Displacement Patents (Class 324/207.11)
  • Patent number: 7912529
    Abstract: A low-density sensor panel assembly system is provided for use with remote marker assemblies that generates a marker signal and for use with a radiation therapy source that generates a radiation beam during radiation therapy. The system includes a sensor array having a layer of sensor coils arranged in a selected pattern and configured to receive the marker signal from the remote marker. A support panel is connected to the sensor array and retains each of the sensor coils in a substantially fixed and unmoving position relative to the other sensor coils. The sensor panel and sensor array define a low-density panel structure configured to dwell in the radiation beam during the radiation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Herron, Bryan White, Jon H. LeFors, Sam Truslow
  • Publication number: 20110062948
    Abstract: A position-sensing system includes a first component (e.g., a cylinder) and a second component (e.g., a piston rod) movably coupled to the first component for movement with respect thereto. A magnetically hard layer on the second component provides a recording medium. Regions of the magnetically hard layer are magnetized as magnetized rings around the second component. Magnetic-field sensors are coupled to the first component in proximity of the magnetically hard layer on the second component to sense the rings of magnetized regions. Each of the magnetic field sensors senses flux from each of the rings of magnetized regions as the second component is moving with respect to the first component and, in response to sensing the rings of magnetized regions, generates signals used to determine position of the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: SRI International
    Inventors: Donald C. Arns, JR., Pablo Garcia
  • Publication number: 20110062947
    Abstract: This method for localizing a person in surroundings equipped with fixed electrical appliances comprises: the measuring of an electromagnetic field radiated by one or more of these fixed electrical appliances by means of a magnetometer carried by the person to be localized, the identifying of the fixed electrical appliance operating in proximity to the magnetometer by comparing the measured magnetic field with pre-recorded magnetic signatures, each pre-recorded magnetic signature being associated with a respective electrical appliance present in the surroundings, and localizing the person from pre-recorded items of information on the localization in the surroundings of the fixed electrical appliance identified by its magnetic signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Commissariat a I'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Francois Favre-Reguillon, Roland Blanpain, Franck Vial
  • Publication number: 20110043194
    Abstract: A variable reluctance analog position device designed to determine the position variation of a target made from a ferromagnetic material. The device includes at least one magnet, the target and the magnet defining a gap therebetween. A magnetosensitive element detects induction variation produced in the gap by relative movement of the target relative to the magnet. The magnet is magnetized in a direction essentially perpendicular to the front surface of the magnet, which defines one edge of the gap. The magnet includes a cavity open at the front surface thereof and the magnetosensitive element is housed in the cavity. Moreover, the target is provided with a specific geometric configuration determined such that the induction variation according to the position of the target corresponds to a pre-defined function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Didier FRACHON, Pierre Gandel
  • Publication number: 20110043195
    Abstract: A magnetic displacement sensor, where, in order to achieve an improved measurement behavior, magnets are formed in a direction of an x-axis such that a z-component (Bz) of the flux density has an essentially linear characteristic curve in a region of travel and/or the magnets are formed in a direction of a y-axis such that the z-component (Bz) is essentially constant in a region of a transversal offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmgH
    Inventors: Gerhard Hinkel, Michael Nagel, Andreas Schulze, Roger Pohlmann, Bernd Seitz
  • Publication number: 20110031962
    Abstract: A magnetic pole position detecting device that can correctly acquire a magnetic pole position even if two magnetic sensors are arranged at an arbitrary interval receives sensor outputs “a” and “b” of two magnetic sensors arranged at a predetermined interval L along a magnetic pole arraying direction motor and a phase difference ? between the two sensor outputs “a” and “b”. When sin ?>?, the device divides a·sin ? by b?a·cos ? to calculate tan ? and outputs a magnetic pole position ?=tan?1 {a·sin ?/(b?a·cos ?)}, and when sin ???, because a=sin ? and b=sin(?+?), the device outputs a magnetic pole position ?={sin?1(a)+cos?1(b)??}/2. Because ?=2?×L/(a magnetic pole pitch or the number of poles), using ? as a correction coefficient for the two sensor outputs “a” and “b”, a magnetic pole position error can be canceled even when the interval L is different from a theoretical value, thus the two magnetic sensors can be arranged at an arbitrary interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takemasa Arakawa, Shuya Sano
  • Publication number: 20110025308
