Molecular Resonance Stabilization Patents (Class 331/3)
  • Patent number: 9577653
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing a quasi-linear spin-torque nano-oscillator based on exertion of a spin-transfer torque on the local magnetic moments in the magnetic layer and precession of the magnetic moments in the magnetic layer within a spin valve. Examples of spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) are disclosed to use spin polarized currents to excite nano magnets that undergo persistent oscillations at RF or microwave frequencies. The spin currents are applied in a non-uniform manner to both excite the nano magnets into oscillations and generate dynamic damping at large amplitude as a feedback to reduce the nonlinearity associated with mixing amplitude and phase fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Robert A. Buhrman, Oukjae Lee, Daniel C. Ralph
  • Patent number: 9577652
    Abstract: An atomic resonance transition device includes a gas cell having an internal space that seals an alkali metal, a light emitter that emits excitation light containing a resonance light pair that causes the alkali metal to resonate toward the alkali metal, and a magnetic field generator that applies a magnetic field to the alkali metal. The excitation light diverges in a width direction in the internal space as the light travels from a side where the excitation light is incident toward a side where the excitation light exits, and the magnetic field from the magnetic field generator has a portion where the intensity of the magnetic field increases in the internal space with distance from the side where the excitation light is incident toward the side where the excitation light exits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Maki, Takuya Nakajima, Nobuhito Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9531397
    Abstract: An atomic resonance transition device includes an atomic cell in which an atom is sealed, a first light source part to emit a first light resonant with a D1 line of the atom in the atomic cell, a second light source part to emit a second light having a wavelength different from that of the first light and resonant with the D1 line or a D2 line of the atom in the atomic cell, and a detection part to detect a light beat due to interference between the first light and the second light passing through the atomic cell and to generate a beat signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshida, Nobuhito Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9507322
    Abstract: An atomic cell manufacturing method includes a preparing process of preparing a structure that includes a wall portion which forms an inner space and a portion thereof is a light transmission portion, and in which liquid or solid alkaline metals are disposed in the light transmission portion, and an adjusting process of adjusting distribution such that alkaline metals are distributed so as to be intensively disposed on an outer circumferential portion side of the light transmission portion compared to a center portion of the light transmission portion, by heating the light transmission portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Hashi
  • Patent number: 9498777
    Abstract: Cells having cavities and the manufacture and use of the same are described. An example cell includes a first layer including a gap to at least partially define a cavity and a reservoir area to receive material to enter the cavity by diffusion. Additionally, the cell includes one or more other layers coupled to the first layer to at least partially define the cavity and to hermetically seal the cavity from an exterior environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Inventors: Henning Völlm, Ulrich Schmid, Andreas Schütze, Helmut Seidel, Dara Feili
  • Patent number: 9488962
    Abstract: The invention relates to an alkali-metal vapor cell, especially for an atomic clock, and to its manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique—CNRS, Universite de Franche Comte
    Inventors: Nicolas Passilly, Christophe Gorecki, Ravinder Chutani, Rodolphe Boudot
  • Patent number: 9454135
    Abstract: A method of providing a manufactureable long vapor cell with enhanced sensitivity and good mechanical strength, wherein the method provides a structure that increases the overall length of the vapor cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roozbeh Parsa, Peter J. Hopper
  • Patent number: 9444476
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes an alkali-metal cell in which alkali-metal atoms are enclosed, a light source which irradiates the atoms in the alkali-metal cell with laser beams, a photodetector which detects a light amount of the laser beams passing through the alkali-metal cell to enter the photodetector, and a controller which generates sidebands including a pair of laser beams with different wavelengths by performing frequency modulation of a carrier on the light source, causes the pair of laser beams with the different wavelengths to enter the alkali-metal cell, and controls a modulation frequency according to optical absorption characteristics of the atoms by quantum interference effects of a pair of resonance laser beams, wherein the side bands include second-order or higher-order sidebands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignees: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo Metropolitan University
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Goka, Yuichiro Yano
  • Patent number: 9429918
    Abstract: A vapor cell for installation in an atomic clock or a magnetometer. The vapor cell includes a top plate, a center plate, and a bottom plate defining a cavity for passing light along an optical path. The vapor cell includes one or more condensation sites to trap condensed vapor in order to avoid blockage of the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Roozbeh Parsa, Peter J. Hopper
  • Patent number: 9360844
    Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of generating a frequency reference using a solid-state atomic resonator formed by a solid-state material including an optical cavity having color centers. A device may include a solid-state atomic clock to generate a clock frequency signal, the solid-state atomic clock including a solid state atomic resonator formed by a solid-state material including an optical cavity having color centers, which are capable of exhibiting hyperfine transition, wherein the solid-state atomic clock may generate the clock frequency signal based on a hyperfine resonance frequency of the color centers. The device may also include a compensator to compensate for a change in one or more attributes of the solid state atomic resonator, which are to affect the hyperfine resonance frequency of the color centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DIMENSION 4 LTD.
