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US 7,030,704 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for a solid-state atomic frequency standard
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorChristopher White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to frequency standards. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for solid-state atomic frequency standard based on the hyperfine spectrum of paramagnetic dopants in solids.
Claims63
A frequency standard comprising:
- a RF source having an RF signal output;
- RF circuitry coupled with the RF source, the RF circuitry having a solid dielectric which has an electron paramagnetic resonance and the RF circuitry proving a compared output signal;
- and
- feedback circuitry coupled with the RF circuitry and the RF source, the feedback circuitry proving an error signal,
- whereby the RF circuitry receives the RF signal output and compares the RF signal output to the electron paramagnetic resonance and generates a compared output signal, and the feedback circuitry receives the compared output signal and provides the error signal to the RF source and the RF source adjusts the RF signal output based on the error signal.
2 more elements
A method for obtaining a standard frequency comprising acts of:
- receiving an RF signal;
- comparing the RF signal to an electron paramagnetic resonance from a solid dielectric having paramagnetic species;
- adjusting the RF signal to the electron paramagnetic resonance;
- and
- outputting the adjusted RF signal,
- whereby the adjusted RF signal is at a standard frequency determined by the electron paramagnetic resonance.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a RF source having an RF signal output;
- RF circuitry coupled with the RF source, the RF circuitry having a solid dielectric which has a zero-field electron paramagnetic resonance and the RF circuitry proving a compared output signal;
- and
- feedback circuitry coupled with the RF circuitry and the RF source, the feedback circuitry proving an error signal,
- whereby the RF circuitry receives the RF signal output and compares the RF signal output to the zero-field electron paramagnetic resonance and generates a compared output signal, and the feedback circuitry receives the compared output signal and provides the error signal to the RF source and the RF source adjusts the RF signal based on the error signal, the RF source being locked to the zero-field electron paramagnetic resonance proving a standard frequency.
2 more elements
A method for obtaining a frequency comprising acts of:
- receiving an RF signal;
- comparing the RF signal to a zero-field electron paramagnetic resonance from a solid dielectric having a paramagnetic species;
- adjusting the RF signal to the zero-field electron paramagnetic resonance;
- and
- outputting the adjusted RF signal,
- whereby the adjusted RF signal is at a standard frequency determined by the zero-field electron paramagnetic resonance.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.