Abstract:
Some embodiments include a first oscillator circuit including a first input node to receive a connection from a first resonator, and a first output node to provide a first oscillating signal; a second oscillator circuit including a second input node to receive a connection from a second resonator, and a second output node to provide a second oscillating signal; a frequency measurement circuit coupled to the first output node and the second output node; a code generator including an input node coupled to an output node of the frequency measurement circuit, and an output node to provide a code; and a timing signal generator including a node coupled to the output node of the code generator, an input node coupled to the output node of the first oscillator circuit, an output node to provide an output oscillating signal.
Abstract:
According to some aspects of the present disclosure, an atomic clock and methods of forming and/or using an atomic clock are disclosed. In one embodiment, an atomic clock includes: a light source configured to illuminate a resonance vapor cell; a narrowband optical filter disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and arranged such that light emitted from the light source passes through the narrowband optical filter and illuminates the resonance vapor cell. The resonance vapor cell is configured to emit a signal corresponding to a hyperfine transition frequency in response to illumination from the light source, and a filter cell is disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and configured to generate optical pumping. An optical detector is configured to detect the emitted signal corresponding to the hyperfine transition frequency.
Abstract:
According to some aspects of the present disclosure, an atomic clock and methods of forming and/or using an atomic clock are disclosed. In one embodiment, an atomic clock includes: a light source configured to illuminate a resonance vapor cell; a narrowband optical filter disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and arranged such that light emitted from the light source passes through the narrowband optical filter and illuminates the resonance vapor cell. The resonance vapor cell is configured to emit a signal corresponding to a hyperfine transition frequency in response to illumination from the light source, and a filter cell is disposed between the light source and the resonance vapor cell and configured to generate optical pumping. An optical detector is configured to detect the emitted signal corresponding to the hyperfine transition frequency.
Abstract:
A time base including a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure having a plurality of thermally compensating members (65) which are adapted to alter a mass moment of inertia of the free-standing oscillating structure as a function of temperature so as to compensate for the effect of temperature on the resonant frequency of the ring resonator.
Abstract:
In an apparatus using optically excited atomic media, such as an atomic frequency standard, a source providing a controlled emission of light for exciting the D1 and/or D2 resonance lines of an alkali gas, such as rubidium or cesium, is controlled by an output generated by digital electronics from the light intensity signal of a light sensor for light transmitted by the alkali gas, an output for representing ambient temperature, and a light intensity-ambient temperature algorithm to substantially eliminate changes in light intensity due to light source aging for the purpose of reducing changes in temperature sensitivity of the apparatus as a function of time and the light-shift contribution to the frequency aging of the standard.
Abstract:
An electronic timekeeping system is implemented in bipolar integrated circuit technology for displaying time by way of a digital display. The bipolar circuitry is implemented utilizing integrated injection logic and is interconnected with a plurality of circuit elements connected in parallel in levels such that the levels are electrically stacked and serially diode coupled.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for digital synthesis of an output signal using a frequency generated from a resonator and computing amplitude values that take into account temperature variations and resonant frequency variations resulting from manufacturing variability are described. A direct frequency synthesizer architecture is leveraged on a high Q resonator, such as a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), a spectral multiband resonator (SMR), and a contour mode resonator (CMR) and is used to generate pristine signals.
Abstract:
The coupled resonator comprises a first low frequency resonator, such as a balance spring (1) and a second higher frequency resonator, such as a tuning fork (2), the two resonators (1 and 2) including permanent mechanical coupling means. Application to the regulating system of a timepiece.