    Abstract: In a range detection device, a movable member has a magnetized portion and can move with a manual valve of a control device. A supporting member includes a plate portion having a surface opposed to the magnetized portion and a recess formed in an opposite surface of the plate portion, and supports the movable member such that the movable member is capable of moving parallel with the plate portion. A substrate is placed in the recess and has a first hole that penetrates the substrate. A magnetic detection element is installed to a surface of the substrate at a side of the plate portion to correspond to a position of the first hole, and detects magnetism of the magnetized portion. A sealing member is filled in the recess and covers the substrate and the magnetic detection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kitanaka, Tetsuji Kozaki, Hirotsugu Ishino, Hajime Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20100315070
    Abstract: An inclinometer includes a base, a weight, and a magnetic field-detecting unit. The weight is provided with a magnet and is pivotally suspended from the base in such a manner that the base and the weight are rotatable relative to each other. The magnetic field-detecting unit is secured to the base for detecting a magnetic field of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventor: Wen-Jan Hong
  • Publication number: 20100315069
    Abstract: A control device with a valve adjusted by a control element is provided. A position sensor detects an actual position of the control element and an electro-pneumatic position controller generates a pneumatic control variable as a function of the actual and desired positions. The pneumatic control variable is supplied to the control drive via a magnetic valve activated by a supply voltage supplied by an instrumentation and control device. For carrying out a test of the magnetic valve, the magnetic valve is deactivated briefly. To initiate, monitor, and evaluate the test of the magnetic valve, the supply voltage is supplied to the magnetic valve via a controllable switch. The controllable switch is opened by a magnetic valve test signal generated by the instrumentation and control device. The magnetic valve test signal is supplied to the controllable switch via a limit switch which is opened when the control element reaches a specified position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Heer, Volker Hirsch
  • Patent number: 7852066
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the relative position of two parts with a deformable coil, which is connected to both parts and deforms according to their relative position, wherein the inductance of the coil depends on shape and is thus a measure of the relative position, and wherein the coil has a magnetic circuit which is closed in the manner of a toroidal coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gert Krammer
  • Publication number: 20100308802
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle gearbox position sensor comprising a magnet (5) and a probe (7) able to measure a magnetic field at a sensitive end (9) able to be placed facing a moving target (11) connected to an actuating element (3) used to select the gear ratios of a gearbox, in order to determine the position of the target (11) in space and from this deduce the position, characterized in that it further comprises at least one ferromagnetic element (25) positioned at the periphery of the sensitive end (9) to trap metallic contaminants. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle gearbox comprising an actuating element (3) for selecting the ratios and a moving target (11) connected to said actuating element (3), characterized in that it comprises a position sensor (1) as described hereinabove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: SC2N
    Inventor: Vincent Guibet
  • Publication number: 20100301840
    Abstract: Noncontact measuring of positions of objects is achieved through measurements of parameters characterized by the distribution of an AC magnetic flux in the air gap between stationary and moveable portions defining a sensor magnetic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Calnetix, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexei V. Filatov
  • Publication number: 20100279605
    Abstract: A device and a method for data and/or energy transmission from a stationary part to a pane-shaped part which is movable relative to the stationary part, particularly a window pane of a motor vehicle, and/or vice versa. Data and/or energy is transmitted between an electrical unit in or on the stationary part and an electrical unit in or on a pane-shaped part which is movable relative to the stationary part, particularly an adjustable window pane, by electromagnetic interaction between at least one induction coil in the form of a conductor loop which is arranged in or on the pane-shaped movable part and at least one annular magnetic circuit which is arranged in or on the stationary part. Use of the device as an anti-trap protection for the pane-shaped movable part, particularly for the adjustable window pane of a vehicle, and/or as a theft protection for a vehicle is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Heinrich Haas, Wolfgang Schulter, Ulrich Möller
  • Patent number: 7809421
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a medical system capable of generating a magnetic field for tracking a position of a medical device has various steps such as defining a mapping volume within the generated magnetic field and placing a metallic object within the mapping volume. A sensor is aligned at a first point within the mapping volume and the magnetic field at the first point is measured with the sensor to establish a first coordinate position (Xi, Yi, Zi). An interpolation technique in one embodiment and an extrapolation technique in another embodiment are used in the calibration method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Biosense, Inc.
