Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a magnetostrictive actuator characterized by linear force output and uniform magnetic biasing. A center bias magnet combined with a flux transfer tube produces a uniform magnetic bias down the length of a magnetostrictive component. Depending on the inventive embodiment, the magnetostrictive component may include one magnetostrictive element or a pair of collinear magnetostrictive elements. A center bias magnet, in combination with a flux transfer tube, drives magnetic flux through the magnetostrictive component (e.g., a series of magnetostrictive rods) in opposite directions, while surrounding drive coils apply flux in the same direction through the magnetostrictive component. The net response is substantially linear with respect to the drive coil current. The flux transfer tube applies distributed magnetic flux to the magnetostrictive component at a rate that ensures uniform magnetic flux density down the length of the magnetostrictive component.

A torque load member has a detected surface which is configured to face a magnetostrictive torque sensor. The detected surface is a shot peened surface whose magnetic anisotropy directed in a specific direction has been reduced by performing shot peening thereto at an arc height value of 0.31 mmA or more.

A magnetic transmitter including at least one magnetoelastic element, a magnetic field source, and an actuator operably coupled to the magnetoelastic element. The magnetoelastic element is oriented parallel to the magnetic field source. The magnetic field source is configured to induce a magnetic flux in the magnetoelastic element, and the actuator is configured to induce harmonic vibration in the magnetoelastic element. The magnetoelastic element is oriented parallel to the magnetic field source. The harmonic vibration of the magnetoelastic element is configured to change a net magnetic dipole of the magnetic transmitter due to magnetostriction.

This invention relates to an operational element and a method for manufacturing the operational element that comprises magnetic shape memory alloy. in the method at least a part of the magnetic shape memory alloy is arranged as an active region that is responsive to a magnetic field and at least one other part of the magnetic shape memory alloy is arranged as an inactive region that is unresponsive to a magnetic field.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a supporter, a film portion, a first element, and a first magnetic portion. The supporter includes a first support portion and a second support portion. The film portion includes a first partial region supported by the first support portion. The first element is provided at the first partial region. The first element includes a first electrode region, a first opposing electrode region, and a first magnetic layer provided between the first electrode region and the first opposing electrode region. A direction from the second support portion toward the first magnetic portion is aligned with a first direction. The first direction is from the first opposing electrode region toward the first electrode region. At least a portion of the first magnetic portion overlaps at least a portion of the first element in a direction crossing the first direction.

An energy converter is formed by bonding a solid soft magnetic material and a solid magnetostrictive material. A vibration power generator is configured to generate power by means of the inverse magnetostriction effect of the magnetostrictive material produced by the vibration of a vibration unit configured using the energy converter. A force sensor device includes a force detection unit that detects magnetization change resulting from the inverse magnetostriction effect of the magnetostrictive material produced when a sensor unit configured using the energy converter deforms, and determines force acting on the sensor unit on the basis of the detected magnetization change. An actuator is configured to vibrate the vibration unit configured using the energy converter by means of the magnetostriction effect of the magnetostrictive material.

A positive-displacement pump device has at least one shape-memory unit including at least one magnetic shape-memory element, which is configured to convey at least one medium along at least one transport direction, wherein the positive-displacement pump device includes at least one deformation unit, which is configured, for the purpose of providing a transport volume, to deform the magnetic shape-memory element, at least in an idle state in which the positive-displacement pump device is free of a current and/or voltage supply, by a pressure force and/or traction force acting in the transport direction such that the magnetic shape-memory element includes at least one first partial region and at least one second partial region which differ from one another at least by their magnetic orientations.

A microwave resonator magnetic field measuring device (1) for measuring alternating magnetic fields, with a base plate (11) having at least one supporting/bearing/clamping point (111), at least one mechanical oscillator (12+13) formed as a microwave resonator in the form of a cantilever (13) having at least one magnetostrictive layer (12), the latter being connected and mounted at at least one point to the base plate (11) in the at least one supporting/bearing/clamping point (111), at least one input coupling means (161) for microwaves and at least one output coupling means (162) for microwaves, wherein the base plate (11) and the mechanical oscillator (12+13) formed as a microwave resonator are at least partly electrically conductive and electrically conductively connected to one another. Also, a magnetic field measuring method having a magnetic field measuring device according to the invention.

A magnetostriction-type vibration powered generator including a power generating section and a frame joined to the power generating section. The power generating section includes a diaphragm formed of non-magnetic material and disposed at a first end of the power generating section, a magnetostriction element disposed at a second end of the power generating section; and a coil wrapped around the magnetostriction element along the longitudinal direction. The frame includes a frame body formed of a magnetic material and joined to a second end of the power generating section. A magnet is provided on the frame body so as to face the magnetostriction element of the power generating section.

A sensor unit includes a shaft having a hollow portion and a torque sensor that is arranged inside the hollow portion and detects torsional torque acting on the shaft from inside the shaft. A motor unit can include the sensor unit and a drive motor. A vehicle can include the motor unit. A drive motor can be a traction motor that generates a traction drive force for the vehicle, for example.