Temperature-Controlled Oscillator Sensor Failure Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-precision oscillators using multiple temperature sensors for temperature control face a decrease in frequency precision due to potential failures in these sensors, which are not effectively detected in existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
An oscillator design incorporating a resonator element, oscillation circuit, temperature control element, multiple temperature sensors, and a failure detection circuit, where the failure detection circuit monitors and detects failures in the temperature sensors and control element based on their output values during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are used for temperature control to achieve high frequency precision, then frequency precision is improved, but the risk of sensor failure increases and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The failure detection circuit performs preliminary monitoring of temperature sensors during a determination period before the temperature control element operates. This preliminary action detects sensor failures early, preventing them from affecting frequency precision during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between using multiple sensors for precision and the risk of sensor failure
2Measurement precision
If temperature control operation is performed to maintain frequency precision, then frequency stability is improved, but abnormal heat generation may occur causing reliability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of sensor failures before initiating temperature control operation. By detecting sensor failures in advance during the determination period, the system prevents abnormal heat generation that would result from controlling based on faulty sensor data, thus maintaining both frequency stability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The failure detection circuit continuously monitors temperature sensor outputs and provides feedback on sensor status. This feedback mechanism ensures that temperature control operations are only performed when sensors are functioning correctly, preventing abnormal heat generation while maintaining frequency stability
3Reliability
If failure detection function is added to monitor temperature sensors, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The failure detection circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors temperature sensor outputs for failure detection, determines sensor status during a determination period, and controls the operation of the temperature control element based on sensor status. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving reliability
Data Source
AI summary
An oscillator includes a resonator element, an oscillation circuit configured to cause the resonator element to oscillate, a temperature control element configured to control a temperature of the resonator element, a plurality of temperature sensors, a failure detection circuit, and a container configured to accommodate the resonator element, the oscillation circuit, the temperature control element, the plurality of temperature sensors, and the failure detection circuit. The failure detection circuit performs failure detection for the plurality of temperature sensors and the temperature control element based on output values of the plurality of temperature sensors in a state where the temperature control element operates.