Patents by Inventor William R. Fowks

William R. Fowks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4479096
    Abstract: A highly stable voltage variable crystal controlled oscillator adapted for stand-alone use or for use with an atomic clock for further stabilizing the oscillator. A novel Colpitts crystal oscillator configuration is employed and utilizes an FET amplifier and bipolar emitter follower configured for power gain without phase shift in the feedback circuit. The oscillator output signal is derived through the crystal which then acts as its own low pass filter to improve the purity of the output signal. A novel buffer/amplifier circuit including a grounded gate FET amplifier and coupling transformer assure frequency stability despite wide ranging load impedance variations. A resilient thermal foam material is used to enclose the temperature and shock sensitive components of the oscillator to provide further frequency stability and rugged construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Fowks
  • Patent number: 4462006
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing the resonance frequency of a rubidium frequency standard utilizes control of the intensity of the rubidium-87 lightbeam between the rubidium lamp and rubidium vapor cell. Resonance frequency stabilization is achieved by the present invention by providing adjustment of pumping light intensity until the sensitivity of resonance frequency to changes in cell temperature is minimized and the cell operating temperature is at its turning point, that is, where resonance frequency shift versus temperature goes through a zero slope. By utilizing the invention, the light crossover point, that is, a point of convergence of the family of curves of frequency deviation versus temperature for different levels of rubidium lamp excitation discharge current, can be set equal to the cell turning point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Fowks
  • Patent number: 4456891
    Abstract: An improved oscillator circuit primarily for use as an RF source circuit for igniting a light discharge in a rubidium lamp used in a rubidium vapor cell frequency standard. A number of novel features are disclosed including an adjustable power capability dependent on current sensed feedback providing power adjustment over at least a 5-to-1 ratio; lamp heater monitoring for high oscillator power operation during warm-up; and light intensity monitoring for feedback bypass and high oscillator power operation whenever inadequate light discharge is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Fowks
  • Patent number: 4446446
    Abstract: An adjustable frequency synthesizer primarily for use in an atomic frequency standard of the type used for stabilizing a frequency source by locking it to the hyperfine transition resonance of an atomic frequency resonator. The synthesizer is programmable by an externally applied code to provide the proper frequency, electromagnetic resonance field to the atomic frequency resonator. The synthesizer also provides a phase locked frequency modulating signal to produce the resonance deviation signal in the resonator. The broad range and fine frequency increments of the synthesizer permit accommodation of a wide range of resonance frequencies in the atomic frequency resonator to obviate resonator gas pressure and magnetic field variations which would otherwise decrease the production yield of such resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Fowks
  • Patent number: 4434406
    Abstract: A lamp assembly primarily for a rubidium frequency standard and having an improved lamp housing configuration including a cast metal housing which acts as an RF shield for the lamp ignition helical coil resonator. The lamp is heated by both a conventional bipolar heater transistor and a heater blanket made of Nichrome etched Inconel encased in a Kapton impregnated fiberglass laminate material, to reduce warm-up time and more reliably distribute the heating function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Fowks