    Inventor: Assaf Govari
  • Patent number: 7808395
    Abstract: A method of and a system for detecting a person occupying a vehicle seat or a corresponding underlay whereby the underlay is provided with a single dynamic sensor and whereby the measurement signal is compared with a reference signal in comparing means, wherein the system comprises first measuring means for measuring a first measurement signal in a first frequency band representing a signal for human presence, and second measuring means for measuring the reference signal as a second measurement signal in a second frequency band representing a signal for background noise, comparing means for indicating an occupancy, wherein the signal strength in the first measurement signal in the first frequency band of human presence signal domination is compared to the signal strength in the reference signal in the second frequency band where essentially only background noise exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Emfit Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Raisanen, Tomi Virtanen
  • Publication number: 20100244815
    Abstract: A position/displacement measuring system is provided comprising at least one magnetically encoded scale body with at least one encoding track and a sensor device with at least one sensor sensitive to the encoding, the at least one encoding track comprising main fields of at least a first type and a second type which are arranged in a periodically alternating manner in at least a first direction, the subfields of the first type and second type being north pole fields and south pole fields, wherein the main fields of the first type and the main fields of the second type are each subdivided into subfields of at least two different types; wherein a length and/or an encoding strength of the subfields within a main field varies in at least the first direction; and wherein, in the main fields of the first type, the total length in the first direction and/or the total surface of field portions of the first type is greater than the total length and/or the total surface of field portions which are not of the first type
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Burkhardt, Achim Zern
  • Publication number: 20100248796
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a first casing; a second casing; a coupling mechanism for coupling the first and second casings while allowing the first and second casings to slide and rotate with each other in a state where the first and second casings being overlapped with each other, the coupling mechanism retaining the first and second casings to be in one of: a first posture in which the first and second casings are being overlapped; a second posture in which the first and second casings are being slidably moved; and a third posture in which the first and second casing are being rotated; a magnet provided in one of the first casing and the second casing; a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor which are provided in the other of the first casing and the second casing, the sensors outputting detection signals generated by a magnetic force of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hisashi Higashigawa, Akira Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100237718
    Abstract: A voice coil motor with a surface coil includes a set of magnetic sensing elements, a lens carrier physically connected to the set of magnetic sensing elements, a pedestal, and a set of printed circuit boards fixed onto the pedestal. A patterned metal layer is fabricated on the set of printed circuit boards to form the surface coil, a Hall sensor is installed on one of the printed circuit boards and transmits signals (e.g., operation voltages and feedback sensing signals) via traces fabricated on the set of printed circuit boards, so as to achieve simultaneous fabrication of the surface coil and traces, thereby saving space which is conventionally occupied by copper coils. The Hall sensor can sense a variation in a magnetic field resulting from the motion of the set of magnetic sensing elements to determine a motion status of the lens carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Chuo-Han Tsai, Shih-Chuan Lee
  • Patent number: 7795771
    Abstract: A rotor of an electrical machine has at least one hollow-cylindrical, first permanent magnet with axial bearing surfaces that interact with at least one retaining element and with a sensor magnet assembly, and the first permanent magnet and the sensor magnet assembly are retained axially between two retaining elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lott, Helmut Meier, Andreas Wehrle
  • Publication number: 20100213928
    Abstract: A piston rod position sensing system includes a cylinder and a piston rod arranged in the cylinder for movement with respect thereto. A magnetically hard layer is formed on the piston rod to provide a recording medium. A magnetic pattern is recorded in the magnetically hard layer. The magnetic pattern includes tracks recorded in the magnetically hard layer lengthwise of the piston rod. Each track comprises magnetically written regions used to identify a current position of the piston rod. The sensing system also includes a plurality of magnetic field sensors in greater number than the plurality of tracks. Each magnetic field sensor senses the magnetically written regions of one or more of the tracks while the piston rod is moving with respect to the cylinder and generates signals used for detecting rotation of the piston rod in response to the sensed magnetically written regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Thomas P. Low, C. Bruce Clark, Ronald E. Pelrine, Joseph S. Eckerle, Chris Smith, Glovanni Zangarl
  • Publication number: 20100207607
