Patents by Inventor David Brian McDonald

David Brian McDonald has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11193990
    Abstract: An integrated microfabricated alkali vapor cell sensor includes two alkali vapor regions, with a signal path through each. One or two signal emitters, with associated optical signal rotators, such as quarter wave plates, provide circularly polarized input signals into the alkali vapor regions, so that a first signal through the first alkali vapor region is circularly polarized in an opposite direction from a second signal through the second alkali vapor region. Output signals from the two alkali vapor regions are transformed to linearly polarized signals and then measured by one or more signal detectors. A first Larmor frequency is estimated from the output signal from the first alkali vapor region, and a second Larmor frequency is estimated from the output signal from the second alkali vapor region. A heading error-free Larmor frequency is estimated from the first Larmor frequency and the second Larmor frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roozbeh Parsa, David Brian McDonald, Ann Gabrys, Paul Mawson, Anston Joel Lobo
  • Patent number: 10718661
    Abstract: An integrated microfabricated vapor cell sensor includes a transparent sensor cell body. The cell body has a cavity for a sensor fluid vapor which is covered by a first plate attached to the cell body. The sensor has a first signal path extending from a first signal emitter, through the cell body, through the cavity, through the cell body again, and to a first signal detector, and a second signal path extending through the cavity. The second signal path intersects the first signal path in the cavity. The second signal path may extend through the cell body, or may extend through the first plate. The signal emitters and signal detectors are located in the integrated microfabricated vapor cell sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David Brian McDonald, Roozbeh Parsa
  • Publication number: 20180364096
    Abstract: An integrated microfabricated vapor cell sensor includes a transparent sensor cell body. The cell body has a cavity for a sensor fluid vapor which is covered by a first plate attached to the cell body. The sensor has a first signal path extending from a first signal emitter, through the cell body, through the cavity, through the cell body again, and to a first signal detector, and a second signal path extending through the cavity. The second signal path intersects the first signal path in the cavity. The second signal path may extend through the cell body, or may extend through the first plate. The signal emitters and signal detectors are located in the integrated microfabricated vapor cell sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David Brian McDonald, Roozbeh Parsa
  • Publication number: 20180306876
    Abstract: An integrated microfabricated alkali vapor cell sensor includes two alkali vapor regions, with a signal path through each. One or two signal emitters, with associated optical signal rotators, such as quarter wave plates, provide circularly polarized input signals into the alkali vapor regions, so that a first signal through the first alkali vapor region is circularly polarized in an opposite direction from a second signal through the second alkali vapor region. Output signals from the two alkali vapor regions are transformed to linearly polarized signals and then measured by one or more signal detectors. A first Larmor frequency is estimated from the output signal from the first alkali vapor region, and a second Larmor frequency is estimated from the output signal from the second alkali vapor region. A heading error-free Larmor frequency is estimated from the first Larmor frequency and the second Larmor frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Roozbeh Parsa, David Brian McDonald, Ann Gabrys, Paul Mawson, Anston Joel Lobo