or through the use of a capacitively coupled voltage divider connected in parallel with the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: JIANG SU MULTI DIMENSION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: James G. Deak, Insik Jin, Weifeng Shen, Songsheng Xue
  • Publication number: 20140062472
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a plurality of assemblies combined. Each assembly includes a plurality of tunnel magnetoresistive elements, a capacitor and a fixed resistor. The tunnel magnetoresistive elements are (i) disposed in such a way that fixed magnetization directions of fixed magnetic layers are substantially identical and changeable magnetization directions of free magnetic layers with no magnetic field applied are substantially identical and (ii) connected to each other in series-parallel. The capacitor is connected in parallel to the tunnel magnetoresistive elements. The fixed resistor is connected in series to the tunnel magnetoresistive elements and to the capacitor. The assemblies are (i) disposed in such a way that the fixed magnetization directions of the fixed magnetic layers of the assemblies have a relative angle of more than 90 degrees and (ii) connected to each other in series and/or in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Takuo Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20140062473
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method (a) acquires k-space data for a patient ROI over a predetermined band of RF frequencies using RF excitation pulses having respectively corresponding RF frequencies incrementally offset from a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) Larmor frequency for free nuclei thus causing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects and to process such acquired data into Z-spectra data for voxels in the ROI; (b) analyzes the acquired Z-spectra data to provide spectral peak width data corresponding to T2/T2* tissue values in the ROI for macromolecules participating in magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) effects producing said Z-spectra data; and (c) stores and/or displays data representative of T2/T2* tissue values of the ROI which values are different for different tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: MITSUE MIYAZAKI, Cheng Ouyang, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140062474
    Abstract: MRI k-space data is acquired for a patient ROI during data acquisition sequences including a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal readout period using a late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) data acquisition sequence including at least one fat-specific RF NMR magnetization inversion pulse imposed (a) after a water-specific RF NMR magnetization inversion pulse timed to cause a substantial null in NMR magnetization of normal tissue protons near a center of the readout period and (b) before the readout period center, which fat-specific inversion pulse is also timed to cause a substantial null in NMR magnetization of fat tissue protons near the readout period center. The acquired MR image data is reconstructed into a contrast enhanced LGE image of tissues within the ROI but having substantially suppressed normal and fat components therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Xiangzhi ZHOU, Mitsue MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20140062475
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a forward spatial encoding polarity magnetic resonance (MR) coil image and a reverse spatial encoding polarity MR coil image generated from data obtained with a magnetic field gradient that is reversed with respect to the magnetic field gradient with which the forward spatial encoding polarity MR coil image is acquired. The method also includes performing an iterative shift map calculation algorithm to determine a pixel shift map corresponding to a minimized difference between the forward and reverse spatial encoding polarity MR coil images, converting the pixel shift map into a magnetic field shift map by determining a magnetic field value corresponding to each pixel in the pixel shift map, and providing the magnetic field shift map as an input to a shim calculation process that includes determining a level of at least one shim current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Matthew Koch, Eric M. Printz
  • Publication number: 20140062476
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method (a) acquires k-space data for a patient ROI over a predetermined band of RF frequencies using RF excitation pulses having respectively corresponding RF frequencies incrementally offset from a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) Larmor frequency for free nuclei over a predetermined range of different offset frequencies in which target macromolecule responses are expected and to process such acquired data into spectral data for voxels in the ROI; (b) analyzes the acquired spectral data to provide spectral peak width data corresponding to tissue values in the ROI for macromolecules participating in magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) effects producing said spectral data; and (c) stores and/or displays data representative of tissue values of the ROI which values are different for different tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Mitsue MIYAZAKI, Cheng Ouyang, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140062477
    Abstract: A system for perfusion and diffusion MR imaging of a portion of patient anatomy includes an RF (Radio Frequency) signal generator for generating RF excitation pulses in anatomy and enabling subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data. A magnetic field gradient generator generates anatomical volume select magnetic field gradients for phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition in a three dimensional (3D) anatomical volume. The RF signal generator and the gradient generator acquire within a single MR imaging scan, perfusion image data of the 3D volume, at least partially in the presence of contrast agent, and diffusion image data of the 3D volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy J. Carroll, Yong Jeong, Sumeeth Vijay Jonathan, Parmede Vakil
  • Publication number: 20140062478
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a magnetic resonance system with multiple radio-frequency transmission channels, via which parallel RF pulse trains are emitted in operation, as well as a magnetic resonance system and a pulse optimization device therefor, RF pulse trains respectively include at least one radio-frequency pulse. The RF pulse trains are initially determined so that a minimum B1 field maximum value is not exceeded by the radio-frequency pulse. In an examination subject-specific adjustment step, a current component-dependent B1 field maximum value is then determined, and the radio-frequency pulse is temporally shortened, with its amplitude being increased dependent on the current component-dependent B1 field maximum value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Dominik Paul
  • Publication number: 20140062479
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus to determine a magnetic resonance image of an examination subject with at least two spin species by using a chemical shift imaging multi-echo MR measurement sequence, first approximated MR image is determined based on a first approximative model and of a second approximated MR image is determined based on a second approximative model, wherein the first and second approximative model respectively express an MR signal under consideration of one or more MR parameters, and wherein the first and second approximative model differ with regard to the consideration of at least one MR parameter. The MR image is determined from a mean calculation that depends on the first and second approximated MR image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Stephan Kannengiesser