High thermal gain oven with reduced probability of temperature gradient formation for the operation of a thermally stable oscillator
US5729181A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D23/24
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An oven assembly for a crystal resonator and oscillator utilizes a thermally symmetrical design to provide a high thermal gain. The oven assembly includes an encasement that forms a hermetically sealed oven chamber that is substantially cylindrical. Concentric with the oven chamber is an annular oven mass that functions as a heat reservoir for the crystal resonator that is contained within the oven mass. The cylindrical oven chamber and the concentric annular oven mass provide two levels of circular symmetry that help achieve a thermally isotropic oscillator environment. Wide-area uniform heat transfer promotes high thermal gain and minimizes thermal gradients. Another factor is the geometry and circuitry for temperature monitoring. Temperature sensors are equidistantly spaced from each other and are equidistant from the center of the oven chamber. Signals from the various thermistors are averaged to provide a more accurate temperature determination for regulating the heaters.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.