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Patent Number: |
7420366 |
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Case ID: |
0 |
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Patent Title:
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Coupled nonlinear sensor system
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Status: |
ACTIVE |
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Status Date: |
2/15/2010 1:11:34 PM |
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Issue Date:
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9/2/2008 |
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Filed Date:
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6/18/2004 |
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Serial #:
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0/874,009 |
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Assignee Name:
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The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
(Washington,
DC)
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Inventor(s):
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In, Visarath , Palacios, Antonio , Kho, Yong , Bulsara, Adi R. |
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BACKGROUND
Certain sensor systems involve nonlinear sensors that utilize a known time-periodic bias signal to excite the sensors to oscillate. A target signal is detected by noting its effect on the sensor''s oscillation level-crossing statistics. These
sensing techniques are accurately represented via the dynamics of overdamped bistable systems; as such, their solutions (in the absence of any driving signals or noise) are those that decay rapidly to one of the stable steady states of the detector
system. Yet, for nonlinear sensors to effectively serve as detectors of target signals, the sensors need to be operated as a device that switches between its stable attractors, thereby enabling one to quantify the target signal via its effect on the
sensor switching dynamics. A bias signal that promotes this switching can be provided by a signal generator onboard the sensor system, however this can increase the power budget of the sensor as well as contribute to the sensor''s nois . . . . More |
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A sensor system employing a plurality of nonlinear sensors utilizes a
coupling network to interconnect the sensors wherein the coupling network
inherently induces oscillations in the sensor system. This approach
removes the need to provide bias signal generation either onboard the
sensors or via a source external to the sensor.
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What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus comprising: an odd number of at least three nonlinear sensors each having an input and an output; and a coupling network configured to inherently induce
oscillation in said nonlinear sensors in the absence of an external bias signal, said coupling network including a coupling circuit individual to each of said nonlinear sensors, said coupling network unidirectionally coupling said nonlinear sensors so
that each said nonlinear sensor has its said output coupled via its coupling circuit to said input of only one other said nonlinear sensor wherein said coupling circuits are configured to allow only one-way signal flow between said sensors that are
nearest-neighbor sensors.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a summer connected to each said coupling circuit individual to each of said nonlinear sensors to sum a coupling circuit output from each of said nonlinear sensors.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of . . . . More |
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