Coupled bi-stable microcircuit system for ultra-sensitive electrical and magnetic field sensing
US8049570B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 2010 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/093
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electrical/magnetic current sensing system includes a first collection mechanism configured to convert an electric field into surface charge, a second collection mechanism comprising a magnetic reactive material, and a sensor coupled to the first and second collection mechanisms. The sensor comprises an odd number, greater than or equal to three, of unidirectionally-coupled non-linear over-damped bi-stable elements. Each element comprises a resistive load, an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with a bipolar junction transistor differential pair, a cross-coupled OTA, and a non-linear OTA. Each element may comprise fully differential inputs and outputs. The sensor may be contained in a microchip or on a printed circuit board. A resident time difference readout device may be connected to the sensor, and may be configured to perform a power spectral density calculation. The sensor may include a resistance to voltage circuit connected between the second collection mechanism and the elements.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.