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US4527153A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Detectable element and sensor

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-07-26
•
Granted: 1985-07-02
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Expires: 2002-07-26
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Abstract

Abstract A detectable element is attached to an object for detecting the presence or passage of the object and comprises a capsule and a permanent magnet rotatably and vibratably mounted in the capsule. When the detectable element enters an alternating magnetic field, the permanent magnet rotates or vibrates within the capsule to thereby produce a magnetic wave or an audible sound, which is picked up to detect the detectable element.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenichi Suzuki
  • 👤 Kazunari Yamada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 16:19
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2428; G08B13/2437; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/08; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/2442

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
A system for detecting the presence of an object comprising: a detectable element including a capsule made of a nonmagnetic material and having a permanent magnet therein which is freely movable within said capsule, said detectable element being attached to the object to be detected; means for generating an alternating magnetic field of a predetermined frequency which causes said permanent magnet to move inside said capsule when said detectable element is near said generating means; sensor means disposed near said generating means for detecting a magnetic wave emanating from said detectable element upon movement of said permanent magnet, said sensor means being operative to produce an electric signal; filter means for extracting from said electric signal a signal component of a frequency which is related to the frequency of said alternating magnetic field but different therefrom; and an indicator responsive to said signal component for indicating the presence of the object to be detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 154 words
A system for detecting the presence of an object comprising: a detectable element including a capsule made of a nonmagnetic material and having a permanent magnet therein which is freely movable within said capsule, said detectable element being attached to the object to be detected; means for generating an alternating magnetic field of a predetermined frequency which causes said permanent magnet to move inside said capsule when said detectable element is near said generating means; sensor means disposed near said generating means for detecting a magnetic wave emanating from said detectable element upon movement of said permanent magnet, said sensor means being operative to produce an electric signal; filter means for extracting from said electric signal a signal component of a frequency which is related to the frequency of said alternating magnetic field but different therefrom; and an indicator responsive to said signal component for indicating the presence of the object to be detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 including means for producing an auxiliary alternating magnetic field which substantially cancels out the alternating magnetic field of said first-mentioned generating means at said sensor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 wherein said filter means includes a notch filter operative to reject signal components of said predetermined frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 wherein said filter means has a passband corresponding to 1/n (n=an integer) of the predetermined frequency of said alternating magnetic field, or of a frequency close to said predetermined frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 wherein said capsule is made of a flexible material and has an opening slightly smaller than said permanent magnet, said permanent magnet being forcibly pushed into said capsule through said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 wherein said capsule comprises a plate having a hole therein in which said permanent magnet is disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 wherein said capsule comprises a sheet-like member having a projecting portion which defines a space in which said permanent magnet is disposed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 wherein said capsule has an opening which is closed by the object when said capsule is mounted on the object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The object detecting system of claim 1 wherein said capsule includes an adhesive layer on a surface thereof for attaching said capsule to the object to be detected.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 165 words
A system for detecting the presence of an object comprising: a detectable element including a capsule made of a nonmagnetic material and having a permanent magnet therein which is freely movable in said capsule, said detectable element being attached to the object to be detected; means for generating an alternating magnetic field of a predetermined frequency which causes said permanent magnet to move inside said capsule when said detectable element is near said generating means, said capsule being operative to produce sounds when said permanent magnet collides with an inner wall of said capsule which sounds include a frequency component characteristic of said capsule; a microphone disposed near said generating means and responsive to said sounds for producing an electric signal; filter means having a passband corresponding to a frequency of said sounds for extracting from said electric signal a signal component of said capsule frequency characteristic; and an indicator responsive to said signal component for indicating the presence of the object to be detected.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 165 words
A system for detecting the presence of an object comprising: a detectable element including a capsule made of a nonmagnetic material and having a permanent magnet therein which is freely movable in said capsule, said detectable element being attached to the object to be detected; means for generating an alternating magnetic field of a predetermined frequency which causes said permanent magnet to move inside said capsule when said detectable element is near said generating means, said capsule being operative to produce sounds when said permanent magnet collides with an inner wall of said capsule which sounds include a frequency component characteristic of said capsule; a microphone disposed near said generating means and responsive to said sounds for producing an electric signal; filter means having a passband corresponding to a frequency of said sounds for extracting from said electric signal a signal component of said capsule frequency characteristic; and an indicator responsive to said signal component for indicating the presence of the object to be detected.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3754225A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-07-01 1988-12-31 1989-07-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-07-01 1992-12-31 1993-07-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-07-01 1996-12-31 1997-07-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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