    Inventor: Lahav Gan
  • Patent number: 9356426
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes a first unit and a second unit arranged to be separated from each other and a package including an internal space in which the first unit and the second unit are housed in a state in which the internal space is decompressed to pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure. The reflectance of the outer surfaces of the first unit and the second unit to an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength of 4 ?m is equal to or higher than 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 9350369
    Abstract: A quantum interference device includes: a gas cell housing metal atoms; a light emitting unit emitting light to the gas cell; a light receiving unit receiving light penetrating the gas cell; a cell temperature control unit controlling the gas cell temperature; a light emitting unit temperature control unit controlling the light emitting unit temperature; an analog circuit including a light receiving circuit which processes a light receiving signal output from the light receiving unit, and controls an atomic resonance signal; a digital circuit controlling the analog circuit; a first substrate; and a second substrate. The light receiving circuit is provided on the first substrate. At least one of the cell temperature control unit, the light emitting unit temperature control unit, and the digital circuit is provided on the second substrate. The first and second substrates at least partially overlap with each other in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noriaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9348321
    Abstract: Methods, time consumer systems, and computer program products for maintaining accurate time on an ideal clock of a timing device are disclosed. The method includes receiving time information from a local clock, a reference clock, and one or more secondary clocks. The method further includes calculating frequencies for the local clock, the reference clock, and the one or more secondary clocks. The method further includes comparing the calculated frequencies of the reference clock to the calculated frequencies of the one or more secondary clocks. The method further includes detecting a holdover and/or a compromise situation based on the comparison. The method further includes syntonizing the ideal clock to one or more of the calculated frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: FINITE STATE RESEARCH LLC
    Inventors: Cort Dougan, Victor Yodaiken
  • Patent number: 9342269
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes: a gas cell which houses metal atoms; a heater which adjusts a temperature of the gas cell; and a package which houses the gas cell and the heater. The package includes a non-magnetic metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Hashi
  • Patent number: 9325334
    Abstract: A frequency reference device that includes a frequency reference generation unit to generate a frequency reference signal based on an absorption line of a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Phillip Michel Nadeau, Django Trombley, Baher S. Haroun, Srinath Mathur Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9318750
    Abstract: A manufacturer of gas cells performs an arrangement process of arranging solid substances at positions corresponding to holes each of which is provided on each of a plurality of cells. Then, the manufacturer of the gas cells performs an accommodation process of accommodating gas in inner spaces of the cells through an air flow path connected to the holes. Further, the manufacturer of the gas cells performs a sealing process of sealing the spaces by melting the solid substances to close the holes corresponding to the solid substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kimio Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 9274186
    Abstract: A gas cell semiconductor chip assembly includes a gas cell including an alkali gas stored therein and a first semiconductor chip including a first resistive heating loop at a location corresponding to the gas cell to heat the gas cell and a second resistive heating loop around an outer perimeter of the first resistive heating loop. The second resistive heating loop is configured to cancel a magnetic field of the first resistive heating loop based on a current flowing through the first and second resistive heating loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Haje Korth, Kim Strohbehn, Andreas G. Andreou, Francisco Tejada
  • Patent number: 9201403
    Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of generating a frequency reference using a solid-state atomic resonator formed by a solid-state material including an optical cavity having color centers. A device may include a solid-state atomic clock to generate a clock frequency signal, the solid-state atomic clock including a solid state atomic resonator formed by a solid-state material including au optical cavity having color centers, which are capable of exhibiting hyperfine transition, wherein the solid-state atomic clock may generate the clock frequency signal based on a hyperfine resonance frequency of the color centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DIMENSION 4 LTD.
