Abstract: A sensor for electromagnetic quantities includes a bistable device whose residence times in the stable states depend on the electromagnetic quantity. The bistable device further includes a switching zone, whose dimension in the direction of a current of charge carriers is smaller than the ballistic mean free path of the charge carriers within the switching zone. An analyzer circuit may be used for generating a sensor output signal depending on the residence times of the bistable device for measuring the electromagnetic quantity. The switching device may be a resonant tunneling diode or a Y-branch nanojunction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bistable piezoelectric generator comprising at least one element in piezoelectric material, with at least one end fixed at a base and having the other end with a mass capable of making oscillations between two distinct positions, respectively a first equilibrium position and a second position opposed to the first, said at least one element being subjected to nonlinear bistable oscillations, the kinetic energy of such bistable oscillations being converted into electric energy and transformed through an electronic circuit in a suitable form for the powering of electric and/or electronic devices.

Abstract: A sensor for electromagnetic quantities includes a bistable device whose residence times in the stable states depend on the electromagnetic quantity. The bistable device further includes a switching zone, whose dimension in the direction of a current of charge carriers is smaller than the ballistic mean free path of the charge carriers within the switching zone. An analyzer circuit may be used for generating a sensor output signal depending on the residence times of the bistable device for measuring the electromagnetic quantity. The switching device may be a resonant tunneling diode or a Y-branch nanojunction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bistable piezoelectric generator comprising at least one element in piezoelectric material, with at least one end fixed at a base and having the other end with a mass capable of making oscillations between two distinct positions, respectively a first equilibrium position and a second position opposed to the first, said at least one element being subjected to nonlinear bistable oscillations, the kinetic energy of such bistable oscillations being converted into electric energy and transformed through an electronic circuit in a suitable form for the powering of electric and/or electronic devices.

Abstract: A method of estimating target signals (dc or low frequency signals) by a dynamical fluxgate sensor and a low-power fluxgate magnetometer operating according to the method. The sensor is pre-biased with a periodic bias signal in the form of a superposition of a square wave and a triangular wave. The change in residence time statistics in the stable state of the sensor is analyzed for estimating the target signals.

Abstract: A method of estimating target signals (dc or low frequency signals) by a dynamical fluxgate sensor and a low-power fluxgate magnetometer operating according to the method. The sensor is pre-biased with a periodic bias signal in the form of a superposition of a square wave and a triangular wave. The change in residence time statistics in the stable state of the sensor is analyzed for estimating the target signals.

Abstract: A controlled stochastic resonance circuit applies stochastic resonance to bias a nonlinear device with a control signal having a selected amplitude, frequency, and phase to enhance or suppress the response of the device to a periodic signal embedded in noise.

Abstract: A stochastic resonator signal detector comprises a multi-stable nonlinear device for coupling to an input signal and a control signal coupled to the multi-stable nonlinear device for varying asymmetry among stable states of the multi-stable nonlinear device. The interaction of the input signal with the control signal in the multi-stable nonlinear device generates an output signal having an amplitude responsive to the input signal amplitude and a frequency range that comprises harmonics of products of the control signal and the input signal.