    Abstract: A position indicator includes a tubular core member, a first coil, a second coil, a substantially bar-like rod, a pen-pressure detecting element, at least one capacitor, and a switch. The tubular core member is formed by a substantially bar-like first magnetic core and a substantially bar-like second magnetic core, which are combined in a transversal direction thereof to form a through-hole therebetween. At least one of the first and second magnetic cores may include a recessed portion formed therein extending in the axial direction thereof. The first coil is wound around the tubular core member, and the second coil is wound around the second magnetic core. The rod is inserted into the through-hole of the tubular core member. The pen-pressure detecting element detects a pressure applied to an end of the rod (i.e., the pen tip). The capacitor is connected to the first coil to form a resonant circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: WACOM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Katsurahira, Hiroyuki Fujitsuka, Kimiyoshi Hosaka
  • Publication number: 20100194384
    Abstract: A system including magnetic sensing elements and a circuit. The magnetic sensing elements are configured to sense a magnetic field that is generated via a current and to provide signals that correspond to the magnetic field. The circuit is configured to determine calibration values based on the signals and measure the current based on the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 7766128
    Abstract: An actuator used in a safety stop device for an elevator has: a movable portion displaceable between an actuation position where the safety stop device for the elevator is actuated and a normal position where the actuation of the safety stop device is released; and an electromagnetic coil for displacing the movable portion when a current flows through the electromagnetic coil. A device for inspecting operation of the actuator has a feeder circuit for supplying an amount of electricity required for a semi-operation which is less than that required for a full operation for displacing the movable portion from the normal position and the actuation position to the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshie Takeuchi, Kenji Shimohata, Tae Hyun Kim, Hiroshi Kigawa, Tatsuo Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20100181994
    Abstract: The invention concerns the methods for determining, relative to a point Po, the location of a fixing point Pf of a rod T located in an environment Mi wherein prevails a permanent magnetic field Ch. The inventive method is characterized in that it consists in studying the variations of the magnetic flux which passes through the windows F when the rod is and is not subjected to a torque about its axis A, said windows having substantially the same area and being connected to the rod T respectively in different points Px, Px+1, . . . located on the portion of the rod delimited by the assumed site of the fixing point Pf, and including the point Po, and having each a given position relative to the magnetic field lines of force when the rod is not subjected to the torque. The invention also concerns a device for implementing said method. The invention is advantageously applicable to determining the location of the sticking point of a string of hollow drill rods in an oil well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Martin, Phillippe Broun, Jean-Paul Bongiraud, Jean-Louis Coulomb, Vincent Bongiraud
  • Publication number: 20100171030
    Abstract: An encoder apparatus comprises a first scale member with a scale region on which a scale is arranged; a detector that detects light from the scale region; and a retaining member with a retaining surface that is arranged so as to face a surface of the first scale member including the scale region via a predetermined gap, and that retains a liquid at least between the retaining surface and the first scale member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Susumu MAKINOUCHI
  • Publication number: 20100164484
    Abstract: The position or the direction of a first marker which produces an alternating magnetic field by means of an external power supply is detected precisely even if the first marker coexists with a second marker which includes a resonance circuit having a resonance frequency the same as or close to the frequency of the alternating magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Uchiyama, Ryoji Sato, Atsushi Kimura, Ryo Karasawa
  • Patent number: 7747307
    Abstract: A method and system for locating a source of a signal. The source may be a wireless marker that is implanted in an object, such as a human body. The signal generated by the marker is a magnetic field. The location system uses an array of sensors to measure the magnetic field of the marker at various sensor locations. The location system compares the set of actual measurements to sets of reference measurements for various known locations within a bounding volume. Based on the comparisons, the location system identifies the set of reference measurements that most closely matches the set of actual measurements. The location system then uses sets of reference measurements for known locations near the closest known location to more accurately determine the marker location when it is not actually at one of the known locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Nelson Wright, Barry Friemel
  • Patent number: 7737945
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pointing device for facilitating user interaction with an electronic device. The pointing device includes a magnetic disc, a magnetic field over which the magnetic disc laterally travels in response to force applied by a user, and a plurality of sensors to detect the location of the magnetic disc relative to the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Jennifer D. West, Thomas Snyder
  • Publication number: 20100141242