    Inventor: Lahav Gan
  • Patent number: 9134450
    Abstract: A cold atom gravity gradiometer system includes a laser source that generates a laser beam that propagates along a propagation direction. The system further includes a reflector that reflects a portion of the laser beam and transmits another portion of the laser beam (the transmitted portion). A second reflector spatially separated from the first reflector along the propagation direction reflects the transmitted portion of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: MUQUANS
    Inventors: Bruno Desruelle, Philippe Bouyer, Arnaud Landragin
  • Patent number: 9136851
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes an alkali metal cell encapsulating an alkali metal atom; a light source that emits laser light; a light detector that detects light which has passed through the alkali metal cell; and a polarizer arranged between the alkali metal cell and the light detector. A modulation frequency in the light source is controlled, according to a coherent population trapping resonance which is a light absorption characteristic of a quantum interference effect for two kinds of resonant lights, by modulating the light source to generate sidebands and injecting laser lights with the sidebands into the alkali metal cell. A magnetic field is applied on the alkali metal cell in a direction parallel to a propagating direction of the laser light, and the laser light entering the alkali metal cell has a linear polarization, which is not parallel to a polarization direction of the polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo Metropolitan University, Municipal University Corp.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Yano, Shigeyoshi Goka
  • Patent number: 9130579
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes an atomic cell in which an atom is enclosed, a magnetic field generation part to apply a magnetic field to the atomic cell, a reference oscillator which is controlled based on an atomic resonance signal outputted from the atomic cell and generates a reference signal, and a fractional N-PLL which receives the reference signal to generate a signal including a resonance frequency of the atom, in which when a maximum digit of the resonance frequency adjustable by the magnetic field generation part is a boundary digit, the fractional N-PLL can adjust at least a digit one digit higher than the boundary digit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Maki
  • Patent number: 9054638
    Abstract: An optical module of an atomic oscillator using a quantum interference effect includes a light source to generate first light including a fundamental wave having a center wavelength, and including a first sideband wave and a second sideband wave having wavelengths that are different from each other, a wavelength selection unit that emits second light by selecting the first sideband wave and the second sideband wave of the first light and by allowing them to pass through, a gas cell in which an alkali metal gas is sealed and to which the second light is irradiated, and a light detection unit that detects an intensity of the second light passing through the gas cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishida
  • Patent number: 9019024
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes: a gas cell which includes two window portions having a light transmissive property and in which metal atoms are sealed; a light emitting portion that emits excitation light to excite the metal atoms in the gas cell; a light detecting portion that detects the excitation light transmitted through the gas cell; a heater that generates heat; and a connection member that thermally connects the heater and each window portion of the gas cell to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Maki
  • Patent number: 8970309
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator is disclosed, including an Alkaline metal cell, a light source illuminating a laser beam to the Alkaline metal cell, and a light detector detecting light passing through the Alkaline metal cell. The Alkaline metal cell includes a first member, a second member, a cell internal portion, and an Alkaline metal raw material. In the first member, a first glass substrate is bonded on a second surface of a first substrate where a first opening part is formed. In the second member, a second glass substrate is bonded to a fourth surface of a second substrate where a second opening part is formed. The cell internal portion is formed by the first opening part and the second opening part by bonding the first surface to the third surface. The Alkaline metal raw material is enclosed by the cell internal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunichi Sato, Akihiro Itoh, Yukito Sato
  • Patent number: 8922285
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiofrequency oscillator which incorporates: a spin-polarized electric current magnetoresistive device (6), a terminal (18) for controlling the frequency or amplitude of the oscillating signal, a servo loop (34) connected between the output terminal and the control terminal for applying a control signal to the control terminal in order to slave a characteristic of the oscillating signal to a reference value, the servo loop (34) comprising: a sensor (36) of the amplitude of the oscillating signal oscillations, and a comparator (38) capable of generating the control signal according to the measured amplitude and the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Dimitri Houssameddine, Bertrand Delaet, Marie-Claire Cyrille, Ursula Ebels, Michael Quinsat
  • Patent number: 8922284
    Abstract: A method of controlling an atomic oscillator includes generating a resonant light pair in response to a center frequency signal and a sideband signal, and setting the sideband signal so that an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) phenomenon does not occur in a gas cell of the atomic oscillator. The method includes applying the resonant light pair to the gas cell and detecting an intensity level of light transmitted through the gas cell. While the sideband signal is set so that the EIT phenomenon is not occurring, the center frequency signal is varied until a minimum value of the intensity level is identified. A first frequency is calculated by subtracting a predetermined frequency offset from the center frequency at which the intensity level was equal to the minimum value. A center frequency of the resonant light pair is set to the first frequency for operation of the atomic oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Aoyama, Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 8922283
