Using Optical Pumping Or Sensing Device Patents (Class 324/304)
  • Patent number: 9964609
    Abstract: There is provided an optically pumped magnetometer, in which a pump light having a first wavelength to spin-polarize a first alkali-metal atom group is made to enter a cell containing the first alkali-metal atom group and a second alkali-metal atom group interacting via spin exchange with the first alkali-metal atom group, a probe light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength to measure spin polarization of the second alkali-metal atom group is made to enter the cell to form the same optical axis as the pump light, a wavelength discrimination unit is provided to discriminate between the pump light and the probe light that passed through the cell depending on a different in wavelength, and the rotation angle of a polarization plane of the probe light that passed through the cell is measured so that the degree of flexibility of the device layout can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sunao Ichihara, Natsuhiko Mizutani, Tetsuo Kobayashi, Shuji Taue
  • Patent number: 9917592
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes an alkali metal cell encapsulating an alkali metal atom; a light source that emits laser light; a light detector that detects light which has passed through the alkali metal cell; and a polarizer arranged between the alkali metal cell and the light detector. A modulation frequency in the light source is controlled, according to a coherent population trapping resonance which is a light absorption characteristic of a quantum interference effect for two kinds of resonant lights, by modulating the light source to generate sidebands and injecting laser lights with the sidebands into the alkali metal cell. A magnetic field is applied on the alkali metal cell in a direction parallel to a propagating direction of the laser light, and the laser light entering the alkali metal cell has a linear polarization, which is not parallel to a polarization direction of the polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo Metropolitan University, Municipal University Corp.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Yano, Shigeyoshi Goka
  • Patent number: 9874446
    Abstract: A physical unit of a chip-scale nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope, the physical unit including: a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), a silicon sheet including a recess, a glass sheet, an atomic vapor chamber, a first right angle prism, a quarter-wave plate, a polarizing beam splitter, and photodetectors. The recess includes sides including reflecting mirrors. The glass sheet is disposed on the silicon sheet. The recess of the silicon sheet is in a structure of an inverted square frustum, and the reflecting mirrors are disposed on sides of the recess. The atomic vapor chamber is an enclosed region formed between the recess and the glass sheet. The atomic vapor chamber is filled with alkali metal atoms, one or a plurality of inert gas atoms, and one or a plurality of buffer gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: WUHAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Sihong Gu, Yi Zhang, Jiehua Chen, Hongwei Wu, Yuanchao Wang
  • Patent number: 9857441
    Abstract: A radio-frequency atomic magnetometer comprises a laser, a photodetector, a vapor chamber, wherein the vapor chamber is in an optical path of laser light between the laser and photodetector, a circular polarizer configured to circularly polarize laser light emitted by the laser, wherein a circularly polarized laser beam is configured to pump into an oriented state, spins of atoms in the vapor chamber and to probe the atoms of the vapor chamber, wherein probing includes detecting a local radio frequency field; and a set of direct current (DC) field coils comprising at least one DC field coil, wherein the set of DC field coils is configured to generate a DC magnetic field oriented at 45 degrees relative to the optical axis of the laser light emitted by the laser and directed toward the vapor chamber; the set of DC field coils further configured to have adjustable DC magnetic field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Mary K. Salit, Kenneth Salit
  • Patent number: 9791536
    Abstract: A mutually calibrated magnetic imaging array system is described. The system includes a non-target magnetic source rigidly attached to a magnetometer, and an attached control unit to measure and adjust several parameters of a magnetic imaging array. A non-target magnetic field source is used to generate a well-defined and distinguishable spatial magnetic field distribution. The source is rigidly attached directly to a magnetometer, while the relative positions of the magnetometers are unknown. The magnetic imaging array is used to measure the strength of the non-target source magnetic fields and the information is used to calibrate several parameters of the array, such as, but not limited to, effective magnetometer positions and orientations with respect to each other and cross-talk between the magnetometers. The system, and method described herein eliminates the need for a separate calibration phantom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: QuSpin, Inc.
