International Business Machines Corporation

Balluff Gmbh

Arwed Brunsch

Gerhard Trippel

Ernst Ehling

Martin Kurz

J&uuml;rgen Petrik

Werner Steiner

Wolf-Dieter Ruh

Jochen Schneider

Wolf D Ruh

A modular waveguide assembly for use in a position sensor promotes efficient manufacturing, and can be tested and handled separately from the electronics module of the sensor. The waveguide assembly includes a channel having an opening extending along its length, a waveguide located within the channel, a conductor located within the channel, and a mode converter, such as a coil, located within the channel and positioned to generate an electrical signal from a signal traveling along the waveguide. A damping material can be inserted into the channel opening and around a portion of the waveguide such that the material adheres to the waveguide. Preferably, the damping material is at least initially partially flowable, and is then cured. A support sleeve for locating the waveguide can also be included in the assembly, and includes an elongated tubular member comprising an integral piece of flexible material and a plurality of constrictions spaced along its length for locating the waveguide and protecting it from shock and vibration. The assembly can also include a support element for connecting the coil to the electronics module of the sensor. The element can include terminals electrically connected to the coil ends and a bore for receiving the waveguide and conductor. In addition, the waveguide assembly can be pre-calibrated for use with any electronics module by connecting a gain unit, such as a resistor, to the assembly. The gain unit is selected according to the characteristics of the waveguide, such as its length and/or magnetostrictive sensitivity, and can be easily connected to the electronics module for control of the amplification circuitry in the module.

Modular waveguide assembly and method for making the same

Pre-calibrated waveguide assembly and method

A modular waveguide assembly for use in a position sensor promotes efficient manufacturing, and can be tested and handled separately from the electronics module of the sensor. The waveguide assembly includes a channel having an opening extending along its length, a waveguide located within the channel, a conductor located within the channel, and a mode converter, such as a coil, located within the channel and positioned to generate an electrical signal from a signal traveling along the waveguide. A damping material can be inserted into the channel opening and around a portion of the waveguide such that the material adheres to the waveguide. In one embodiment, the damping material is at least initially partially flowable, and is then cured. A support sleeve for locating the waveguide can also be included in the assembly, and includes an elongated tubular member comprising an integral piece of flexible material and a plurality of constrictions spaced along its length for locating the waveguide and protecting it from shock and vibration. The assembly can also include a support element for connecting the coil to the electronics module of the sensor. The element can include terminals electrically connected to the coil ends and a bore for receiving the waveguide and conductor. In addition, the waveguide assembly can be pre-calibrated for use with any electronics module by connecting a gain unit, such as a resistor, to the assembly. The gain unit is selected according to the characteristics of the waveguide, such as its length and/or magnetostrictive sensitivity, and can be easily connected to the electronics module for control of the amplification circuitry in the module.

Modular waveguide assembly for a position sensor and method for making the same

A method and apparatus is provided for characterizing magnetic coating compositions that contain magnetic particles dispersed in a solvent resin matrix. The coating composition, as it passes through a tube, is subjected to an alternating magnetic field and perpendicular thereto a constant magnetic field of appropriate field strength and duration. Via a measuring coil surrounding the tube the induced signal in the composition is monitored and the degree of dispersion, is measured by measuring the magnetic susceptibility of the coating material. By applying a constant magnetic field the degree of dispersion cna be changed at least for a certain time. The method and apparatus of the present invention can be incorporated into a coating apparatus to monitor and improve the magnetic characteristics of the coating material being applied to a substrate.

Method and apparatus for characterizing magnetic coating compositions as

For characterizing coating compositions with magnetic particles the coating composition is subjected to an alternating magnetic field of variable frequency. The field induced by the coating composition after energization is recorded, and thus the susceptibility of the coating composition is measured. Depending on the variable frequency, conclusions can be made regarding the degree of dispersion, particle density, and viscosity of the coating composition. The variable frequency is between 1 and 100 cps, and the field intensity of the energizing field should be lower than 10 Oerstedt. The coating composition is fluid or stagnant in a pipe *1, 11 which is surrounded by field coil and measuring coil.

Method of determining dispersion, particle density or viscosity of

A test sample (7) of the same material, or with the same structure as the workpiece (5) exposed to subtractive processing is simultaneously exposed to such processing and consists of a wedge (10) with the angle .alpha. covered by two covering plates (11) which are complementary to its two surfaces (14). By measuring the distance x.sub.1 between the thus formed gaps (15), and by comparing it with the original distance x.sub.O, thickness z of the respectively removed layer can be determined from the equation ##EQU1##

Method of measuring the thickness of the removed layer in subtractive

For a metallic thin film magnetic disk, a chromium undercoat and a magnetic layer, in particular of an FeCoCr alloy, are obliquely sputtered by means of a sputtering system onto a substrate at an angle of incidence of about 60.degree.. The operating pressure of the argon gas atmosphere is between 5 and 15 .mu.bar and the thickness (t.sub.Cr) of the undercoat, which also influences the coercive field strength, is between about 50 and 180 nm. By means of a sector shutter of suitable shape, the thickness distribution between the inner diameter ID and the outer diameter OD of the storage area of the magnetic disk can be influenced in the desired manner.

Method of producing a metallic thin film magnetic disk

Direct method for measuring the magnetostriction constant .lambda..sub.s of soft magnetic and isotropic magnetic materials. A thin film sample is cantilevered and clamped at one edge. Under the influence of a magnetic AC field and the magnetostriction effect of the sample material, the free end of the cantilevered sample is deflected and oscillates with twice the frequency of the AC field. The resonance amplitude a.sub.res is measured by using a laser beam impinging upon the oscillating sample and measuring the reflected beam amplitude by means of a position-sensitive photodiode. The AC output signal of the photodiode is proportional to the sample amplitude. The magnetostriction constant .lambda..sub.s is directly proportional to the resonance amplitude a.sub.res multiplied by a constant factor which depends on known geometry and properties of the sample material.

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Arwed Brunsch