Abstract: Disclosed is a cochlear stimulation system and associated methods that utilizes a magnetic field sensor to determine the status of magnetically-coupled components. The cochlear stimulation system includes an implantable portion positionable beneath the skin of a patient and an external portion positionable outside the skin of the patient. The implantable portion includes a multi-electrode array having a plurality of electrodes configured to be placed in cochlear duct of a patient and an internal magnet. The external portion includes a speech processor configured to generate control signals in response to received sound signals and an external magnet. The external magnet and the internal magnet generate an attractive magnetic force that maintains the external portion in position relative to the internal portion against the scalp of the patient.

Abstract: A fixed frequency external power source having an external coil is inductively coupled with an implanted coil of an implanted medical device. The implant device has an electronic impedance transformer as part of its load circuit. Such electronic impedance transformer sets a proper voltage and current ratio (impedance) so that the coil set, i.e., the external coil and the implanted coil, are loaded with an optimal load. Such optimal loading, in turn, significantly minimizes any mismatch loss from the inductive link between the external coil and the implant coil, and allows wide ranges in the voltage and load resistance and coil separation, while at the same time maintaining an optimal load condition. The impedance transformer is especially applicable to fully implantable cochlear stimulation systems wherein, during one mode of operation, a relatively large power level must be transferred for charging the implanted power storage element, e.g.

Abstract: A spiral shield for an implantable secondary coil confines the electrical field of the coil, and thus prevents capacitive coupling of the coil through surrounding dielectrics (such as human tissue.) Known implantable devices receive power inductively, through a secondary coil, from a primary coil in an external device. Efficient power reception requires that the coils be tuned to the same resonant frequency. Use of the spiral shield results in predictable electrical behavior of the secondary coil and permits the secondary coil to be accurately tuned to the same resonate frequency as the primary coil. To further improve performance, spacers made from SILBIONE®LSR 70 reside between turns of the coil to reduce turn to turn and turn to shield capacitances. Reducing the capacitances prevents excessive reduction of the self resonant frequency of the coil. The coil is imbedded in SILBIONE®LSR 70, allowing for a thin and flexible coil.

Abstract: An external power transfer circuit (12) couples ac power having a fixed frequency into an implantable electrical circuit (14), e.g., an implantable tissue stimulator, while automatically maintaining optimum power transfer conditions. Optimum power transfer conditions exist when there is an impedance match between the external and implanted circuits. The external transfer circuit includes a directional coupler (42) and an impedance matching circuit (44). The directional coupler senses the forward power being transferred to the implant device, as well as the reverse power being reflected form the implant device (as a result of an impedance mismatch). The impedance matching circuit includes at least one variable element controlled by a control signal.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope having an alternating Faraday bias includes mode combining apparatus arranged to cause interference between the modes that propagate within the cavity. Signal separating apparatus separates a signal indicative of rotation of the frame from other components of the combined intensity signal. The signal separating apparatus produces two signals indicative of the light intensity in the interference pattern of the combined modes. These two signals have a 180.degree. phase difference in corresponding components that are dependent upon the geometric bias caused by the non-planar optical path to produce a rotation signal that is independent of the spatially uniform interference fringes caused by the geometric bias.

Abstract: An electro-optic device is used to detect the position and speed of a golf club head as it passes in front of the device. This information triggers a short optical pulse of light to illuminate the club head, allowing a golfer to see the club head at a desired position as an after-image, and to read the displayed club head speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for stabilizing the position of the exciting electric component of a radio frequency electromagnetic field within the excited plasma of a ring laser, using two adjacent quarterwave coils, and driving the coils from a radio frequency source to ensure that the adjacent open ends of the two coils have electric field components that produce a steep gradient of electric field within the gas plasma of the ring laser.

Abstract: Dispersion in a multi-oscillator cavity is equalized by processing information extracted from the laser beams within the cavity to generate an error signal representative of dispersion bias, and applying a bias control signal to the cavity in such a way as to null the error signal. The bias control signal is preferably a magnetic field applied to the gain medium of the cavity by passing a corresponding current through a coil surrounding the medium. In exemplary embodiments, the laser beams are modulated by modulating the applied magnetic field and/or the path length of the cavity.

Abstract: A split gain multi-mode ring laser gyroscope is disclosed having a radio frequency excitation induction coil which also serves the magnetic mode suppression system, suppressing undesirable modes of the gain curve to achieve the split gain effect. The induction coil serves as an important common component of both the gain medium excitation and mode suppression systems. The induction coil is suitably configured to carry both AC and DC signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Digitally Controlled Cavity Length Control System comprising, in a preferred embodiment, an adaptive servo-loop for cavity length, modulation depth and amplitude control, and of the multioscillator ring laser gyroscope; thereby, permitting the simultaneous control of these elements. The cavity length control of the multioscillator, by including a variable RF detector gain, allows the operation of the gyroscope in a slightly detuned fashion to minimize magnetic sensitivity. In this manner, the multioscillator gyroscope may be maintained at a stable operating point suitable for modeling.

Abstract: A radio frequency excitation system is disclosed for use in conjunction with a ring laser gyroscope. The radio frequency excitation system is comprised of a closed resonant cavity which surrounds a helical coil driven at a high radio frequency at a range of 5 to 550 megahertz. This closed resonant coil surrounds one leg of a ring laser gyroscope which is carved out and exposed so that it may be surrounded by the resonant cavity. Using such a radio frequency excitation system eliminates the need for high power DC discharge components such as cathodes and anodes, as well as problems inherent with properly sealing the cathodes and anodes to the monolithic frame of the ring laser gyroscope.

Abstract: A rotational sensing system for a Multioscillator ring laser gyroscope is disclosed herein that can operate with a simple upright symmetric optics mechanism, where the required signal separation is performed fully electronically, with the use of a local oscillator. The technique allows for rotational rate and direction detection, as well as cavity length control, with a minimum of cross-talk.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the length of a multioscillator cavity. A photodiode mixes a pair of beams rotating in the same direction, one of said beams being substantially left circularly polarized, and the other beam being substantially right circularly polarized. A local oscillator causes the mixed beams to be modulated. An amplitude demodulator demodulates the modulated beams. An error detecting device responds to the amplitude demodulators, and an active integrator integrates the detected error. A piezotransducer responds to the output of the integrator for controlling the length of the multioscillator cavity.