    Inventors: Orang Alem, Vishal Shah, Svenja Knappe
  • Patent number: 9739847
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element having a plurality of vertical Hall elements. A CVH output stage is included comprising one or more of drive circuits to drive the plurality of vertical Hall elements and produce an analog signal representing a strength of an external magnetic field as detected by the plurality of vertical Hall elements. An analog-to-digital converter is coupled to receive the analog signal and produce a digital signal. A quadrature modulator circuit is coupled to the digital signal and operable to generate a plurality of quadrature modulated signals. A processor stage receives signals representative of the plurality of quadrature modulated signals and computes an estimated angle of the external magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Octavio H. Alpago, Ezequiel Alves, Hernán D. Romero
  • Patent number: 9739848
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element comprising a plurality of vertical Hall elements, each vertical Hall element comprised of a respective group of vertical Hall element contacts selected from among a plurality of vertical Hall element contacts. A quadrature modulator circuit is coupled to the digital signal and operable to generate a plurality of quadrature modulated signals. A processor stage is coupled to receive the signals representative of the plurality of quadrature modulated signals, and operable to perform a sliding window integration using the signals representative of the plurality of quadrature modulated signals and compute an estimated angle of the external magnetic field using the signals representative of the plurality of quadrature modulated signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Octavio H. Alpago, Ezequiel Alves, Hernán D. Romero
  • Patent number: 9726733
    Abstract: An optical magnetometer is disclosed. The device includes a cell filled with a substance that has a magnetic moment, such as an alkali metal. First and second light sources, typically diode lasers, illuminate the cell, one optically pumping the cell and one probing the cell. The two diode lasers are set to emit light at two distinct wavelengths, one set to drive a first transition and the other set to drive a second transition within the substance filling the cell. The probe laser light transiting the cell is used to modulate the frequency of the probe laser. The two beams of light are polarized with an ellipticity of at least 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Geometrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Smith, Krzysztof Kiersnowski
  • Patent number: 9726494
    Abstract: One embodiment includes an atomic sensor system. The system includes a vapor cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal that is spin-polarized by an optical beam. The vapor cell includes a mirror at a distal end. The system also includes an optical system including a photodetector system and a laser that generates the optical beam. The optical beam is provided into a proximal end of the vapor cell and is reflected back to the photodetector system via the mirror as a reflected optical beam to generate at least one intensity signal. The optical system further includes a control system that modulates a wavelength of the optical beam between an on-resonance wavelength and an off-resonance wavelength with respect to the alkali metal. The system also includes a processor that calculates a measurable parameter associated with the atomic sensor system based on the at least one intensity signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Bulatowicz, Michael S. Larsen
  • Patent number: 9709642
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance optical pumping isotropic magnetometer including a laser, a gas filled cell, a HF discharge circuit, RF magnetic field generating coils surrounding the cell, a first frequency regulating mechanism of an RF generator, a second polarization regulating mechanism of the laser beam, and a third regulating mechanism of the direction of the RF magnetic field. The direction of polarization of the laser beam at an inlet of the cell is orthogonally aligned with the magnetic field to be measured by virtue of a liquid crystal polarization rotator. The magnetometer is well-adapted to an integrated arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Sophie Morales, Laurence Clerc, William Fourcault, Matthieu Le Prado, Jean-Michel Leger, Umberto Rossini, Jaroslaw Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 9684041
    Abstract: A production method of a gas cell includes: forming a coating layer on a surface of a plate material; assembling a plurality of the plate materials having the coating layer formed thereon so as to form a cell surrounded by the surface having the coating layer formed thereon; and filling the formed cell with an alkali metal gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kimio Nagasaka, Kazumichi Kikuhara
  • Patent number: 9638768
    Abstract: Magnetometers, atomic sensors and related systems, methods and devices are disclosed. In one configuration, an assembly for use in a high-sensitivity atomic sensor can include an alkali vapor cell, at least one illumination source configured to emit light when activated, the emitted light having a first predetermined range of wavelengths, a light collector capable of collecting light in the first predetermined range of wavelengths, and a plurality of optical elements arranged such that (a) light emitted from the at least one illumination source is directed to the alkali vapor cell, and (b) light emerging from the alkali vapor cell is directed to the light collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: TWINLEAF LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth L. Foley, Thomas W. Kornack