    Abstract: To disclose a magnetic encoder being subjected to only small gap variation between a magnetic sensor element and a magnetic medium and readily assembled, and having a smaller number of components, high sliding resistance, and high stability against outside force, such as shock or the like. The magnetic sensor holding mechanism has a swirling spring plate structure having elasticity with respect to rotation around a rotation axis in a reciprocative slide relative movement direction, elasticity with respect to rotation around a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocative relative movement direction and in parallel to the magnetic medium, and elasticity in the direction perpendicular to the sensor element. A load between 50 mN and 80 mN is applied to press onto the magnetic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Hitachi Metals Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Abe, Yuji Nihei, Shinji Furuichi, Yasuko Furuichi
  • Patent number: 7710107
    Abstract: A device and method for disclosing position of a positionable input by positioning the input over a range of positions to cause the magnitude of the directional component of a vector representing a field or force produced by a source to change from a reference magnitude or reference direction as the input is being positioned while an electric circuit that contains a sensor for sensing the directional component is changing the value of an electric signal for restoring the magnitude of the directional component being sensed by the sensor to the reference magnitude or reference direction, and using the value of the electric signal to disclose the position of the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Gary Don Cochran
  • Publication number: 20100102798
    Abstract: There is described an arrangement for detecting a change in a position between two parts which can be displaced in relation to one another. The arrangement has at least one electromechanical registering device having a monitoring chamber, which is shielded from manipulations taking effect from the outside, a number of monitoring bodies in the monitoring chamber, the number comprising at least two components and these components differing from one another in terms of a physical parameter, motion transfer means, which, in the event of the change in the positioning being returned to an initial state, cause the monitoring bodies to be moved from a first monitoring arrangement into a second monitoring arrangement. A sensor device has sensors which generate a sensor signal corresponding to the physical parameter of a monitoring body associated with each sensor in the first and second monitoring arrangement, and each sensor signal is fed to an evaluation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Carsten Siebold
  • Publication number: 20100097050
    Abstract: A displacement measuring apparatus is provided, which comprises a measuring sensor, a housing, a first board, a second board and a third board, which boards are arranged in the housing and are circuit carriers, wherein the second board and the third board are in each case oriented transversely to the first board, the second board and the third board are connected by means of a first plug-in connection device and the combination of the second board and third board is connected to the first board by means of a second plug-in connection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Wangler, Gerd Eckel
  • Publication number: 20100090686
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder includes a metallic reinforcing ring and a magnetic ring attached to the metallic reinforcing ring, and is composed of a mixture of an elastic element and a magnetic material. A front side of the magnetic ring is formed into a roughly uneven surface having a roughness of Ra 0.2 to 10.0 or Ry 2 to 100.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Masanori Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20100079134
    Abstract: A circular surface of a magnet is magnetized to an N-pole, and a back surface is magnetized to an S-pole. A detection unit moves in an X-Y plane at a position apart from the surface of the magnet. An X-direction detection element and a Y-direction detection element are installed in the detection unit. Both the X-direction detection element and the Y-direction detection element are magnetoresistive effect elements each having the bias magnetic field in a B-direction applied to a free magnetic layer directed perpendicular to the surface of the magnet. Each bias magnetic field is stabilized both in the X-direction detection element and the Y-direction detection element such that the detection unit accurately provides position detection output values in the X- and Y-directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takeya, Takafumi Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20100079135
    Abstract: In a magnetic detecting device, conductive patterns are formed on a substrate in a surrounding region outside chips, except for a region between the chips. Inner connection pads formed on each of the chips are wire-bonded to their corresponding conductive patterns, so that the chips are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto Ando, Kiyoshi Sato
  • Publication number: 20100072986
    Abstract: A device for measuring the position of a mobile part (4), include: at least one magnetic node (10) capable of modulating the amplitude of an excitation magnetic field according to the amplitude of a magnetic field to be measured, the magnetic node having a magnetic cycle for magnetic induction that depends on the hysteresis-free magnetic field in an operation range [Hmin; Hmax], and in which the magnetic cycle of the magnetic node (10) is characterised in that the absolute value of the third derivative of the magnetic induction relative to the magnetic field is maximal for a zero magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: BILLANCO
    Inventor: Luc Lucien Marie Lenglet
  • Publication number: 20100060269
