Abstract: A current sensor includes a transformer comprising a primary and a secondary, wherein the current sensor is operable to measure current in the primary. A sensing circuit is operable to detect an impedance of the secondary, where the impedance of the secondary changes with an amount of current in the primary and is used to indicate the current in the primary.

Abstract: A method for incorporating magnetic materials in a semiconductor manufacturing process includes manufacturing a semiconductor device including interlayers and dielectric layers, depositing a magnetic layer above a semiconductor device and forming metallized contacts for connecting interlayers of the semiconductor device. With the method of the present invention, the deposition of the magnetic material is integrated with the semiconductor manufacturing process.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device formed using SOI CMOS techniques includes a substrate, a silicon oxide layer and in some cases a plurality of gated regions. A first terminal is located between two innermost gated regions and supplies a supply voltage. A second and a third terminal, each of which is located between two adjacent gated regions other than the two innermost gated regions, output positive and negative Hall voltages. By appropriately controlling a bias voltage to the gated regions, small changes in a magnetic field induces larger currents in channel regions under the gated regions, which, in turn, results in detectable Hall voltages.

Abstract: A method for incorporating magnetic materials in a semiconductor manufacturing process includes manufacturing a semiconductor device including interlayers and dielectric layers, depositing a magnetic layer above a semiconductor device and forming metallized contacts for connecting interlayers of the semiconductor device. With the method of the present invention, the deposition of the magnetic material is integrated with the semiconductor manufacturing process.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device formed using SOI CMOS techniques includes a substrate, a silicon oxide layer and in some cases a plurality of gated regions. A first terminal is located between two innermost gated regions and supplies a supply voltage. A second and a third terminal, each of which is located between two adjacent gated regions other than the two innermost gated regions, output positive and negative Hall voltages. By appropriately controlling a bias voltage to the gated regions, small changes in a magnetic field induces larger currents in channel regions under the gated regions, which, in turn, results in detectable Hall voltages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed herein for sensing rotary position. A rotor and stator are positioned proximate to one another but are not in contact with one another. The rotor comprises at least one radial spoke for receiving angular information from the stator, wherein the rotor is located in a non-contact position proximate to the stator. Preferably, the rotor comprises only one radial spoke for receiving the angular information from the stator. Additionally, a coil or other transmitting member is located centrally between the stator and the rotor, wherein the angular information is broadcast to the stator from the rotor through the coil to resolve angles between spoke positions thereof and thereby accurately sense rotary position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed herein for sensing rotary position. A rotor and stator are positioned proximate to one another but are not in contact with one another. The rotor comprises at least one radial spoke for receiving angular information from the stator, wherein the rotor is located in a non-contact position proximate to the stator. Preferably, the rotor comprises only one radial spoke for receiving the angular information from the stator. Additionally, a coil or other transmitting member is located centrally between the stator and the rotor, wherein the angular information is broadcast to the stator from the rotor through the coil to resolve angles between spoke positions thereof and thereby accurately sense rotary position.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor system having resistive elements changing in ohmic value in the presence of a magnetic field of a current being measured. The variant values of the elements are amplified by some electronics that inherently add offset to the resultant values. The elements themselves also add an offset. The output of the electronics is modulated and then buffered as an output. This output is demodulated and integrated. The resultant signal is fed back to the input of the electronics to null out the offsets. The output of the buffer also goes to an inductive coil that is magnetically coupled to the resistive elements to null out the magnetic field from the current being measured. The buffer output indicates the magnitude of the current being measured. An oscillator outputs a signal to actuate the modulator and the demodulator. The oscillator signal also goes to a set/reset circuit for setting and resetting the resistive elements of the magnetoresistive sensor.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor system having resistive elements changing in ohmic value in the presence of a magnetic field of a current being measured. The variant values of the elements are amplified by some electronics that inherently add offset to the resultant values. The elements themselves also add an offset. The output of the electronics is modulated and then buffered as an output. This output is demodulated and integrated. The resultant signal is fed back to the input of the electronics to null out the offsets. The output of the buffer also goes to an inductive coil that is magnetically coupled to the resistive elements to null out the magnetic field from the current being measured. The buffer output indicates the magnitude of the current being measured. An oscillator outputs a signal to actuate the modulator and the demodulator. The oscillator signal also goes to a set/reset circuit for setting and resetting the resistive elements of the magnetoresistive sensor.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor system having resistive elements changing in ohmic value in the presence of a magnetic field of a current being measured. The variant values of the elements are amplified by some electronics that inherently add offset to the resultant values. The elements themselves also add an offset. The output of the electronics is modulated and then buffered as an output. This output is demodulated integrated. The resultant signal is fed back to the input of the electronics to null out the offsets. The output of the buffer also goes to an inductive coil that is magnetically coupled to the resistive elements to null out the magnetic field from the current being measured. The buffer output indicates the magnitude of the current being measured. An oscillator outputs a signal to actuate the modulator and the demodulator. The oscillator signal also goes to a set/reset circuit for setting and resetting the resistive elements of the magnetoresistive sensor.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor system having resistive elements changing in ohmic value in the presence of a magnetic field of a current being measured. The variant values of the elements are amplified by some electronics that inherently add offset to the resultant values. The elements themselves also add an offset. The output of the electronics is modulated and then buffered as an output. This output is demodulated and integrated. The resultant signal is fed back to the input of the electronics to null out the offsets. The output of the buffer also goes to an inductive coil that is magnetically coupled to the resistive elements to null out the magnetic field from the current being measured. The buffer output indicates the magnitude of the current being measured. An oscillator outputs a signal to actuate the modulator and the demodulator. The oscillator signal also goes to a set/reset circuit for setting and resetting the resistive elements of the magnetoresistive sensor.