  • Patent number: 9568565
    Abstract: A first apparatus includes a vapor cell having first and second cavities fluidly connected by multiple channels. The first cavity is configured to receive a material able to dissociate into one or more gases that are contained within the vapor cell. The second cavity is configured to receive the one or more gases. The vapor cell is configured to allow radiation to pass through the second cavity. A second apparatus includes a vapor cell having a first wafer with first and second cavities and a second wafer with one or more channels fluidly connecting the cavities. The first cavity is configured to receive a material able to dissociate into one or more gases that are contained within the vapor cell. The second cavity is configured to receive the one or more gases. The vapor cell is configured to allow radiation to pass through the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roozbeh Parsa, Peter J. Hopper
  • Patent number: 9503021
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes an atom cell, a first light source device, a second light source device, and a reception section. The atom cell is filled with alkali metal. The first light source device emits a light beam that includes a resonance light beam pair configured to be circularly polarized with each other in the same direction and configured to cause the alkali metal to resonate. The second light source device emits a light beam that includes adjustment light beam configured to be circularly polarized in a reverse direction to the resonance light beam pair. The reception device receives the resonance light beam pair that pass through the atom cell. The adjustment light beam may include the resonance light beam that causes the alkali metal to resonate. In addition, the resonance light beam pair may be a line and the adjustment light beam is a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhito Hayashi, Yoshiyuki Maki
  • Patent number: 9383419
    Abstract: A gradiometer in which a probe beam for reading sequentially passes through two magnetic field measurement regions to obtain signals according to magnetic flux densities of the respective regions is formed using an optically pumped magnetometer. In particular, in a gradiometer using a high sensitivity optically pumped magnetometer, a geometric arrangement enabling obtainment of a large signal from a dipole moment as a signal source is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Natsuhiko Mizutani, Tetsuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9366735
    Abstract: Stable magnetic field measurement is enabled without collapse of polarization or fluctuation of intensity of a laser beam incident on a glass cell of an optical pumping magnetic sensor. Excitation light generated with a light source, having optimized light intensity and polarized wave, through frequency stabilization, intensity control and polarized-wave control, is introduced via a polarized wave holding optical fiber to a magnetic sensor provided in a magnetic shield, and magnetic field measurement is performed by optical pumping using magneto-optical properties of spin-polarized alkali metal. The magnetic sensor has a structure where a lens, a polarization optical device, the glass cell and a photodetector, are integrally accommodated in a non-magnetic case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuzo Kawabata, Akihiko Kandori, Taro Osabe, Seiichi Suzuki, Yudai Kamada
  • Patent number: 9329152
    Abstract: Measurement of a precessional rate of a gas, such as an alkali gas, in a magnetic field is made by promoting a non-uniform precession of the gas in which substantially no net magnetic field affects the gas during a majority of the precession cycle. This allows sensitive gases that would be subject to spin-exchange collision de-phasing to be effectively used for extremely sensitive measurements in the presence of an environmental magnetic field such as the Earth's magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Thad Gilbert Walker, Brian Robert Lancor, Robert Wyllie
  • Patent number: 9244137
    Abstract: An optical pumping magnetometer is provided that is capable of improving the response of the magnetometer with respect to a magnetic field that varies with a period shorter than the transverse relaxation time of electron spin of an alkali metal atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kobayashi, Akira Terao
  • Patent number: 9098190
    Abstract: Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for multimedia capture and payment transactions. According to the method, a first user input may be received. Based on the first user input, sensors may be initiated to capture multimedia. The method may further comprise receiving a second user input. Data associated with the first user input and the second user input may be analyzed. Based on the analysis, a multimedia capture mode or a payment transaction mode may be selectively selected. If the multimedia capture mode is selected, the captured multimedia may be recorded to a database. A type of the multimedia being recorded may be determined based on time between the first user input and the second user input. If the payment transaction mode is selected, transaction data may be received. Based on the transaction data, user payment data, and recipient payment data, a payment transaction may be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew H B Zhou, Tiger T G Zhou, Dylan T X Zhou