    Abstract: A wristwatch, which comprises an atomic oscillator comprising a system for detecting the beat frequencies obtained by the Raman effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Balet, Jacques Haesler, Steve Lecomte, David Ruffieux
  • Patent number: 8878617
    Abstract: An optical module for an atomic oscillator using a quantum interference effect includes a light source part to emit resonant light having two different wavelengths, a gas cell in which an alkali metal atom gas is enclosed and to which the resonant light is irradiated, a light detection part to detect an intensity of the resonant light transmitted through the gas cell, and a gas-flow generation part to generate a flow of the alkali metal atom gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishida
  • Patent number: 8864546
    Abstract: A building block set comprises a plurality of transparent blocks each having a hollow internal cavity with a light source fitted within each cavity and first and second electrically conductive connectors extending through each block and into the internal cavity with a circuit within the cavity for illuminating the light in response to an electronic input to either connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Jon P. Capriola
  • Patent number: 8860515
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator, a control method of the atomic oscillator and a quantum interference apparatus are provided in which high frequency stability can be maintained even though EIT signal intensity changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Aoyama, Tetsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8854146
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for external frit mounted components on a sensor device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a sensor device comprises securing at least one component stack on a sensor body over at least one opening in the sensor body, wherein the at least one component stack comprises a plurality of components and applying a frit to the plurality of components in the at least one component stack and the sensor body. The method further comprises heating the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the frit melts and cooling the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the at least one component stack is secured to the sensor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Marie Schober, Jennifer S. Strabley, Bernard Fritz, James A. Vescera, Kenneth Salit, Delmer L. Smith, Terry Dean Stark
  • Patent number: 8847692
    Abstract: Oscillators and method of operating the same are provided, the oscillators include a magnetic layer, and a magnetization fixing element configured to fix a magnetization direction of the magnetic layer. The oscillators generate a signal by using precession of a magnetic moment of the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ung-hwan Pi, Sun-ae Seo, Kee-won Kim, In-jun Hwang, Kwang-seok Kim, Sung-chul Lee
  • Patent number: 8836437
    Abstract: An optical module for an atomic oscillator using a quantum interference effect includes a light source adapted to emit light including a fundamental wave having a predetermined wavelength, and sideband waves of the fundamental wave, a wavelength selection section receiving the light from the light source, and adapted to transmit the sideband waves out of the light input, a gas cell encapsulating an alkali metal gas, and irradiated with light transmitted through the wavelength selection section, and a light detection section adapted to detect an intensity of light transmitted through the gas cell, and the wavelength selection section includes a fiber Bragg grating, and a temperature control section adapted to control temperature of the fiber Bragg grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishida
  • Patent number: 8830005
    Abstract: An optical module for an atomic oscillator uses a quantum interference effect. The optical module includes a light source adapted to emit light including a fundamental wave having a center wavelength, and sideband waves of the fundamental wave, a wavelength selection section receiving the light from the light source, and adapted to transmit the sideband waves out of the light input, a gas cell encapsulating an alkali metal gas, and irradiated with light transmitted through the wavelength selection section, and a light detection section adapted to detect an intensity of light transmitted through the gas cell. The wavelength selection section includes an etalon and a temperature control section adapted to control temperature of the etalon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishida
  • Patent number: 8816784
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a silicon-based atomic clock for use in an electronic device includes a single-isotope silicon crystal and energy level transitions within the silicon are used as a frequency resonance of the clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Denis Karaiskaj
  • Patent number: 8816779
    Abstract: A device for an atomic clock, including: a laser source (102) generating a laser beam; a quarter-wave plate (105) modifying the linear polarization of the laser beam into a circular polarization and vice versa; a gas cell (106) placed on the laser beam having a circular polarization; a mirror (107) sending the laser beam back toward the gas cell; a first photodetector (108a); means (103, 101a, 107) for diverting the reflected beam of the laser source (102), and a second photodetector (109) placed behind the mirror (107), the mirror being semitransparent and allowing a portion of the laser beam to pass therethrough, the second photodetector (109) being used for controlling the optical frequency of the laser and/or for controlling the temperature of the cell (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique S.A.
