Ultra-sensitive force detector employing servo-stabilized tunneling junction
US5103682A · kind A · utility
9Cited by
8References
13Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 1990 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 5, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S505/842
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A highly sensitive force detector using a tunneling junction as a strain gauge is disclosed. The tunneling junction is connected to a deflection member which receives the force to be measured. The junction is connected in a nulling circuit to a magnetic flux motor which generates a restoring force precisely equal to the force to be measured. The magnetic flux required by the flux motor to do so is measured by a SQUID, the output of which is directly proportional to the flux to be measured. The device has applications in pressure sensing, weighing, gravity measurements, detection of massive objects, and elsewhere.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.