  • Patent number: 9062973
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an atom beam gyroscope system. The system includes an atom beam system that generates an atom beam comprising alkali metal atoms along a length of a detection region orthogonal to a sensitive axis. The system also includes a detection system comprising a detection laser and photodetector. The detection laser can generate an optical detection beam that illuminates the detection region to pump the alkali metal atoms. The photodetector can measure an optical absorption of the optical detection beam by the alkali metal atoms in the atom beam and to generate an intensity signal associated with the measured optical absorption. The system further includes a gyroscope sensor configured to calculate rotation of the atom beam gyroscope system about the sensitive axis based on a magnitude of the intensity signal due to a Doppler-shift in energy of the alkali metal atoms in the atom beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Michael D. Bulatowicz
  • Patent number: 9048852
    Abstract: The frequency of an atomic clock may be stabilized against C-field variation by applying a rf magnetic field perpendicular to the C-field to cause a coherent population transfer between Zeeman states that compensates for quadratic frequency shift of transitions of the clock. The cancellation, provided by a feed-forward mechanism, is exact. The invention can be implemented in any atomic clock by including an electrode in the clock generating a magnetic field perpendicular to the C-field, and providing an electronic circuit to send rf signals to the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventor: Louis Marmet
  • Publication number: 20150130456
    Abstract: An optical magnetometer is disclosed. The device includes a cell filled with a substance that has a magnetic moment, such as an alkali metal. First and second light sources, typically diode lasers, illuminate the cell, one optically pumping the cell and one probing the cell. The two diode lasers are set to emit light at two distinct wavelengths, one set to drive a first transition and the other set to drive a second transition within the substance filling the cell. The probe laser light transiting the cell is used to modulate the frequency of the probe laser. The two beams of light are polarized with an ellipticity of at least 0.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Smith, Krzysztof Kiersnowski
  • Publication number: 20150130457
    Abstract: A magnetic field measurement apparatus includes a first gas cell disposed in a +z direction when seen from an object to be measured, a second gas cell disposed in the +z direction when seen from the first gas cell, a first measurement unit which measures a component of a magnetic field in the first gas cell, a second measurement unit which measures a component of a magnetic field in the second gas cell, a magnetic field generation unit which generates the magnetic field toward the second gas cell so as to reduce the component measured by the second measurement unit, and an output unit which outputs a signal in response to the difference in the components respectively measured by the first measurement unit and second measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Ryuji HOKARI
  • Patent number: 8994371
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an atomic sensing system. The system includes an atomic sensing device configured to generate an output signal along an output axis in response to a plurality of control parameters. The system also includes a signal generator configured to apply a reference signal to a cross-axis that is approximately orthogonal to the output axis. The system also includes a phase measurement system configured to demodulate the output signal relative to the reference signal to measure a relative phase alignment between the output axis and a physical axis of the atomic sensing device based on the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Larsen, Robert Griffith, Michael D. Bulatowicz, Philip R. Clark
  • Patent number: 8957677
    Abstract: A beam that passes through a plurality of gas cells a number of times is led to a deflection meter from a light ejecting section, detection of a deflected surface angle is performed and a strength of a magnetic field is measured by a structure in which the plurality of the gas cells is arranged along a light beam between two reflection units or light concentrating units that have a light beam incidence section and a light beam ejecting section and are opposite to each other, and a laser beam that is incident from the light beam incidence section passes through the plurality of the gas cells and then is multiply reflected by both reflection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kimio Nagasaka
  • Publication number: 20150042327
