Quartz Oscillator Temperature Control for Stable Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oscillating devices, such as TCXO and OCXO, face challenges in achieving high frequency stability while being cost-effective and efficient in manufacturing, particularly in small base stations like femto cells, where precise clock signals are required, and the adjustment operations for temperature control are cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A small and inexpensive oscillating device is developed using a temperature compensated oscillator with a temperature control circuit that performs first-order approximation for temperature compensation, reducing the need for complex adjustments and using a heater as a temperature adjustment element, allowing for improved frequency stability without the need for a constant temperature oven.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a constant temperature oven is provided to achieve high frequency stability, then frequency stability is improved, but device cost and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature control function from a complete constant temperature oven system and implements it through a simplified heater element combined with temperature compensation circuitry. This removes the complex thermal insulation chamber and temperature control system while retaining the essential temperature stabilization function, thereby reducing device size and cost while maintaining frequency stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive and large constant temperature oven with a simpler, more economical temperature control approach using basic heater elements and electronic compensation circuits. This substitution achieves comparable frequency stability at lower cost and reduced complexity, effectively using cheaper components to replace expensive ones.
2Reliability
If temperature compensation is performed using high-order functions to achieve accurate frequency stability, then frequency stability is improved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature compensation approach from using complex high-order mathematical functions requiring multiple measurement points to a simplified first-order approximation method. This parameter change in the compensation algorithm reduces calculation complexity and manufacturing time while maintaining sufficient frequency stability for the application, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency without sacrificing essential performance.
3Reliability
If the oven temperature is controlled within a narrow range to achieve high frequency stability, then frequency stability is improved, but adjustment complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial temperature compensation rather than attempting to maintain a precisely controlled narrow temperature range. By using first-order approximation and accepting a broader temperature operating range, the system achieves sufficient frequency stability without requiring complex adjustment procedures, thereby simplifying manufacturing and improving ease of operation.
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 provides improved frequency stability comparable to OCXO while reducing manufacturing costs and time, enhancing efficiency by allowing temperature compensation through first-order approximation and using a heater for temperature control, resulting in a compact and affordable oscillating device.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature control circuit that controls a temperature of the oscillating element into a second temperature range
Data Source
AI summary
An oscillating device includes a temperature compensated oscillator that compensates a frequency temperature characteristic in a temperature compensation range including apart of a first temperature range, and a temperature control circuit that includes a heater and controls a temperature of a quartz crystal resonator of the temperature compensated oscillator into a second temperature range included in the temperature compensation range. Further, the temperature compensation range of the temperature compensated oscillator may include a part of the first temperature range in which compensation can be performed by first-order approximation.