    Abstract: A method for measuring the pole position angle between the magnetic field of a track-side stator of a magnetic levitation train track and the magnetic reference axis of a magnetic levitation vehicle located on the track. When the levitation magnet of the magnetic levitation vehicle is energized, a direction component of the magnetic field of the stator, which component is predefined by a preferred measurement direction of the magnetic field sensors, is measured using a pair of magnetic field sensors, and the pole position angle is determined using the measured values of the two magnetic field sensors. The preferred measurement direction is set in such a way that at least one of the two magnetic field sensors has a minimum measurement sensitivity for the magnetic field of the levitation magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Robert Schmid
  • Patent number: 7675284
    Abstract: A rotation angle detecting device includes a permanent magnet member, a pair of magnetic sensor elements disposed in a magnetic field formed by the permanent magnet member to provide a pair of output voltage signals when the magnetic field changes as the rotating object rotates; and a rotation angle calculating unit. The rotation angle calculating unit calculates a phase difference between the pair of output voltage signals from a magnitude of the output signal of one of the magnetic sensor elements when detecting a specific magnitude of the output signal of the other magnetic sensor elements whose phase angle is known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichirou Matsumoto, Takashi Kawashima, Tatsuya Kitanaka
  • Publication number: 20100045284
    Abstract: An actuator capable of flagellar motion is disclosed. The actuator comprises a carbon nanotube (CNT) rope and at least one metal/CNT composite part formed on the CNT rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: SNU R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Yong Hyup Kim, Wal Jun Kim
  • Publication number: 20100045270
    Abstract: A high-resolution magnetic encoder system includes a magnetic resistive sensor, a fixed suspension, and a mechanism. The magnetic resistive sensor is mounted to the fixed suspension above a magnetic medium having at least one magnetic track. The fixed suspension is attached to the mechanism, such as a housing, a substrate, and/or an electronic board. The sensor is adapted to perform a relative movement with respect to and in close contact to the surface of the magnetic medium. The magnetic medium may be protected by an overcoat layer. The magnetic resistive sensor may be Giant Magnetic-Resistive (GMR) sensor and/or a Tunneling Magnetic-Resistive Sensor (TMR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Dietzel, Marcus Breuer, Hubert Grimm, Karl-Heinz Lehnhert, Nikolaus Luckner, Rolf Schaefer, Guenther Michaelis
  • Publication number: 20100045269
    Abstract: A base station (e.g., a central device including a transducer assembly of one or more orthogonal transducers) transmits a magnetic field at a known power level and direction. The magnetic field signal includes data information transmitted from the base station to a movable remote station. The remote station includes a transducer assembly of one or multiple transducer coils to receive the magnetic field generated by the base station. Location and orientation of the remote station (with respect to the base station) are determined based on the magnitude, amplitude, and/or phase of magnetic field signals received on each of the remote station's transducers. The remote station may transmit the location and orientation information (e.g., raw measured data or converted data) to the base station using the same coils as used by the remote station to receive the magnetic field generated by the base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. LaFranchise, Vincent Palermo, Charles M. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20100039102
    Abstract: A device for nondestructive and noncontact detection of faults in a test piece, with a stationary measurement device (16) for taking an eddy current or a magnetic stray flux measurements on a test piece (10) continuously advanced relative to the measurement device; and a device (12) for positioning the test piece with respect to the measurement device in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the test piece. The device also has a monitoring unit (20) with at least three distance sensors (22) arranged distributed around the test piece in the peripheral direction for contactless detection of the distance between the surface of the test piece facing the respective sensor and the respective sensor, as well as a unit for evaluating the signals from the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: PRUEFTECHNIK DIETER BUSCH AG
    Inventors: Roland HOELZL, Bernd ZIMMERMANN
  • Publication number: 20100033197
    Abstract: A proximity sensor includes an L-C resonator, an oscillator for oscillating the L-C resonator, an oscillation detector, an output circuit, and a burnout detecting means. The L-C resonator has a detection coil for detecting an object, and a resonant capacitor connected across the detection coil. The oscillation detector detects an oscillation of the L-C resonator. The burnout detecting means has a time counter for counting a length of a positive voltage period in which a voltage across the resonant capacitor is kept above a predetermined positive voltage, and a discriminator which determines burnout of the detection coil when the counted length exceeds a half of an oscillation cycle of the L-C resonator. The output circuit outputs a detection signal indicative of whether or not the object exists within a detection range of the detection coil, and provides a burnout signal indicative of the burnout of the detection coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Masahisa Niwa
  • Patent number: 7660690
