Patent ID: 7768251
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: H01F

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a track in a layer of thin film material for use in a superconducting coil, the layer provided on a former having a substantially curved surface, the method comprising: scanning the layer to detect defects in the layer by probing a physical property of the material comprising the layer, without a coil path being defined in the layer, to provide a data set of the physical property; processing the data set to form a map having features indicating variations in the physical property over the layer; analyzing the features of the map to identify and locate defects in the layer; for each of the defects, identifying whether the defect is irreparable; calculating an optimal path, wherein the path avoids any irreparable defects; and defining the optimal path in the layer to define the coil track.