Abstract: A micro-motor position controller utilizes a ratiometric position sensor that operates independent of any reference voltage sources. A first capacitor and a second capacitor in a micro-motor are connected in series and form one section of a capacitive bridge. The other section of the bridge is ground. A first sinusoidal voltage is created at the top of the capacitive bridge and a second sinusoidal voltage that is 180 degrees out of phase from the first sinusoidal voltage is created at the bottom of the bridge. The motor is moved and the capacitance values of the first and second capacitors are changed until, ultimately, there is no voltage present on the armature of the motor. The voltage level present at the armature is measured relative to AC ground, and is used as an error signal to control the position of the motor.

Abstract: An optically pumped laser wherein the optical pumping means is in the form of a mercury discharge lamp and a radio-frequency excited coil surrounding the lamp. The discharge lamp is constructed in the form of a closed loop and is inductively excited by the high power radio-frequency coil. The coil forms the primary coil and the lamp the secondary coil of an air-core transformer. Current in the lamp is excited entirely by the radio frequency magnetic fields passing through the plane of the lamp thereby optically pumping the lasing medium.