    Abstract: An atomic sensor system includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field along an axis and a probe laser configured to generate an optical probe beam. Beam optics direct the optical probe beam through a sensor cell comprising an alkali metal vapor such that the optical probe beam has at least a vector component along the axis. The system also includes detection optics comprising a photodetector assembly configured to measure a Faraday rotation associated with the optical probe beam exiting the sensor cell and to generate a feedback signal based on the Faraday rotation associated with the optical probe beam exiting the sensor cell. The system further includes a laser controller configured to modulate a frequency of the optical probe beam about a center frequency and to substantially stabilize the center frequency of the optical probe beam based on the feedback signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: MICHAEL D. BULATOWICZ
  • Publication number: 20150022200
    Abstract: An optically pumped magnetometer having a single optical axis using atomic electron spin or nuclear spin includes a detection unit configured to detect an angle of a polarization plane of probe light having components of linear polarization and a modulation unit configured to apply a modulation to the angle of the polarization plane of the probe light having the components of linear polarization. The modulation unit is configured to control an offset in applying the modulation to the angle of the polarization plane of the probe light having the components of linear polarization according to the angle of the polarization plane of the probe light detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Sunao Ichihara, Tetsuo Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150015251
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an atom beam gyroscope system. The system includes an atom beam system that generates an atom beam comprising alkali metal atoms along a length of a detection region orthogonal to a sensitive axis. The system also includes a detection system comprising a detection laser and photodetector. The detection laser can generate an optical detection beam that illuminates the detection region to pump the alkali metal atoms. The photodetector can measure an optical absorption of the optical detection beam by the alkali metal atoms in the atom beam and to generate an intensity signal associated with the measured optical absorption. The system further includes a gyroscope sensor configured to calculate rotation of the atom beam gyroscope system about the sensitive axis based on a magnitude of the intensity signal due to a Doppler-shift in energy of the alkali metal atoms in the atom beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Michael D. Bulatowicz
  • Publication number: 20150008916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic field measurement device, including a detector (4) configured to measure the amplitude of an output signal at a harmonic of an oscillation frequency of an excitation source, said amplitude being proportional to the magnetic field (B) to be measured, characterised in that it comprises an excitation circuit configured to associate with a principal excitation source (B1cos?t) oscillating at a principal oscillation frequency at least one secondary excitation source (B2cos(?/3t+?2)) oscillating at a secondary oscillation frequency that is a fraction of the principal oscillation frequency, said fraction being odd if said harmonic is odd, and even if said harmonic is even.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENE ALT
    Inventors: Matthieu LE PRADO, Francois BERTRAND, Marie-Constance CORSI, Elisabeth DELEVOYE, Sophie MORALES
  • Publication number: 20140368193
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance optical pumping isotropic magnetometer including a laser, a gas filled cell, a HF discharge circuit, RF magnetic field generating coils surrounding the cell, a first frequency regulating mechanism of an RF generator, a second polarization regulating mechanism of the laser beam, and a third regulating mechanism of the direction of the RF magnetic field. The direction of polarization of the laser beam at an inlet of the cell is orthogonally aligned with the magnetic field to be measured by virtue of a liquid crystal polarization rotator. The magnetometer is well-adapted to an integrated arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENE ALT
    Inventors: Sophie Morales, Laurence Clerc, William Fourcault, Matthieu Le Prado, Jean-Michel Leger, Umberto Rossini, Jaroslaw Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20140361768
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for sensing rotations are provided. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a cell containing alkali and active nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) isotope(s) atoms, a magnet providing a first magnetic field, a light source, and optics which circularly polarize light to generate a pump beam for optically pumping the alkali atoms and, together with a second magnetic field orthogonal to the first magnetic field or a modulation of the light, causing the alkali and the NMR isotope atoms to precess about the first magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a partial reflector opposite the light source and configured to, in conjunction with a first linear polarizer, generate a reflected linearly-polarized probe beam from a portion of the pump beam, and one or more polarizing beam splitters configured to split light of the probe beam incident thereon into orthogonally polarized components that are detected and used to determine rotations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Microsemi Frequency and Time Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Richard OVERSTREET, II, John Alexander MALCOLMSON, JR., Robert Ira LUTWAK
  • Patent number: 8890520
