Radiation-hard precision voltage reference

A Precision Voltage Reference (PVR) comprising:

• a resonator having an oscillation frequency, the resonator including a first proof-mass, a first forcer located adjacent a first side of the first proof-mass, and a second forcer located adjacent a second side of the first proof-mass;
• control circuitry configured to generate a reference voltage based on the oscillation frequency of the resonator;
• conversion means coupled to the first forcer and the second forcer and configured to receive the reference voltage from the control circuitry, provide a first bias voltage to the first forcer based on the reference voltage, provide a second bias voltage to the second forcer based on the reference voltage, and periodically alter a polarity of the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage such that the oscillation frequency of the resonator matches a reference frequency;
• and
• an output configured to provide the reference voltage as a voltage reference signal,
• wherein the control circuitry includes means for detecting the oscillation frequency of the resonator, for comparing a time-average of the oscillation frequency to the reference frequency, and for generating a force adjustment signal based on the compared oscillation frequency and reference frequency to adjust the reference voltage generated by the control circuitry such that the oscillation frequency of the resonator matches the reference frequency.

A method for generating a precision voltage reference with a resonator having an oscillation frequency, the resonator including a first proof-mass, a first forcer located adjacent a first side of the first proof-mass, and a second forcer located adjacent a second side of the first proof-mass, the method comprising:

• receiving a reference voltage with at least one converter coupled to the first forcer and the second forcer;
• providing, with the at least one converter, a first bias voltage based on the reference voltage to the first forcer;
• providing, with the at least one converter, a second bias voltage based on the reference voltage to the second forcer;
• periodically altering a polarity of the first bias voltage applied to the first forcer and the second bias voltage applied to second forcer such that the oscillation frequency of the resonator matches a reference frequency;
• providing the reference voltage as a voltage reference signal;
• detecting the oscillation frequency of the resonator;
• comparing a time-average of the oscillation frequency of the resonator to the reference frequency;
• and
• generating a force adjustment signal responsive to comparing the oscillation frequency of the resonator and the reference frequency, and adjusting, based on the force adjustment signal, the reference voltage such that the oscillation frequency of the resonator matches the reference frequency.

A Precision Voltage Reference (PVR) comprising:

• a resonator having an oscillation frequency, the resonator including a first proof-mass, a first forcer located adjacent a first side of the first proof-mass, and a second forcer located adjacent a second side of the first proof-mass;
• control circuitry configured to generate a reference voltage based on the oscillation frequency of the resonator;
• at least one converter coupled to the control circuitry, the first forcer, and the second forcer, the at least one converter configured to receive the reference voltage from the control circuitry, provide a first bias voltage to the first forcer based on the reference voltage, provide a second bias voltage to the second forcer based on the reference voltage, and periodically alter a polarity of the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage to drive the oscillation frequency of the resonator to match a reference frequency;
• and
• an output configured to provide the reference voltage as a voltage reference signal,
• wherein the control circuitry includes an amplitude module coupled to the first forcer and the second forcer, wherein the amplitude module comprises:
• an amplitude detector configured to detect an oscillation amplitude of resonator oscillations;
• an amplitude comparator configured to compare the oscillation amplitude to an amplitude reference;
• and
• an amplitude controller configured to generate an amplitude adjustment signal based on the compared oscillation amplitude and amplitude reference.