US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

Alan Shane Edelstein

Richard K Everett

Vincent G Harris

John Harry Perepezko

David Mark Hull

Forrest H Kaatz

Michael Pedersen

Jeffrey Spencer Pulskamp

Pehr E Pehrsson

Benji Maruyama

Jonathan Elliott Fine

Stuart A Wolf

Gan-Moog Chow

Paul M Natishan

Ronald L Holtz

William S Coblenz

John Timmerwilke

Jonathan R Petrie

Arthur M Morrish

Jonathan M Peritt

Robert A Burke

Kenneth E Kihlstrom

Patricia P Trzaskoma

Gregory Alexander Fischer

Method for positioning and orienting a first object relative to a second object. The method includes positioning a near field transducer having an aperture on the first object, and directing a laser light toward the aperture of the near field transducer on the first object to create an evanescent wave on the other side of the aperture. Positioning a sensor on the second object for detecting the effervescent wave from the near field transducer. Providing an algorithm, and using information obtained from the sensor on the second object in the algorithm to control a nanopositioning system to position one of the first object and the second object in a desired position and orientation relative to the other one of the first object and the second object.

Method and system for positioning using near field transducers, particularly suited for positioning electronic chips

A nonvolatile memory comprising at least one ferromagnetic region having permeability which changes from a first state to a second state of lower permeability upon heating; at least one laser operatively associated with the at least one ferromagnetic region which selectively provides heat to the ferromagnetic region to change its p permeability; and a plurality of connectors operatively connected to the at least one laser and adapted to be connected to a current source that provides a current which causes the laser to change the at least one ferromagnetic region from a first state to a second state. Optionally, the memory is arranged as an array of memory cells. Optionally, each cell has a magnetic field sensor operatively associated therewith. Optionally, the nonvolatile memory is radiation hard. Also, a method of recording data by heating at least one ferromagnetic region to change its permeability.

Read-write non-erasable memory with laser recording and method of recording

A nonvolatile memory comprising at least one ferromagnetic region having permittivity which changes from a first state to a second state of lower permittivity upon heating; at least one heater operatively associated with the at least one ferromagnetic region which selectively provides heat to the ferromagnetic region to change its permittivity; and a plurality of connectors operatively connected to the at least one heater and adapted to be connected to a current source that provides a current which causes the heater to change the at least one ferromagnetic region from a first state to a second state. Optionally, the memory is arranged as an array of memory cells. Optionally, each cell has a magnetic field sensor operatively associated therewith. Optionally, the nonvolatile memory is radiation hard. Also, a method of recording data by heating at least one ferromagnetic region to change its permittivity.

Nonvolatile memory cells programable by phase change and method

A method and system for storing information in a nonvolatile memory comprising: a substrate comprising magnetic material operatively associated therewith, the magnetic material having at least one first portion of low permeability and at least one second portion of high permeability; a reader comprising a sensor for reading information by measuring the magnetic permeability for the at least one first portion and the at least one second portion; whereby the at least one first and second portions are subjected to a magnetic probe field from one of an external source, the sensor, or a combination of an external source and the sensor.

Nonvolatile corruption resistent magnetic memory and method thereof

A method and apparatus for reading electronic memory comprising a current source, a spin transfer oscillator, an external field source, coupled to the current source, for generating an RF signal, the spin torque oscillator positioned proximate a magnetic media comprising a plurality of bit regions of varying magnetic permeability, wherein a frequency of the RF signal varies in response to the permeability of a bit region in the plurality of bit regions being proximate the spin torque oscillator.

Method and apparatus for reading a non-volatile memory using a spin torque oscillator

A method for forming a device having nanopillar and cap structures on a substrate in which the substrate is first coated with a first resist having a first exposure dose to electron beam radiation, and that after coating the first resist with a second resist having a second exposure dose less than the first resist. Electron beam lithography is then used sequentially to form the nanopillars and cap structures or, alternatively, a template for the nanopillar and cap structures.

Method for forming a device having nanopillar and cap structures

An array of memory cells, each cell comprising a first and second ferromagnetic layers that form either a spin valve or a magnetic tunnel junction; at least one conductor operatively connected to at least one of the first and second ferromagnetic layers; a third ferromagnetic layer magnetically coupled to the second magnetic layer having permittivity which changes from a first state to a second state of lower permittivity upon heating; the second ferromagnetic layer being influenced by the permittivity of the third ferromagnetic layer; and a heater element operatively associated with the third magnetic layer which selectively provides heat to the third magnetic layer to change its permittivity. An alternate embodiment comprises an array of cells, each cell comprising a ferromagnetic region having permittivity which changes from a first state to a second state upon heating and a heater operatively which selectively provides heat to the third magnetic layer.

Nonvolative memory cells programable by phase change

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device for sensing a magnetic field comprising: a base; a cantilever attached to the base structure at a first end and movable at a second end, the second end oscillating at a predetermined frequency upon application of a current; a magnetic sensor attached to the movable second end; at least one flux concentrator mounted on the base adapted to transfer magnetic flux to the sensor; whereby when the current is applied, the oscillation of the cantilever causes the sensor to oscillate between the lines of flux transferred from the at least one flux concentrator resulting in the shift of the frequency of the sensed magnetic field to the predetermined frequency. The invention further comprises a method of making the MEMS device.