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance in a sample volume located in a measuring volume is examined by generating a packet of laser pulses to act on the measuring volume when a quasi-static magnetic field occurs therein. If the resonance conditions for nuclear spins contained therein are fulfilled, the sample volume emits a response signal that is received by a detector. The quasi-static magnetic field occurring within the measuring volume is generated by acting on the measuring volume with a low-frequency laser beam having a wavelength that exceeds the wavelength of the excitation laser by at least 102 to create a periodically variable magnetic field in the measuring volume. The amplitude of the field is at least 90% of the maximum thereof in the measuring volume. Alternatively, the measuring volume is acted on by a high-frequency laser beam having a frequency exceeding the frequency of the excitation laser by at least 102.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
    Inventor: Raiker Witter
  • Publication number: 20140327439
    Abstract: An n-NV-based gyroscope is provided that includes a diamond structure implanted with a plurality of NV centers, whose nuclear spins form a spin gyroscope. A number of radio-frequency (rf) coils and microwave (?w) co-planar waveguides are fabricated on the diamond structure to provide a sensitive and stable three-axis gyroscope in the solid state while achieving gyroscopic sensitivity by exploiting the coherence time of the 14N nuclear spin associated with the NV centers in the diamond structure combined with the efficient optical polarization and measurement of electronic spin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Paola Cappellaro, Ashok Ajoy
  • Publication number: 20140247045
    Abstract: A compact, high-sensitivity magnetometer, including: an optical interface to accept a linearly polarized first light; a pump light source to produce a circularly polarized pump light; a vapor cell comprising a sealed vessel containing an alkali-metal gas, a first input port to receive the first light, a second input port to accept the pump light from a direction perpendicular to the first light, and an output port configured to produce a second light; an electromagnetic source configured to apply an electromagnetic field to the vapor cell at a direction perpendicular to the first light and the pump light; a second linear polarizer, having an axis of polarization perpendicular to the first light, the second polarizer configured to receive the second light and to produce a third light; and a photodetector configured to receive the third light, to produce an intensity measurement of the third light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: TWINLEAF LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Whitmore Kornack, Elizabeth Lee Foley
  • Patent number: 8816779
    Abstract: A device for an atomic clock, including: a laser source (102) generating a laser beam; a quarter-wave plate (105) modifying the linear polarization of the laser beam into a circular polarization and vice versa; a gas cell (106) placed on the laser beam having a circular polarization; a mirror (107) sending the laser beam back toward the gas cell; a first photodetector (108a); means (103, 101a, 107) for diverting the reflected beam of the laser source (102), and a second photodetector (109) placed behind the mirror (107), the mirror being semitransparent and allowing a portion of the laser beam to pass therethrough, the second photodetector (109) being used for controlling the optical frequency of the laser and/or for controlling the temperature of the cell (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique S.A.
    Inventors: Steve Lecomte, Jacques Haesler
  • Publication number: 20140197831
    Abstract: Absorption based detection of spin states of spin impurities within a solid-state spin system, such as NV centers in diamond, is implemented by measuring the absorption intensity of an optical signal applied to the spin impurities, i.e. change in intensity of the optical signal after the signal has been transmitted through the solid-state spin system. During optical excitation of the spin impurities, microwave pulses are applied to the sample at a frequency tuned to the ESR frequency. The relative populations of the spin states of the impurities, which provides information regarding variables of interest such as an external magnetic field or a quantum information protocol, is determined from the ratio of the absorption intensity of the optical signal when the microwave pulses are turned on, to the absorption intensity of the optical signal when the microwave pulses turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: President And Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventor: Ronald Walsworth
  • Patent number: 8779766
    Abstract: An electron spin measuring device of the organic thin film element is provided with: at least one sample tube into which a sample for measurement is inserted and which is sealed together with specific gas or with vacuum; a cavity into which the at least one sample tube is inserted; an electric characteristic measuring device for the characteristic evaluation of the organic thin film element which is the sample; connected wiring for interconnecting the electrical characteristic measuring device and the sample for measurement in the sample tube; and a light receiving/emitting device for performing the light irradiation to the sample for measurement, and/or performing the detection of the light emission from the organic thin film element, wherein the cavity resonator irradiates microwaves having the number of vibration corresponding to the Zeeman energy splitting of the unpaired electron, sweeps a magnetic field to the sample tube, and measures the transition between the energy levels caused by the reversal of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: University of Tsukuba
