Atomic frequency standard and system having improved long term aging
AssigneeAccuBeat Ltd.
InventorsStern Avinoam, Levy Benny
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An atomic frequency standard system includes two atomic standard devices, a comparison circuit and a correction circuit. The first device operates continuously, while the second device is operated only periodically. As the second device is only periodically operated, it experiences little frequency drift due to aging effects. When operated, the second device is stabilized, and then frequency compared to the first device by means of the comparison circuit. The correction circuit is then used to recalibrate frequency of the first device with the stabilized frequency of the second device.
Claims16
An atomic frequency standard system having a first small atomic standard, a second small atomic standard, means for comparing the frequency of said first and second atomic standards, and a microprocessor in connection with said means, wherein said first small atomic standard functions regularly and said second small atomic standard is operated at periodic intervals for short durations of time only, such that, when said second atomic standard is in operation, said microprocessor functions to calibrate the frequency of said first small atomic standard with respect to said second small atomic standard.
An atomic frequency standard comprising a first atomic resonator, a second atomic resonator, a crystal oscillator, and a frequency lock loop including a microprocessor connecting between said first and second atomic resonators and said crystal oscillator for frequency locking the crystal oscillator to said first atomic resonator, wherein said first atomic resonator operates regularly and said second atomic resonator is operated at periodic intervals for short time durations only, such that, when said second atomic standard is in operation, said microprocessor functions to calibrate the frequency of said first small atomic standard with respect to said second atomic resonator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.