• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2000

A 40-channel superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) system was constructed for measuring neuromagnetic fields. Main features of the system are the use of double relaxation oscillation SQUIDs (DROSs), and planar gradiometers measuring magnetic field components tangential to the head surface. The DROSs with high flux-to-voltage transfers enabled direct readout of the SQUID output by room-temperature dc preamplifiers and simple flux-locked loop circuits could be used for SQUID operation. The pickup coil is an integrated first-order planar gradiometer with a baseline of 40 mm. Average noise level of the 40 channels is around 1.2 $fT/cm/{\surd}Hz$ at 100 Hz, corresponding to a field noise of 5 $fT/{\surd}Hz$, operated inside a magnetically shielded room. The SQUID insert was designed to have low thermal load, minimizing the loss of liquid helium. The constructed system was applied to measure auditory-evoked neuromagnetic fields.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.424-429
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• 2003

This paper proposes a swing-arm type dual-stage actuator, which consists of a PZT actuator for fine motion and a VCM(Voice Coil Motor) for coarse motion, for SFF ODD(Small Form Factor Optical Disk Drive), in order to achieve fast access speed and precise track following control. We focus our attention on the design and control of the PZT actuator, because there have been a lot of previous researches related to the VCM and dual-stage actuators. Due to the dual cantilever structure, the PZT actuator can generate precise translational tracking motion at its tip where optical pickup is attached at, and the effect of hysteric behavior of the PZT element is reduced. The dynamic model of the PZT actuator is derived by using the Hamilton's principle, and verified by comparing with the experimental frequency response. The sliding mode control is designed in order to be robust against modeling uncertainties. Simulations and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the suggested control scheme.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.159-162
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• 2013

We present how to optimize the operation condition including frequency of the orthogonal fluxgate sensor in this paper. The orthogonal fluxgate sensor was fabricated with a Co-based amorphous wire with 10 mm long and 100 ${\mu}m$ in the diameter and a 270-turn pickup coil wound on the amorphous wire. In order to investigate the frequency dependence of the sensitivity, output spectra of the sensor which was connected by using a coaxial cable with various lengths of 0.5-5 m were measured with a RF lock-in amplifier. The maximum sensitivities were obtained at different frequencies according to coaxial cable lengths. It was found that the optimal operation frequencies, at which maximum sensitivities were appeared, were almost identical to the frequencies of impedance resonance. The maximum sensitivity and optimal operation frequency were 1.1 V/Oe (${\approx}$ 11000 V/T) and 1.25 MHz respectively.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 1997

Magnetic field sensors made from superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) are the most sensitive low-frequency sensors available, enabling measurements of extremely weak magnetic fields from the brain. Neuromagnetic measurements allow superior spatial resolution, compared with the present electric measurements, and superior temporal resolution, compared with the fMRl and PET, providing useful informations for the functional diagnoses of the brain. We developed a 4-channel SQUID system for neuromagnetic applications. The main features of the system are its simple readout electronics and compact pickup coil structure. A magnetically shielded room has been constructed for the reduction of environmental magnetic noises. The developed SQUID system has noise level lower than the magnetic noise from the brain. Magnetic field signals of the spontaneous r-rhythm activity and auditory evoked magnetic fields have been measured.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.25-29
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• 2021

For the application of HTS wire to AC power equipment, a conductor with high current capacity and low loss is required. CORC^®, one of the high-current conductors manufactured using several HTS wires, is made by winding the wires in a spiral on a cylindrical former. Because the magnetization loss of a CORC^® conductor depends on the degree of magnetic coupling between the wires constituting the CORC^®, it is necessary to know the value of the magnetization loss of the CORC^® itself. In order to obtain an accurate loss value, it is necessary to know the effect of the ratio of the winding pitch of the CORC^® conductor in the pickup coil region sampling the magnetization loss signal. To confirm this effect, we prepare CORC^® samples having various winding pitches, and measure and compare the magnetization losses. In addition, the magnetization loss was measured while rotating the CORC^® samples and it was examined whether there was a difference in the magnetization loss according to the rotation.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.1-5
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• 2020