MEMS oscillating magnetic sensor and method of making

A method and system for detecting a signal source at a specified frequency in the presence of background noise includes a processor; a first sensor mounted at a first location operatively connected to the processor; a second sensor mounted at a second location operatively connected to the processor; the processor operating to compute the amplitudes of the first and second Fourier transforms of the outputs of the first and second sensors, respectively, the difference in the amplitudes of the first and second Fourier transforms being determinative of the existence of a signal being generated at the predetermined frequency.

Detector assembly for use in environments containing background magnetic noise and method thereof

A system for modulating a magnetic field sensor device comprising: a base; a magnetic sensor comprising a plurality of magnetic components; at least one coil for creating a magnetic field around the magnetic sensor; the at least one coil adapted to be connected to an alternating current source that passes through the coil to modulate the magnetic field at the magnetic sensor and drive at least one of the magnetic components of the magnetic sensor into and out of its region of increased magnetic response while shifting the frequency of the magnetic field that is sensed by the magnetic sensors a higher frequency to thereby minimize 1/f-type noise, where f is the frequency of operation of the magnetic sensor. The method comprises forming at least one coil around the magnetic sensor; connecting the coil to an alternating current power source; and modulating the current from the power source.

Method and apparatus for utilizing magnetic field modulation to increase the operating frequency of sensors

A microelectromechanical modulating magnetic device comprising: a base; a magnetic transducer that provides an output in response to a magnetic field associated with the base; at least one movable flux concentrator positioned to move relative to the magnetic transducer; at least one flux collector positioned to collect flux for transfer onto at least one movable flux concentrator; which transfers the magnetic flux to the magnetic transducer for detection and measurement purposes; support structure for enabling the at least one movable flux concentrators to move within a predetermined frequency range; a power source for causing the movable flux concentrators to move at a frequency within the predetermined frequency range; whereby magnetic flux may enter through the flux collector, pass through the at least one movable flux concentrator for transfer to the magnetic transducer, and due to the movement of the movable flux concentrator, the signal outputted from the transducer is modulated.

MEMS device with supplemental flux concentrator

A microelectromechanical modulating magnetic sensor comprising a base; a magnetic transducer associated with the base that provides an output in response to a magnetic field; a pair of movable flux concentrators positioned to move relative to the magnetic transducer; the pair of movable flux concentrators having a region of high flux concentration between the pair of movable flux concentrators; the pair of flux concentrators moving together in tandem with the distance between the pair remaining substantially constant during movement; support structure for supporting the pair of movable flux concentrators; a power source for causing the movable flux concentrators to move at a frequency within a predetermined frequency range; whereby when the pair of movable flux concentrators is in a first position the region of high flux concentration is in a first location, and when the pair of movable flux concentrators is in a second position, the region of high flux concentration is in a second position; such that as the flux concentrators move from the first position to the second position the intensity of the flux sensed by the transducer is modulated as the region of high flux concentration approaches and recedes from the location of the transducer.

MEMS device with tandem flux concentrators and method of modulating flux

A magnetic field sensing device comprising at least one magnetic sensor attached to a base structure, rotating member; and at least one flux concentrator mounted on the rotating member; whereby as the rotating member turns, the at least one flux concentrator shields the magnetic sensor so as to modulate the output of the at least one magnetic sensor. A second embodiment comprises a rotating member that rotates about an axis with at least one flux concentrator positioned thereon having a longitudinal axis in the radial direction of the rotating member; and at least one vector-type magnetic sensor fixedly mounted in the near proximity to the axis of the rotating member such that the magnetic field detected is modulated due to the rotation of the rotating member. Optionally, at least one fixed flux concentrator may be positioned along the periphery of the rotating member so as to increase magnetic flux input.

Magnetic sensor method and apparatus

A ferromagnetic object is located by moving magnetic sensors along a path in an area of detection; using the sensors to measure a total magnetic field in the area of detection; using the sensors to measure all three vector components of magnetic field as the sensors travel along the path and passes the object; computing theoretical vector components of the total magnetic field in the area of detection; matching the measured vector components with the computed theoretical vector components of the total magnetic field; calculating an error measurement between matched measured vector components and computed theoretical vector components of the magnetic field; determining optimized values of parameters that minimize an error between the measured vector components and computed theoretical vector components of the magnetic field; and determining a position of the object based on the measured components of the magnetic field as a function of the optimized values.

Locating ferromagnetic objects in a single pass

A technique for locating stationary magnetic objects comprises placing magnetic sensors on a movable platform; for each sensor, measuring a total magnetic field signal in an area of detection; using the sensors to identify a line upon which a target stationary magnetic object is located; and fixing a location of the object by moving the platform in substantially straight lines until the object is detected by at least two of the sensors; using the measured signals to determine a first path on which the object lies; positioning the sensors so that a line connecting two of the sensors intersects the first path on which the object lies; moving the platform along a second path substantially parallel to the first path; recording two positions at which at least two of the sensors detect a maximum total magnetic field signal from the object; and identifying a third path through the two positions.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Alan Shane Edelstein