Atomic sensor physics package having optically transparent panes and external wedges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9410885-B2
Application number	US-201313947633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2013
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a plurality of panes of optically transparent material enclosing a vacuum chamber and one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes. The physics package also includes at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber, wherein the wedge is configured to oriented such a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that a respective light beam corresponding thereto transmits through a corresponding pane at an acute angle with respect to the corresponding pane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A physics package of an atomic sensor, the physics package comprising:
a plurality of panes of optically transparent material enclosing a vacuum chamber, wherein the plurality of panes are fixedly attached together to form a hermetically sealed container defining the vacuum chamber therein;
one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes;
at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber;
wherein the one or more wedges are configured to oriente such a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that a respective light beam corresponding thereto transmits through a corresponding pane at an acute angle with respect to the corresponding pane;
and
wherein the at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror, and the one or more wedges is oriented such that one or more beams of light enter the vacuum chamber and are reflected to form at least three light paths that cross within the vacuum chamber.

2. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panes comprise six or fewer panes.

3. The physics package of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of panes are disposed in a rectangular cuboid geometry.

4. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the panes include an anti-reflective coating on an interior or exterior surface thereof.

5. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the panes include a reflective coating on an interior surface thereof.

6. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wedges include a prism.

7. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wedges include a hollow wedge, wherein a corresponding light beam is configured to propagate through a hollow middle of the hollow wedge.

8. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wedges include a mechanically adjustable mount configured to alter an angle of a component mounted thereto with respect to a pane when the mechanically adjustable mount is adjusted.

9. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panes are at least one of bonded to a frame or bonded to one another.

10. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panes are composed of glass, glass-ceramic, optical glass, or sapphire.

11. The physics package of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the panes include an aperture for attachment of a sample reservoir, an evacuation structure, or a getter reservoir.

12. A method of forming a physics package, the method comprising:
fixedly attaching a plurality of panes of optically transparent material together to form a hermetically sealed container defining a vacuum chamber therein;
attaching one or more wedges to an external surface of one or more of the panes; and
attaching at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber;
wherein attaching one or more wedges and attaching at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror to the one or more wedges includes aligning the one or more wedges and the at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that one or more beams of light enter the vacuum chamber and are reflected to form three light paths that cross within the vacuum chamber and at least one light path transmits through a pane at an acute angle with respect to the pane.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein fixedly attaching the plurality of panes together includes forming a rectangular cuboid geometry with the plurality of panes.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein fixedly attaching the plurality of panes together includes at least one of bonding panes to a frame and bonding panes to one another.

15. The method of claim 12 , comprising:
coating at least one of an interior or exterior surface of at least one of the plurality of panes with an anti-reflective film.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more wedges include a prism.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more wedges include a hollow wedge, wherein a corresponding light beam is configured to propagate through a hollow middle of the hollow wedge.

18. A physics package of an atomic sensor, the physics package comprising:
a plurality of panes of optically transparent material disposed in a rectangular cuboid geometry enclosing a vacuum chamber;
one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes;
at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber;
wherein the at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror and the one or more prisms are disposed such that one or more beams of light enter the vacuum chamber and are reflected to form three light paths that cross within the vacuum chamber and at least one light path transmits through a pane at an acute angle with respect to the pane;
a getter reservoir attached to a first of the plurality of panes over an aperture defined in the first of the plurality of panes; and
frit or sol gel on edges of the plurality of panes, hermetically sealing the vacuum chamber.

19. The physics package of claim 18 , wherein the one or more wedges include a prism.

20. The physics package of claim 18 , wherein the one or more wedges include a hollow wedge, wherein a corresponding light beam is configured to propagate through a hollow middle of the hollow wedge.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Schober Christina Marie
• Vescera James A
• Strabley Jennifer S

Classifications

• G01L19/144

  with dismountable parts, e.g. for maintenance purposes or for ensuring sterile conditions (for detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge G01L19/003) · CPC title

• G04F5/14 Primary

  using atomic clocks · CPC title

• G01J5/045

  Sealings; Vacuum enclosures; Encapsulated packages; Wafer bonding structures; Getter arrangements (getter arrangements per se H10W76/48, H10P36/03) · CPC title

• G01D11/245

  Housings for sensors · CPC title

• H05H7/14

  Vacuum chambers (H05H5/03 takes precedence) · CPC title