    Inventors: Steve Lecomte, Jacques Haesler
  • Patent number: 8810325
    Abstract: A quantum interference device causing electromagnetically induced transparency in an alkali metal atom includes: a light source generating first and second resonant lights with frequency differences ??; a magnetic field generator applying a magnetic field to the atom; a light detector detecting intensities of the first and second resonant lights passing through the atom; and a controller causing a frequency difference between specified first and second resonant lights to equal a frequency difference corresponding to an energy difference between two ground levels of the atom based on the detected light. The controller causes the frequency ?? or magnetic field intensity to satisfy 2×?×n=?? or ??×n=2×?. The frequency ? corresponds to an energy difference between two Zeeman split levels differentiated by one magnetic quantum number and generated in the two ground levels of the atom by energy splitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Aoyama, Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 8803618
    Abstract: An optical module for an atomic oscillator using a quantum interference effect includes a light source adapted to emit light including a fundamental wave having a predetermined wavelength, and sideband waves of the fundamental wave, a wavelength selection section receiving the light from the light source, and adapted to transmit the sideband waves out of the light input, a gas cell encapsulating an alkali metal gas, and irradiated with light transmitted through the wavelength selection section, and a light detection section adapted to detect an intensity of light transmitted through the gas cell, and the wavelength selection section includes a fiber Bragg grating, and a voltage application section adapted to apply a voltage to the fiber Bragg grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuo Nishida
  • Patent number: 8760232
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes an atom that generates interaction with first and second lights in accordance with an energy level of a three-level system; and a light source that emits the first light having a first plurality of lights of a first plurality of frequency components different from each other and the second light having a second plurality of lights of a second plurality of frequency components different from each other, wherein when the first and second lights are irradiated to the atom, an electromagnetically induced transparency phenomenon occurs in accordance with one of the first plurality of lights and one of the second plurality of lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 8736326
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer and a frequency synthesis method thereof are provided. The frequency synthesizer includes a phase-locked loop unit, a voltage-controlled oscillating unit, and a frequency mixing unit. The phase-locked loop unit receives a reference signal and a feedback injection signal and generates a first oscillating signal according to the reference signal and the feedback injection signal. The voltage-controlled oscillating unit receives the feedback injection signal and generates a second oscillating signal according to the feedback injection signal. The frequency mixing unit is coupled to the phase-locked loop unit and the voltage-controlled oscillating unit, receives the first oscillating signal and the second oscillating signal, and mixes the first oscillating signal and the second oscillating signal to generate the feedback injection signal and an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: National Sun Yat-sen University
    Inventors: Tzyy-Sheng Horng, Chung-Hung Chen, Fu-Kang Wang
  • Patent number: 8736386
    Abstract: A gas cell unit includes a gas cell in which a gaseous alkali metal atom is sealed, a first heater to heat the gas cell, and a second heater which is provide to face the first heater across the gas cell and heats the gas cell. The first heater includes a first heating resistor which generates heat by energization, and the second heater includes a second heating resistor through which a current flows in the same direction as the direction of a current flowing through the first heating resistor and which generates heat by energization. Between the first heating resistor and the second heating resistor, a magnetic field generated by the energization to the first heating resistor and a magnetic field generated by the energization to the second heating resistor are mutually cancelled or weakened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 8710934
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes: a light-receiving element including a light-receiving section; a cell layer that is laminated on the light-receiving element and includes a cavity having an opening above the light-receiving section; gaseous alkali metal atoms sealed in the cavity; a transparent member to close the opening; and a light-emitting element to emit resonance light to the light-receiving section through the transparent member and the alkali metal atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Maki, Tetsuo Nishida
  • Patent number: 8643441
    Abstract: A quantum interference device includes: gaseous alkali metal atoms; and a light source for causing a resonant light pair having different frequencies that keep a frequency difference equivalent to an energy difference between two ground states of the alkali metal atoms, the quantum interference device causing the alkali metal atoms and the resonant light pair to interact each other to cause an electromagnetically induced transparency phenomenon (EIT), wherein there are a plurality of the resonant light pairs, and center frequencies of the respective resonant light pairs are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Aoyama, Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 8633773
