Timing signal generation device, electronic device, and moving object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10312924-B2
Application number	US-201615378440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A timing signal generation device includes a GPS receiver, an atomic oscillator, a phase comparator, a loop filter, and a divider, a temperature sensor, a DDS, and a DSP. The GPS receiver outputs a reference timing signal. The atomic oscillator outputs a clock signal in accordance with an input voltage value. The phase comparator, the loop filter, and the divider adjust the voltage value in accordance with a synchronization status between the reference timing signal and the clock signal. The temperature sensor outputs a signal depending on the temperature of the atomic oscillator. The DDS converts the frequency of the clock signal and outputs a signal obtained by converting the frequency. The DSP controls the DDS based on an output of the temperature sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A timing signal generation device comprising:
a reference timing signal output unit that outputs a reference timing signal;
an atomic oscillator that outputs a clock signal in accordance with an input voltage value;
a voltage adjustment unit that adjusts the voltage value in accordance with a synchronization status between the reference timing signal and the clock signal;
a temperature sensor that outputs a signal depending on the temperature of the atomic oscillator;
a frequency conversion unit that converts a frequency of the clock signal, and outputs a signal obtained by the frequency conversion; and
wherein the voltage adjustment unit controls the frequency conversion unit based on an output of the temperature sensor.

2. The timing signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the atomic oscillator includes
an atomic cell in which an atom is enclosed,
a coil which applies a magnetic field to the atom in accordance with the voltage value, and
an voltage-controlled oscillator which outputs the clock signal in accordance with a transition frequency of the atom.

3. The timing signal generation device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an output unit that outputs a timing signal outwardly,
wherein
the frequency conversion unit is provided between the atomic oscillator and the output unit.

4. The timing signal generation device according to claim 3 , wherein
the frequency conversion unit is a direct digital synthesizer.

5. The timing signal generation device according to claim 2 , wherein
the atomic oscillator includes
a light source unit that emits a resonance light pair for exciting the atom,
a light-receiving unit that receives the resonance light pair which has passed through the atomic cell,
a frequency control unit that controls an oscillation frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator based on a light reception result of the light-receiving unit, and
a multiplying unit that multiplies the clock signal and outputs a signal obtained by multiplying the clock signal,

the light source unit is driven by using an output of the multiplying unit, and
the frequency conversion unit is provided in the multiplying unit.

6. The timing signal generation device according to claim 5 , wherein
the frequency conversion unit is a fractional phase synchronization circuit.

7. The timing signal generation device according to claim 2 , wherein
the voltage adjustment unit includes
a divider that divides and outputs the clock signal,
a phase comparator that compares a phase of an output of the divider and a phase of the reference timing signal, and
a loop filter which is provided between the phase comparator and the atomic oscillator, and

the frequency conversion unit is provided in the divider.

8. The timing signal generation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage unit that stores correction information regarding frequency-temperature characteristics of the atomic oscillator,
wherein
the voltage adjustment unit controls the frequency conversion unit based on the correction information and the output of the temperature sensor.

9. The timing signal generation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the reference timing signal output unit outputs the reference timing signal based on a satellite signal.

10. An electronic device comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 1 .

11. An electronic device comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 2 .

12. An electronic device comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 3 .

13. An electronic device comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 4 .

14. An electronic device comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 5 .

15. An electronic device comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 6 .

16. A moving object comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 1 .

17. A moving object comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 2 .

18. A moving object comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 3 .

19. A moving object comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 4 .

20. A moving object comprising:
the timing signal generation device according to claim 5 .

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Maki Yoshiyuki
• Shimada Hiroyuki

Classifications

• H03L7/183

  a time difference being used for locking the loop, the counter counting between fixed numbers or the frequency divider dividing by a fixed number {(H03L7/1806 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G04R40/02 Primary

  by phase locking · CPC title

• H03L1/027

  by using frequency conversion means which is variable with temperature, e.g. mixer, frequency divider, pulse add/subtract logic circuit (H03L1/023, H03L1/026 take precedence) · CPC title

• G04F5/14

  using atomic clocks · CPC title

• G01S19/14

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title