Atomic Oscillator Monolithic Vertical Stacking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current atomic oscillators are not adequately miniaturized and have high unit costs due to the lateral arrangement of light-emitting, gas, and light-receiving elements, as well as the use of expensive components like prisms.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves forming at least a light-receiving or light-emitting element and a gas cell on a semiconductor substrate, with other components laminated on top, allowing for miniaturization and cost reduction by using a monolithic structure with a cavity filled with alkali metal atoms and a transparent member to seal and connect the elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the light-emitting element, gas cell, and light-receiving element are laterally arranged on the substrate, then the oscillator can be constructed with separate components, but the overall size cannot be miniaturized and the unit cost remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from lateral arrangement (2D plane) to vertical stacking (3D space). The light-emitting element, gas cell, and light-receiving element are arranged vertically along the optical axis, with the gas cell positioned above the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element positioned to detect light passing through the gas cell. This vertical configuration reduces the lateral footprint and enables miniaturization while maintaining functional separation of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple components into a compact stacked structure where the gas cell is positioned directly above the light-emitting element, and the light-receiving element is positioned to receive light through the gas cell. This merging of components in the vertical dimension reduces the overall device footprint while maintaining functional separation, resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and structural complexity.
2Reliability
If expensive parts such as prisms are used to refract light, then the optical path can be controlled, but the unit cost becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive prism component from the optical system. Instead of using a prism to refract and direct light, the design employs direct vertical alignment of the light-emitting element, gas cell, and light-receiving element along the optical axis. This extraction of the prism eliminates the high unit cost associated with expensive optical components while maintaining reliable optical path control through precise geometric alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex refractive function of the prism with a simpler geometric arrangement where light travels directly through the stacked components. The optical path is controlled not by refractive materials but by the precise spatial positioning and alignment of the vertically stacked elements, copying the light-direction function through geometry rather than material properties.
3Productivity
If plural gas cells are integrally formed and later diced into single chips, then production efficiency can be improved, but the lateral arrangement prevents adequate miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables batch fabrication of multiple gas cells by stacking them vertically on a single substrate rather than arranging them laterally. Multiple gas cells can be formed in the vertical dimension above the substrate, allowing integral formation and subsequent dicing into single-chip units. This vertical stacking approach maintains production efficiency while achieving miniaturization of each individual oscillator unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent facilitates the segmentation of integrally formed gas cells into individual single-chip units through vertical stacking and subsequent dicing. Multiple gas cells are first formed integrally on a substrate in a vertical configuration, then the array is diced to separate individual units. This segmentation approach maintains high production efficiency while enabling miniaturized single-chip oscillators.
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 approach enables the construction of a compact, cost-effective atomic oscillator with improved production efficiency and reduced manufacturing costs, facilitating batch processing and efficient assembly of multiple units.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting element to emit resonance light to the light-receiving section through the transparent member and the alkali metal atoms
Implementation Method 2
a light-receiving element to receive the resonance light through the alkali metal atoms and the transparent member
Implementation Method 3
a transparent member to close the opening
Data Source
AI summary
An atomic oscillator includes: a light-receiving element including a light-receiving section; a cell layer that is laminated on the light-receiving element and includes a cavity having an opening above the light-receiving section; gaseous alkali metal atoms sealed in the cavity; a transparent member to close the opening; and a light-emitting element to emit resonance light to the light-receiving section through the transparent member and the alkali metal atoms.