    Abstract: A gas cell unit has a gas cell, inside which a gaseous alkali metal atom is sealed, a heater that heats the gas cell. The heater includes a heating resistor including a plurality of band-like portions so as to be parallel to each other. By making the directions of electric current flowing through two band-like portions adjacent to each other opposite to each other, it is possible to mutually offset or alleviate the magnetic fields generated along with the electric conduction to the plurality of band-like portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 8624682
    Abstract: In an example, a chip-scale atomic clock physics package is provided. This chip-scale atomic clock physics package includes a body defining a cavity, and a first scaffold mounted in the cavity. A laser is mounted on the first surface of the first scaffold. A second scaffold is also mounted in the cavity. The second scaffold is disposed such that the first surface of the second scaffold is facing the first scaffold. A first photodetector is mounted on the first surface of the second scaffold. A vapor cell is mounted on the first surface of the second scaffold. A waveplate is also included, wherein the laser, waveplate, first photodetector, and vapor cell are disposed such that a beam from the laser can propagate through the waveplate and the vapor cell and be detected by the first photodetector. A lid is also included for covering the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff A. Ridley, Robert Compton, Mary K. Salit, Jeffrey Kriz
  • Patent number: 8614605
    Abstract: A gas cell unit has a gas cell, inside which gaseous metallic atoms are sealed a first heater that heats the gas cell, and a second heater that is provided to face the first heater via the gas cell and heats the gas cell. The heaters include a first heating resistor and a second heating resistor which are provided so as to face each other, are heated by electric current flow, and mutually offset the magnetic fields generated along with the electric current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Chindo
  • Patent number: 8593229
    Abstract: An atomic oscillator includes: a gas cell in which a gaseous metal atom is sealed; first and second heaters heating the gas cell; an exciting light source exciting the metal atom; a light detector detecting the exciting light; a substrate including a temperature controlling circuit for the heaters; a first wiring coupling the first heater and the substrate; a second wiring coupling the second heater and the substrate; and a third wiring coupling the first heater and the second heater. In the atomic oscillator, the gas cell includes a cylinder and windows sealing both ends of the cylinder and constituting an incident surface and an emitting surface on an optical path of the exciting light. The first and second heaters are respectively formed on the windows at an incident surface side and an emitting surface side and are made of transparent heating materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Chindo, Taku Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8587382
    Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of generating a frequency reference using a solid-state atomic resonator formed by a solid-state material including an optical cavity having color centers. A device may include a solid-state atomic clock to generate a clock frequency signal, the solid-state atomic clock including a solid state atomic resonator formed by a solid-state material including an optical cavity having color centers, which are capable of exhibiting hyperfine transition, wherein the solid-state atomic clock may generate the clock frequency signal based on a hyperfine resonance frequency of the color centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Dimension 4 Ltd.
    Inventor: Lahav Gan
  • Patent number: 8564376
    Abstract: A physical section of an atomic oscillator includes: a gas cell in which gaseous metal atoms are sealed, and the gas cell includes a first window having optical transparency; a light source that emits excitation light toward the metal atoms through the first window; a first heating unit that disposes at the first window and that is located between the first window and the light source; and a Peltier element that is stacked on the first heating unit, that is located between the first heating unit and the light source, and that decreases a temperature of a side of the Peltier element facing the light source than a temperature of an opposite side of the Peltier element facing the gas cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Chindo, Taku Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8525516
    Abstract: This atomic clock comprises means for applying two mutually perpendicular oscillating magnetic fields (9, 10), governed by a control device (5) that makes them apply a static or nearly static magnetic field for compensating the ambient magnetic field in order to cancel sub-level energy variations of the matter, which disrupt the frequency of the returned photons and the reference provided by the clock. Traditional magnetic shielding may be omitted. Said device can also operate as a magnetometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Matthieu Le Prado, Jean-Michel Leger