Atomic Oscillator Thermal Management via Merged Heater

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing atomic oscillators face issues with miniaturization and degradation of oscillation characteristics due to unnecessary magnetic fields generated by heaters and increased complexity from multiple heating elements, which affect the gas cell's alkali metal atoms.

Innovation Solution

A quantum interference device design that includes a gas cell with thermally conductive window portions and a connection member to efficiently transfer heat from a heating portion, separating the heating element from the gas cell and reducing the number of heating elements, thereby minimizing magnetic interference and simplifying the device's structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If multiple heaters are disposed on the gas cell to maintain temperature, then the temperature stability is improved, but the device size increases and unnecessary magnetic fields are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidnumber of heaters

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate heaters are merged into a single heater that thermally connects to multiple window portions through the gas cell walls. This consolidation reduces the number of heating elements while maintaining temperature stability across all window portions, thereby reducing device complexity and eliminating unnecessary magnetic fields.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas cell wall acts as an intermediary thermal conduction path between the single heater and multiple window portions. By utilizing the wall's thermal conductivity, heat is distributed to multiple window portions without requiring multiple direct heater attachments, thus simplifying the heating system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If multiple heaters are disposed on the gas cell to maintain temperature, then the temperature stability is improved, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A single heater serves multiple functions by thermally connecting to multiple window portions simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows one heater to maintain temperature stability across all window portions, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated heaters and reducing overall device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If heaters are disposed next to the gas cell, then the heating function is achieved, but unnecessary magnetic fields act on the alkali metal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating functionVSAvoidmagnetic field influence

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful magnetic field generation is extracted from the heating function by separating the heater from direct contact with the gas cell. The heater is positioned externally and connected through thermal conduction paths, eliminating the source of unnecessary magnetic fields while maintaining the heating function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas cell wall serves as an intermediary that transfers thermal energy from the heater to the window portions without allowing magnetic field interference. This intermediary structure enables thermal coupling while maintaining magnetic field isolation, protecting the alkali metal atoms from harmful magnetic influences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables miniaturization of the quantum interference device, reduces the impact of unnecessary magnetic fields on the gas cell, and improves the reliability of the atomic oscillator by maintaining alkali metal in a gas state while reducing the complexity and size of the heating system.

Implementation Method 1

a connection member that includes a material having a larger thermal conductivity than a material forming the side wall and that thermally connects the heating portion and each of the two window portions to each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a heating portion that generates heat by current application

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9019024B2Quantum interference device, atomic oscillator, and moving object

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

An atomic oscillator includes: a gas cell which includes two window portions having a light transmissive property and in which metal atoms are sealed; a light emitting portion that emits excitation light to excite the metal atoms in the gas cell; a light detecting portion that detects the excitation light transmitted through the gas cell; a heater that generates heat; and a connection member that thermally connects the heater and each window portion of the gas cell to each other.