OCXO Temperature Control Using a Compensation Heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature controlling apparatuses for oscillators, such as OCXOs, face challenges in maintaining stable temperature due to thermal hunting, where positive feedback occurs from the heat generation and detection loop, leading to unstable heat control and oscillation frequency variations.
Innovation Solution
A temperature controlling apparatus with a second heater positioned for faster thermal conduction to the temperature sensor, which adjusts power consumption to compensate for the power supply circuit's changes, preventing thermal hunting by maintaining a stable thermal feedback loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a temperature controlling apparatus with a single heater is used, then the structure is simple, but thermal hunting occurs causing unstable temperature control
Solution Approach 1:
The single heater is divided into two separate heaters: a first heater for general heating and a second heater for compensation. This segmentation allows independent control of heating functions, enabling the second heater to compensate for thermal fluctuations detected by the temperature sensor, thereby suppressing thermal hunting and improving temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second heater acts as an intermediary compensation element positioned between the power supply circuit and the temperature sensor. It responds to thermal changes by adjusting its power consumption to counteract temperature variations, serving as a thermal buffer that stabilizes the feedback loop and prevents oscillations.
2Speed
If the second heater is positioned for faster thermal conduction to the temperature sensor, then thermal response is improved, but thermal conduction loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second heater is positioned in close proximity to the temperature sensor to create a localized thermal zone with fast thermal response. This local positioning ensures rapid detection and compensation of temperature changes at the sensor location, while the overall thermal loss is minimized by using the heater's power consumption changes rather than direct thermal conduction for compensation.
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 effectively suppresses thermal hunting, ensuring stable heat control and maintaining the oscillation circuit at a target temperature, thereby stabilizing the oscillation frequency and preventing heat escape, leading to improved temperature stability and reduced thermal oscillations.
Implementation Method 1
a second heater 340 that is provided at a position such that thermal conduction therefrom to the temperature sensor 310 is faster than that from the power supply circuit 320
Implementation Method 2
a power supply circuit 320 that supplies, to a first heater 330, power corresponding to a difference between a target value and a detected value obtained from the temperature sensor 310
Data Source
AI summary
It is desired to even further attempt to stabilize temperature in oscillator such as OCXOs (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillators). A temperature controlling apparatus is provided. The temperature controlling apparatus includes: a temperature sensor; a power supply circuit that supplies, to a first heater, power corresponding to a difference between a target value and a detected value obtained from the temperature sensor; and a second heater that is provided at a position such that thermal conduction therefrom to the temperature sensor is faster than that from the power supply circuit, and changes power consumption of the second heater according to power consumption of the power supply circuit.