Abstract: A device and method for sensing the status of a non-volatile magnetic latch. A cross-coupled inverter pair latch cell is employed for the data sensing. During the ‘Sense’ cycles, the inputs to the latch cell are from spin dependent tunneling effect devices, each located in its respective inverter pair. The SDT magneto-resistive storage devices have complimentary resistance states written into them. A switch, connected to the inverter pairs, is used to reset and initiate a regenerative sequence. Whenever the switch is turned on (reset) and off (regenerate), the latch cell will sense a potential imbalance generated by the magneto-resistive storage devices with complimentary resistance. During regeneration, the imbalance will be amplified and eventually the inverter pairs will reach a logic high or logic low state. The latch can be used as a memory circuit, however, upon loss of power the memory is retained. The state of the circuit is retained inside of SDT components.

Abstract: A device and method for sensing the status of a non-volatile magnetic latch. A cross-coupled inverter pair latch cell is employed for the data sensing. During the ‘Sense’ cycles, the inputs to the latch cell are from Giant Magneto-Resistive effect devices, each located in its respective inverter pair. The magneto-resistive storage devices have complimentary resistance states written into them. A switch, connected to the inverter pairs, is used to reset and initiate a regenerative sequence. Whenever the switch is turned on (reset) and off (regenerate), the latch cell will sense a potential imbalance generated by the magneto-resistive storage devices with complimentary resistance. During regeneration, the imbalance will be amplified and eventually the inverter pairs will reach a logic high or logic low state. The latch can be used as a memory circuit, however, upon loss of power the memory is retained. The state of the circuit is retained inside of GMR components.

Abstract: A current determiner having an output at which representations of input currents are provided having an input conductor for the input current and a current sensor supported on a substrate electrically isolated from one another but with the sensor positioned in the magnetic fields arising about the input conductor due to any input currents. The sensor extends along the substrate in a direction primarily perpendicular to the extent of the input conductor and is formed of at least a pair of thin-film ferromagnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic conductive layer. The sensor can be electrically connected to electronic circuitry formed in the substrate including a nonlinearity adaptation circuit to provide representations of the input currents of increased accuracy despite nonlinearities in the current sensor, and can include further current sensors in bridge circuits.

Abstract: A high-speed parallel-to-serial CMOS data transmitter uses a D Flip-flop matrix architecture to combine a shift scheme with a selection scheme to serialize parallel bit data. Data is partially serialized through multi data paths at a much lower frequency and a time-division multiplex scheme selects one bit from each data path allowing for pipelined data processing. The CMOS architecture uses selective load clock mode switching allowing different word bit widths to be processed simply by adjusting the frequency of a loading clock.

Abstract: A current determiner having an output at which representations of input currents are provided having an input conductor for the input current and a current sensor supported on a substrate electrically isolated from one another but with the sensor positioned in the magnetic fields arising about the input conductor due to any input currents. The sensor extends along the substrate in a direction primarily perpendicular to the extent of the input conductor and is formed of at least a pair of thin-film ferromagnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic conductive layer. The sensor can be electrically connected to a electronic circuitry formed in the substrate including a nonlinearity adaptation circuit to provide representations of the input currents of increased accuracy despite nonlinearities in the current sensor, and can include further current sensors in bridge circuits.

Abstract: A magnetometer includes a support. The support has two support surfaces that intersect each other along an intersection line. The intersection line is perpendicular to a reference axis of the support. The support surfaces are preferably perpendicular to each other and are each inclined at an angle of 45 degrees to the reference axis. A planar sensor/detector array is mounted on each support surface. Each array includes at least two pairs of magnetic field sensors and associated SQUID detectors arranged such that the magnetic field sensors lie on a line that is parallel to the intersection line of the two support surfaces. The magnetometer can be used adjacent to a surface to measure components and spatial variation of the magnetic field near the surface, with the measured components resolved into the magnetic field vectors parallel to and perpendicular to the surface.

Abstract: A biomagnetometer includes a magnetic field sensor unit having a magnetic field pickup coil. A vessel contains the sensor unit. The vessel includes a flexible contact face with the magnetic field sensor unit mounted in the interior of the vessel adjacent to the flexible contact face. Insulation at the flexible contact face of the vessel prevents excessive heat flow through the flexible contact face. Pickup units using this structure can be connected together into flexible or rigid arrays. In operation, the pickup coil is cooled to a temperature of less than its superconducting transition temperature. A detector measures the magnitude of magnetic fields sensed by the sensor unit.