Heart consists of myocardium cells and the electrophysiological activity of the cells generate magnetic fields. By measuring this magnetic field, magnetocardiogram (MCG), functional diagnosis of the heart diseases is possible. Since the strength of the MCG signals is weak, typically in the range of 1-10 pT, we need sensitive magnetic sensors. Conventionally, superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID)s were used for the detection of MCG signals due to its superior sensitivity to other magnetic sensors. However, drawback of the SQUID is the need for regular refill of a cryogenic liquid, typically liquid helium for cooling low-temperature SQUIDs. Efforts to eliminate the need for the refill in the SQUID system have been done by using cryocooler-based conduction cooling or use of non-cryogenic sensors, or room-temperature sensors. Each sensor has advantage and disadvantage, in terms of magnetic field sensitivity and complexity of the system, and we review the recent trend of MCG technology.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2009

We have fabricated a low-noise 61-channel axial-type first-order gradiometer system for measuring fetal magnetocardiography(MCG) signals. Superconducting quantum interference device(SQUID) sensor was based on double relaxation oscillation SQUID(DROS) for detecting biomagnetic signal, such as MCG, magnetoencphalogram(MEG) and fetal-MCG. The SQUID sensor detected axial component of fetal MCG signal. The pickup coil of SQUID sensor was wound with 120 ${\mu}m$ NbTi wire on bobbin(20 mm diameter) and was a first-order gradiometer to reject the environment noise. The sensors have low white noise of 3 $fT/Hz^{1/2}$ at 100 Hz on average. The fetal MCG was measured from $24{\sim}36$ weeks fetus in a magnetically shielded room(MSR) with shielding factor of 35 dB at 0.1 Hz and 80 dB at 100 Hz(comparatively mild shielding). The MCG signal contained maternal and fetal MCG. Fetal MCG could be distinguished relatively easily from maternal MCG by using independent component analysis(ICA) filter. In addition, we could observe T peak as well as QRS wave, respectively. It will be useful in detecting fetal cardiac diseases.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2012

Electric activity of cardiac muscles generates magnetic fields. Magnetocardiography (or MCG) technology, measuring these magnetic signals, can provide useful information for the diagnosis of heart diseases. It is already about 40 years ago that the first measurement of MCG signals was done by D. Cohen using SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) sensor inside a magnetically shielded room. In the early period of MCG history, bulky point-contact RF-SQUID was used as the magnetic sensor. Thanks to the development of Nb-based Josephson junction technology in mid 1980s and new design of tightly-coupled DC-SQUID, low-noise SQUID sensors could be developed in late 1980s. In around 1990, several groups developed multi-channel MCG systems and started clinical study. However, it is quite recent years that the true usefulness of MCG was verified in clinical practice, for example, in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. For the practical MCG system, technical elements of MCG system should be optimized in terms of performance, fabrication cost and operation cost. In this review, development history, technical issue, and future development direction of MCG technology are described.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.20-23
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• 2013

For sensitive measurements of micro-Tesla nuclear magnetic resonance (${\mu}T$-NMR) signal, a low-noise superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) system is needed. We have fabricated a liquid He dewar for an SQUID having a large diameter for the pickup coil. The initial test of the SQUID system showed much higher low-frequency magnetic noise caused by the thermal magnetic noise of the aluminum plates used for the vapor-cooled thermal shield material. The frequency dependence of the noise spectrum showed that the noise increases with the decrease of frequency. This behavior could be explained from a two-layer model; one generating the thermal noise and the other one shielding the thermal noise by eddy-current shielding. And the eddy-current shielding effect is strongly dependent on the frequency through the skin-depth. To minimize the loop size for the fluctuating thermal noise current, we changed the thermal shield material into insulated thin Cu mesh. The magnetic noise of the SQUID system became flat down to 0.1 Hz with a white noise of 0.3 $fT/{\surd}Hz$, including the other noise contributions such as SQUID electronics and magnetically shielded room, etc, which is acceptable for low-noise ${\mu}T$-NMR experiments.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.191-192
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• 1998

We report on the design of a low-noise 40 channel SQUID system for biomagnetism. We used low-noise SQUID sensor with the pickup coil integrated on the same wafer as the SQUID. The SQUID electronics were simplified by increasing the voltage output of the SQUID. The SQUID insert was designed to have low thermal load, minimizing the liquid helium loss. The digital signal processing provides versatile analysis tools and the software is based on the object-oriented programming. For the effective localization of the source location, solutions of the inverse problems based on the lead-field and the simulated anneal ins were studied.