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Marumoto
  • Patent number: 8760159
    Abstract: A magnetometer is provided comprising an atomic vapor in an enclosure, a source of light for preparing the vapor into a state exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency, a first laser beam passing through the atomic vapor, a phase detector for detecting changes in phase of the first laser beam, and a controller which controls the light source and laser beam and receives the information detected by the phase detector in order to compute from those changes in phase a magnetic field strength in the presence of a selected background magnetic field of at least 0.001 T. Operation in the presence of a background field helps make this magnetometer suitable for diagnostic imaging applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Entanglement Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ari K. Tuchman
  • Publication number: 20140097837
    Abstract: An optical pumping magnetometer measures a magnetic field of a measurement object using optical pumping. The optical pumping magnetometer includes a nonmagnetic cell in which at least an alkali metal is enclosed and which has optical transparency and heat resistance, a laser beam irradiation unit which radiates a laser beam to the cell and optically pumps at least the alkali metal, a detecting unit which receives a transmission laser beam transmitted through the cell and detects a detection signal related to the magnetic field, and a high frequency voltage applying unit which applies a high frequency voltage to a pair of application units provided on the cell and heats the cell by dielectric heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8624579
    Abstract: A Fiber-optic current sensor for sensing electric current carried in an electric conductor (18). Its optical section comprises: a light source (1); a directional coupler (2) with two ports (2A, 2B) of two arms each; a radiation polarizer (3); a polarization modulator (4); a fiber line (17) coupled to a current-sensing fiber loop (11); a mirror (10); and a photodetector (22). The first port of the coupler (2) is coupled to the light source (1) and to the photodetector (22). Its second port is coupled via the radiation polarizer (3) to the polarization modulator (4). The polarization modulator comprises a magneto-sensitive element (5), around which a solenoid (6) is wound. The fiber loop (11) comprises a magneto-sensitive optical fiber with embedded linear birefringence. An electronic section comprises a signal generator (21) which drives the solenoid (6); and a signal processing unit which receives the optical signal from the photodetector (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Closed Joint Stock Company “Profotech” (CJSC “Profotech”)
    Inventors: Yuri Chamorovskiy, Vladimir Gubin, Sergei Morshnev, Yan Prziyalkovskiy, Maxin Ryabko, Nikolay Starostin, Alexander Sazonov, Anton Boyev
  • Publication number: 20130328557
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensor system. The system includes a pump laser configured to generate an optical pump beam at a first wavelength and a probe laser configured to generate an optical probe beam at a second wavelength that is different from the first wavelength. The system also includes beam optics configured to direct the pump laser and the probe laser along orthogonal axes through a sensor cell comprising an alkali metal vapor. The system further includes detection optics that include a photodetector assembly configured to measure at least one characteristic associated with the optical probe beam leaving the sensor cell for measurement of a polarization vector of the alkali metal vapor. The detection optics can include at least one filter configured to filter light having the first wavelength and to pass light having the second wavelength to the photodetector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: MICHAEL S. LARSEN, HENRY C. ABBINK, THAD G. WALKER, MICHAEL D. BULATOWICZ
  • Patent number: 8587304
    Abstract: An optical atomic magnetometers is provided operating on the principles of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation. An atomic vapor is optically pumped using linearly polarized modulated light. The vapor is then probed using a non-modulated linearly polarized light beam. The resulting modulation in polarization angle of the probe light is detected and used in a feedback loop to induce self-oscillation at the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Dmitry Budker, James Higbie, Eric P. Corsini
  • Publication number: 20130278253
    Abstract: There is provided an optically pumped magnetometer, in which a pump light having a first wavelength to spin-polarize a first alkali-metal atom group is made to enter a cell containing the first alkali-metal atom group and a second alkali-metal atom group interacting via spin exchange with the first alkali-metal atom group, a probe light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength to measure spin polarization of the second alkali-metal atom group is made to enter the cell to form the same optical axis as the pump light, a wavelength discrimination unit is provided to discriminate between the pump light and the probe light that passed through the cell depending on a different in wavelength, and the rotation angle of a polarization plane of the probe light that passed through the cell is measured so that the degree of flexibility of the device layout can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sunao Ichihara, Natsuhiko Mizutani, Tetuo Kobayashi, Syuji Taue