Abstract: Signals produced by brain activity are measured by each sensor of an array of magnetic and/or electrical sensors external to but proximate to the head (or other portion of the body) of a subject. The measurements obtained simultaneously from all of the sensors are combined in a manner to permit selective measurement of the electrical activity from a specified location within the body, or alternatively, to permit the location in the body producing a particular type of response to be identified. The instantaneous measurement of each sensor is scaled by a weighting coefficient for that sensor, and the products added over all of the sensors. The weighting coefficients are calculated from the covariance matrix of the measurements made by the array of sensors.

Abstract: A biomagnetometer has a magnetic pickup coil positioned remotely from a detector and inductively coupled to the detector. The detector is preferably made from a low-temperature superconductor, while the pickup coil can be made of a high-temperature superconductor. The detector and pickup coil can therefore be placed into separate containers, with an inductive coupler between the containers. In one approach, the detector is maintained at liquid helium temperature, and the pickup coil and electrical connector are cooled by liquid nitrogen. The resulting biomagnetometer permits the container with the pickup coil to be moved and positioned easily, and to be changed readily between various configurations particularly suited for performing various functions.

Abstract: A biomagnetometer has a magnetic pickup coil positioned remotely from the detector. The detector is made from a low-temperature superconductor, while the pickup coil and an electrical connector between the detector and the pickup coil are made of a high-temperature superconductor. Although the detector is maintained in a dewar at a sufficiently low temperature to reduce electronic noise, the pickup coil and the electrical connector need only be maintained at a temperature at which they are superconducting. In one approach, the detector is maintained at liquid helium temperature, and the pickup coil and electrical connector are cooled by liquid nitrogen. The resulting biomagnetometer permits the pickup coil to be moved and positioned easily, and to be changed readily.

Abstract: Signals produced by brain activity are measured by each sensor of an array of magnetic and/or electrical sensors external to but proximate to the head (or other portion of the body) of a subject. The measurements obtained simultaneously from all of the sensors are combined in a manner to permit selective measurement of the electrical activity from a specified location within the body, or alternatively, to permit the location in the body producing a particular type of response to be identified. The instantaneous measurement of each sensor is scaled by a weighting coefficient for that sensor, and the products added over all of the sensors. The weighting coefficients are calculated from a mathematical model of the brain that includes information on the shape of the potential source, the extent or type of source activity, the electrical and magnetic properties of the media, and the locations and orientations of the sources and the sensors.

Abstract: An information transmission system using a pair of transmission interconnections to supply power from a collection station to an operating station, and to transmit information back based on the collection station providing a changing voltage on the two interconnections and the operating station modulating the amount of current drawn about a reference current to represent information.

Abstract: An M-bit all-capacitive analog-to-digital (A/D) converter is disclosed which includes 2.sup.N switched capacitors of substantially identical capacitance for use in determining the N most significant bits. Each of the capacitors have one terminal connected to a common node and its other terminal switchable to either ground or a positive reference voltage. At the beginning of a conversion cycle, the common node is at a potential indicative of a sampled analog input voltage, a first group of 2.sup.N-1 capacitors are switched to ground, and a second group of 2.sup.N-1 capacitors are switched to the positive reference voltage. For a given conversion cycle, selected capacitors of one of the capacitor groups are sequentially switched to drive the common node voltage to ground. A method is also disclosed for converting analog signals to digital signals utilizing parallel capacitive elements of substantially identical capacitance.

Abstract: An arrangement for reducing error in an interleaved analog-to-digital signal conversion system. The arrangement provides matching and adjustment certainty as the basis for such error reduction.

Abstract: A protection circuit for bulk-silicon CMOS circuits detects the latch-up of parasitic SCR devices, current starves the CMOS circuit in response to detecting a SCR latch-up condition and reenables normal circuit operation once the latch-up condition has been terminated.

Abstract: Method for continuous enzyme liquefaction of starch to produce cooked thinned starch pastes, in which an enzyme-containing suspension of raw starch is continuously added to an agitated body of heated converting starch in a single chamber tank, whereby the incoming starch is gelatinized and mixed with the partially converted material to maintain a blend within the tank, having a viscosity low enough to be readily agitated and pumped. A stream of the blend at an established pumpable viscosity is continuously removed from the conversion tank and treated to inactivate the enzyme. The process effectively eliminates problems resulting from the development of temporary peak viscosities in the usual enzyme liquefaction procedures, the equipment requirements are minimal, and the products as produced without further treatment are effective sizes and adhesives.