Abstract: A mechanically actuated power stealing solid state low energy switch providing a drop-in replacement for low energy mechanical switches. The present switch eliminates disadvantages of the mechanical switches. Power stealing is done on a constant basis to eliminate spikes, which might interfere with digital logic. Stealing logic with no diode drops allows low power operation on single CMOS substrate and omni-directional hook-up of a power supply with the most negative voltage being directed to the substrate. Hysteresis for the solid state switch is provided to mimic mechanical switch operation but without chatter of the latter.

Abstract: A vertically integrated magnetic memory with Hall effect sensing or reading. It has a ferromagnetic structure with a nearly enclosed magnetic path, which is a vertical structure integrated on a chip. Each memory cell has a closed magnetic field that has high strength for a strong Hall effect. The magnet is a closed loop, robust reproducible magnet. A memory array of such cells uses little power in that only few cells need to draw the read current for a short time required to read the information. A silicon or GaAs chip implementation of the memory is one embodiment, among others, wherein the field required to saturate the electrons can be achieved without excessive power.

Abstract: A laser gyro lifetime prediction method incorporates a memory model that stores a worst case performance parameter for a readout intensity, a laser intensity and a derived quantity known as volts per mode for a laser gyro. A microprocessor based life prediction method utilizes a predetermined failure criteria to judge a estimate of laser gyro life based on historic performance of laser gyro operating parameters. The prediction is based on a linear quadratic or higher order fit of lifetime data for critical temperatures. The performance data is stored in a memory model for each critical temperature and parameter. The laser gyro reports eminent failures to the inertial navigation system or a host controller. Routine scheduled maintenance of the laser gyro is enhanced by knowing its lifetime.

Abstract: A power control system for a ring laser gyro including a beam intensity readout. A monitor is coupled to the beam intensity readout for generating an intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the beam at an intensity signal output. A signal averager is coupled to the intensity signal output, the signal averager providing an average intensity signal at an average intensity signal output. An analog-to-digital convertor is coupled to the average intensity signal output for converting the average intensity signal output to a digital signal on a digital signal output. A processor is coupled to the digital signal output and generates a power control signal on a power control line in response to and in proportion to the value of the digital signal.

Abstract: A sampling method and apparatus for sampling a dither signal includes the step of sensing a number of peak amplitudes P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3 . . . P.sub.n each of the number of peak amplitudes having a corresponding times t.sub.1, t.sub.2, t.sub.3 . . . t.sub.n while simultaneously sensing a number of ring laser gyro output angles at each of the corresponding times t.sub.1, t.sub.2, t.sub.3 . . . t.sub.n. A value of the gyro net output, .DELTA..phi., is calculated as .DELTA..phi.=(.phi..sub.n -.phi..sub.n-1)-(.alpha..sub.n -.alpha..sub.n-1)K, where K is a correction factor. Alternatively, the stripped gyro angle output may be calculated as .phi..sub.g =.phi..sub.n -.alpha..sub.n K. Where .phi..sub.g is substantially equivalent to the sum of all of the changes in the stripped gyro angle, that is the sum of all .DELTA..phi.'s. The correction may include corrections for gain, phase angle, nonlinearity, temperature bias and scale factors.

Abstract: A laser digital path length control method and apparatus for precisely controlling a laser path length to obtain a laser mode and change a laser mode. The invention uses a microprocessor to control a path length control circuit that continuously adjusts the position of path length control mirrors. The mirrors may be positioned in response to the microprocessor to acquire a particular mode of the laser or change the mode of the laser. While the gyro mode is changed the microprocessor increases the gyro run current to prevent loss of gyro function returning the current to its normal value following the mode change. The microprocessor adjusts the position of the two path length control mirrors such that total path length follows a predetermined or dynamic range. The invention allows the calculation of volts per mode of the laser by providing a means to monitor laser intensity as a function of voltage supplied to the laser path length controllers.

Abstract: A ring laser gyro bias drift improvement method and apparatus for compensating for periodic bias drift including a microprocessor which controls a path length control circuit that continuously adjusts the position of path length control mirrors. The mirrors are stepped through a range of positions that represent two laser modes. The microprocessor adjusts the position of the two path length control mirrors such that total path length remains constant. The invention improves bias drift by forcing the laser gyro system to operate at varying path length control positions. Each position has a varying bias that was shown to be periodic over two laser modes. By operating the laser system over a range of two laser modes the periodic bias error of the laser gyro is cancelled out over time.

Abstract: An active current control apparatus for a ring laser gyro includes an apparatus for generating a control signal representative of a current value, such as, for example a microprocessor controller. Apparatus for supplying actively controlled current to the anode of the ring laser gyro in response to the control signal is coupled to the control signal so as to provide a constant current in the ring laser gyro beam path.

Abstract: A laser gyro configuration and control using a microprocessor. The microprocessor has a high speed peripheral transaction system which communicates through a high speed Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) to a serial to parallel converter through a five Byte first in first out (FIFO) to an external system processor. The external system processor sends information in a serial fashion through a single byte parallel to serial converter to the high speed UART. Various information including gyro parameter load commands, gyro control commands, gyro status commands, and gyro calibration and diagnostic commands are sent over channels. The system provides a high speed method of controlling the laser gyro and configuring it with a processor with serial transmit and receive lines.