  • Publication number: 20130221960
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided that measures a magnetic field. The sensor includes a first gas, a probe light source which causes first circular polarized light to be incident on the first gas, a second gas arranged on an optical path of a second circular polarized light, an AC magnetic field generator which generates an AC magnetic field and generates magnetic resonance, a bias magnetic field generator which generates bias magnetic fields with different intensities for the first gas and the second gas and differentiates the optical transmittance of the first circular polarized light in the first gas from the optical transmittance of the second circular polarized light in the second gas, and a detector which detects a light amount of the first circular polarized light and a third circular polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Patent number: 8519705
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing an in-situ magnetic resonance imaging of an object. The method includes the steps of providing an atomic magnetometer, coupling a magnetic field generated by magnetically resonating samples of the object through a flux transformer to the atomic magnetometer and measuring a magnetic resonance of the atomic magnetometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Igor Mykhaylovich Savukov, Andrei Nikolaevich Matlashov, Michelle A. Espy, Petr Lvovich Volegov, Robert Henry Kraus, Jr., Vadim Sergeyevich Zotev
  • Publication number: 20130214780
    Abstract: A quantum mechanical measurement device is provided. A spin ensemble is provided. A first light source provides a first light at a first wavelength, wherein the first light source is positioned to provide light into the spin ensemble. A detector is positioned to detect light from the spin ensemble. A modulator modulates absorption of the first light from the first light source by the spin ensemble at a frequency greater than a Larmor frequency of the spin ensemble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: GEOMETRICS, INC.
    Inventor: Geometrics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8508222
    Abstract: A device capable of producing a high resolution chemical analysis of a sample, such as fluid, is based upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The nuclear magnetic polarizations of the sample are generated by sequentially illuminating the sample with a focused beam of light carrying angular orbital angular momentum (OAM) and possibly momentum (spin). Unlike in a typical NMR used for magnetic nuclear resonance imaging (MRI) or spectroscopy, the present device does not make use of a strong magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Lucian Remus Albu, Daniel R. Elgort, Satyen Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 8427146
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided that measures a magnetic field. The sensor includes a first gas, a probe light source which causes first circular polarized light to be incident on the first gas, a second gas arranged on an optical path of a second circular polarized light, an AC magnetic field generator which generates an AC magnetic field and generates magnetic resonance, a bias magnetic field generator which generates bias magnetic fields with different intensities for the first gas and the second gas and differentiates the optical transmittance of the first circular polarized light in the first gas from the optical transmittance of the second circular polarized light in the second gas, and a detector which detects a light amount of the first circular polarized light and a third circular polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kimio Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 8389962
    Abstract: A system and method for noise compensation of a charged particle beam location includes one or more sensors that are spaced apart from each other for sensing magnetic noises within at least one predefined frequency band thereby to provide magnetic noise measurements with synchronous detection of the location of a charged particle beam. Based on the magnetic noise measurements and on relationships between values of the magnetic noises and particle beam location errors, magnetic noise compensations signals are generated. An object is then scanned by a particle beam in response to a desired particle beam scan pattern and the magnetic noise compensation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Konstantine Chirko, Alon Litman, Yoav Nachum
  • Patent number: 8373413
    Abstract: A magnetic sensing method comprises irradiating a pump light having a circularly polarized component and a probe light having a linearly polarized component onto a group of atoms contained in a cell so as to make the lights produce an intersection region and detecting a change of rotation angle of a plane of polarization of the probe light before and after passing the cell. The pump light and the probe light are irradiated in a state where a magnetic field of the direction in which the pump light strikes the intersection region is provided with a gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Sugioka