    Abstract: In the present invention, a method is provided for installing and locating a plurality of sensors distributed on a structure as part of a structural health monitoring system. The method includes verifying the proper installation of the plurality of sensors and determining the location of the plurality of sensors. In one aspect of the present invention, the step of verifying the proper installation further comprises verifying that each of the plurality of sensors are properly coupled to a sensor data collector and verifying that each of the plurality of sensors are installed in a proper location. In another aspect of the present invention, the step of determining the location of the plurality of sensors further comprises determining the positioning of each sensor in reference to fixed structures in the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Grant A. Gordon, Joseph Nutaro, Steven R. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20100013464
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive proximity sensor for embedding in a mild steel mounting plate, comprising an enclosure with a front wall of synthetic material forming a sensing face at a front end of the enclosure, an oscillator comprising a sensor coil with a core made of a material with a relative magnetic permeability larger than 1, typically a ferrite, which is arranged within the enclosure behind the front wall so that an open side of the core is directed towards the sensing face in order to direct the magnetic field of the coil towards a target in front of the sensing face, a hollow cylindrical metal member arranged perpendicular to the sensing face and surrounding the core, and a measuring circuit for measuring an attenuation of the oscillator due to eddy currents. The core is radially surrounded by a metal layer with a low electrical resistivity of less than 15 ??·cm and with a thickness of less than 40 ?m, in order to improve the embeddability of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Marc DE HUU, Peter HEIMLICHER, Charles RHÊME, Philippe VENIER
  • Publication number: 20100013465
    Abstract: A force measuring device is provided, which comprises a transducer device that has a plurality of magnets and generates a magnetic field, and a sensor device that is sensitive to a magnetic field and is arranged in a space in front of the transducer device, the transducer device and the sensor device being movable relative to each other under the action of a force, wherein the magnets of the transducer device are positioned in a quadrupole arrangement relative to the sensor device, and the sensor device comprises at least one first sensor element and one second sensor element, the first sensor element being associated with a first magnetic pole or a first pair of magnetic poles, and the second sensor element being associated with a second magnetic pole or a second pair of magnetic poles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: BAG BIZERBA AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Sautter, Andreas Hampe
  • Publication number: 20100001736
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for monitoring the flow of ore in block cave mining operations by inserting an active magnetic beacon 1 into the ore body 12 and generating an alternating magnetic signal with the beacon 1. The ore is monitored with a magnetometer (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) to detect the magnetic flux emitted by the beacon 1 thereby determining the position of the beacon. Successive recordings of the position of the magnetic beacon are taken as it moves along with the ore as it “caves”. In this way, the flow patterns of the ore may be revealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: CMTE Development Limited
    Inventors: Barend Jacobus Pienaar, Paul J.A. Lever
  • Publication number: 20100001717
    Abstract: An annular magnetic encoder capable of detecting an absolute position precisely by specifying the shape of a magnetization pattern. The annular magnetic encoder (A) is of such a type that the magnetic poles (2a) of N pole and S pole are formed alternately at an equal pitch by magnetization along the circumferential direction of an annular magnetic body (2), an unequal pitch region (20) is provided at least one place in the circumferential direction of the annular magnetic body (2) corresponding to a plurality of magnetic poles (2a). The unequal pitch region (20) consists of one specific pole portion (2b) in the center and different pole portions (2c) located on the periphery thereof whose polarity is different from that of the specific pole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Masanori Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20090322318
    Abstract: Disclosed is a position measuring device, comprising: a first and second solid measure and a first and second scanning mechanism, wherein: the first and second solid measure and the first and second scanning mechanism are respectively designed identically but mirrored in a plane including the direction of measurement and perpendicular to the direction that is not measured; the first and second solid measure are mounted in a fixed opposite position in a direction that is not measured; the first and the second scanning mechanism are mounted in a fixed opposite position in the direction that is not measured; and the scanning signals generated by the first and second scanning mechanisms respectively are electronically combined into an output scanning signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: SICK STEGMANN GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Siraky
  • Publication number: 20090322317
    Abstract: A linear feedback positioning module is provided with a coupling and a drive at one side of a platform having a lead screw, a movable assembly combined on the lead screw and a feedback assembly. The feedback assembly includes a magnetic scale cooperating with a read head. The magnetic scale is combined on the platform and located along the lead screw to cooperate with the lead screw. The linear feedback positioning module is further used with a backend control assembly. By such arrangements, the feedback assembly can correct error at any moment to improve the process and product accuracy and increase the production efficiency and product competitiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Don-Hua CHENG