OCXO Oven Control Sequencing for Stable Memory Data Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

In OCXO systems, the abrupt increase in current consumption by the heater during oven control can lead to unstable power source voltages, causing data transfer errors during digital signal processing, particularly when transferring control data from non-volatile memory to holding circuits, which prolongs the data transfer period and compromises data integrity.

Innovation Solution

The processing circuit transfers control data from the non-volatile memory to the holding circuit before the oven control circuit starts operating, ensuring that the oven control does not begin during the data transfer period, thereby stabilizing the power source voltage and reducing the risk of data transfer errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the oven control circuit starts operating immediately after power source voltage is supplied, then the heater can quickly stabilize the resonator temperature, but the abrupt increase in current consumption causes power source voltage instability leading to data transfer errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresonator temperature stabilization speedVSAvoiddata transfer accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by completing the data transfer process before starting the oven control circuit operation. The control data is transferred from non-volatile memory to holding circuits during the initialization phase, before the heater is activated. This ensures that the data transfer occurs when the power source voltage is still stable, avoiding data transfer errors while maintaining quick temperature stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the data transfer period is extended to ensure complete transfer of control data, then data transfer accuracy improves, but the period of power source voltage instability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer accuracyVSAvoiddata transfer period duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs data transfer as a preliminary action during system initialization, before activating the oven control circuit. By transferring control data from non-volatile memory to holding circuits in the register before heater activation, the system ensures complete data transfer occurs within the stable power source voltage period, minimizing both transfer time and exposure to voltage instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Temperature

If the heater current is increased to accelerate temperature stabilization, then the resonator reaches operating temperature faster, but the power source voltage drop increases causing more frequent data transfer errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilization speedVSAvoidpower source voltage instability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by completing all data transfer operations before the heater is activated. The control data is transferred during initialization when power source voltage is stable, then the oven control circuit starts operating with high heater current to quickly stabilize temperature without risking data transfer errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the system startup process into distinct phases: first the data transfer phase with stable power conditions, then the oven control phase with heater activation. This temporal segmentation allows the heater to operate at full power for quick temperature stabilization without compromising data integrity, as data transfer is completed in the earlier phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 allows for the completion of control data transfer before potential power instability occurs, minimizing the risk of incorrect data transfer and ensuring accurate digital signal processing, such as temperature compensation, without significant adverse effects on oven feedback control.

Implementation Method 1

an oven control circuit that controls a heater provided in correspondence with the resonator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11038460B2Circuit apparatus, oscillator, electronic instrument, and vehicle

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A circuit apparatus includes an oscillation circuit that causes a resonator to oscillate to produce an oscillation signal, an oven control circuit that controls a heater provided in correspondence with the resonator, a non-volatile memory that stores control data, a holding circuit that holds the control data transferred from the non-volatile memory, and a processing circuit that carries out a process based on the control data held in the holding circuit. After a power source voltage is supplied, the processing circuit carries out the process of transferring the control data from the non-volatile memory to the holding circuit, and after the transfer of the control data is completed, the processing circuit causes based on a data transfer end signal the oven control circuit to start operating.