Apparatus and method for controlling a mechanical oscillator

An apparatus for controlling a mechanical oscillator means, said apparatus comprising:

• transducer means for transducing mechanical vibrations into an electrical signal and vice versa;
• feedback loop means, connected to said transducer, for exciting vibrations of said mechanical oscillator means,
• wherein said feedback loop means includes means for generating a first feedback input signal and means for generating a second feedback input signal, and balancing network means for combining said first and second feedback input signals with adjustable weights for forming a single feedback signal;
• and
• means for generating a reference frequency and frequency mixing means for shifting the frequency of the mechanical oscillations, said mixing means being positioned before and after the balancing network means in the feedback loop means.

An apparatus for controlling mechanical oscillator means, said apparatus comprising:

• transducer means for transducing mechanical vibrations into an electrical signal and vice versa;
• feedback loop means, connected to said transducer means, for exciting vibrations of said mechanical oscillator means,
• wherein said feedback loop means includes means for generating a first feedback input signal and means for generating a second feedback input signal, and balancing network means for combining said first and second feedback input signals with adjustable weights for forming a single feedback signal;
• and
• means for generating a reference frequency and frequency mixing means for shifting the frequency of the mechanical oscillations,
• said mixing means including analog multiplying means and phase compensated filter means for suppressing one sideband generated by said multiplying means.

An apparatus for controlling mechanical oscillator means, said apparatus comprising:

• transducer means for transducing mechanical vibrations into an electrical signal and vice versa;
• and
• feedback loop means, connected to said transducer means, for exciting vibrations of said mechanical oscillator means,
• wherein said feedback loop, means includes:
• means for generating a first feedback input signal and means for generating a second feedback input signal;
• and
• balancing network means for combining said first and second feedback input signals with adjustable weights for forming a single feedback signal, and
• wherein the feedback loop means further comprises adjustable phase shifting means using the feedback signal and its quadrature signal as an input.

Method for controlling a mechanical oscillators comprising,:

• transducing mechanical vibrations into an electrical signal and vice versa;
• and
• feeding back a signal for exciting vibrations of said mechanical oscillator, wherein said feedback signal is generated using at least two feedback input signals and passing said feedback input signals through a balancing network for combining said feedback input signals with adjustable weights to said feedback signal;
• and
• wherein a first feedback input signal is generated by frequency mixing a reference frequency and said electrical signal, to provide an output to said balancing network.

An apparatus for controlling a mechanical oscillator, said apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for transducing mechanical vibrations into an electrical signal and vice versa;
• and
• a feedback loop connected to said transducer for exciting vibrations of said mechanical oscillator, wherein said feedback loop includes:
• a first feedback signal generator for generating a first feedback input signal based on the electrical signal, and a second feedback signal generator for generating a second feedback input signal;
• and
• a balancing network for combining said first and second feedback input signals with adjustable weights for forming a single feedback signal,
• wherein said first feedback input signal generator includes a frequency mixer, coupled to receive a reference frequency and said electrical signal, to provide an output to said balancing network.