Atomic Oscillator Heater Wiring for Efficient Gas Cell Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing atomic oscillators face challenges in miniaturization due to inefficiencies in heating systems, which lead to decreased accuracy and increased power consumption, as they require multiple heater wirings that can cause thermal energy leakage and complex circuit structures.
Innovation Solution
The atomic oscillator design incorporates a gas cell with a first and second heater on the windows, coupled through a third heater wiring that connects both, reducing the number of heater wirings and enhancing thermal efficiency, allowing for miniaturization and stable oscillation properties while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple heater wirings are used to heat the gas cell, then the gas cell can be maintained at a constant temperature, but the heating efficiency degrades and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heater wirings into a single integrated heater wiring structure that wraps around the gas cell. This merging of heating elements eliminates the need for multiple separate wirings, reducing thermal energy leakage paths and improving heating efficiency while maintaining constant temperature control of the gas cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The single heater wiring structure serves multiple functions: it provides uniform heating around the gas cell, acts as a thermal insulation barrier, and reduces energy loss. This multi-functional design improves heating efficiency while maintaining temperature stability.
2Temperature
If multiple heater wirings are used, then the gas cell can be heated uniformly, but the circuit structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate heater wirings into a single continuous wiring structure that wraps around the gas cell. This simplifies the circuit structure by reducing the number of electrical connections and components, while the wrapping configuration ensures uniform heat distribution around the gas cell.
3Temperature
If multiple heater wirings are used, then the gas cell can be heated effectively, but the atomic oscillator cannot be miniaturized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heater wirings into a single compact wrapping structure, significantly reducing the space required for heating components. This enables miniaturization of the atomic oscillator while maintaining effective heating of the gas cell through the efficient thermal coupling of the wrapped wiring.
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
This configuration suppresses thermal efficiency degradation, enables miniaturization, and reduces power consumption, maintaining high accuracy and stability in the atomic oscillator's operation.
Implementation Method 1
heating units heating the gas cell to a controlled temperature and being a first heater and a second heater
Implementation Method 2
a semiconductor laser 230 as a light source, a gas cell 210, and a light detector 240 as a light detecting unit
Implementation Method 3
The semiconductor laser 230 produces two kinds of laser light (coupling light and probe light) having different wavelengths from each other
Implementation Method 4
the quantum absorbers in the gas cell 210 absorb the laser light radiated from the semiconductor laser 230 and an optical absorption property (transmission) varies depending on frequency difference
Implementation Method 5
a method utilizing quantum interference effect (hereinafter, refereed as coherent population trapping: CPT) produced by two kinds of interfering light
Implementation Method 6
This phenomenon is known as electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) phenomenon
Data Source
AI summary
An atomic oscillator includes: a gas cell in which a gaseous metal atom is sealed; heating units heating the gas cell to a predetermined temperature and being a first heater and a second heater; a light source of exciting light exciting the metal atom in the gas cell; a light detecting unit detecting the exciting light which has passed through the gas cell; a substrate including at least a temperature controlling circuit for the heating units; a first heater wiring coupling the first heater and the substrate; a second heater wiring coupling the second heater and the substrate; and a third heater wiring coupling the first heater and the second heater. In the atomic oscillator, the gas cell includes a cylindrical portion; and windows which respectively seal openings at both ends of the cylindrical portion and constitute an incident surface and an emitting surface on an optical path of the exciting light. The first heater and the second heater are respectively formed on the windows at an incident surface side and an emitting surface side and made of transparent heating materials.