Frequency Electronics, Inc.

Tutorial
Precision Frequency Generation Utilizing OCXO
and Rubidium Atomic Standards with
Applications for
Commercial, Space, Military, and Challenging
Environments
IEEE Long Island Chapter
March 18, 2004

Olie Mancini
Vice President, New Business Development
Tel: +516-357-2464 email: [email protected]

Acknowledgement:
Some of the following slides are provided courtesy of Dr. John R. Vig,
U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command
1
 Agenda
ƒ Section 1: Quartz Oscillator Technology
ƒ Section 2: Atomic Frequency Standards
ƒ Section 3: Applications
– Commercial
– Space
– GPS
– Radar
ƒ Section 4: Breakthrough in Vibration Effects on
Clocks Stabilities and Side Bands--Vibration
Insensitive Oscillators???
ƒ Reference Charts

2
 Section 1

Quartz Technology

3
 Hierarchy Of Oscillators
Oscillator Type * Accuracy** Aging/ Radiation Power Weight
10 year Per RAD

Crystal oscillator (XO) 10-5 to 10-4 10-20 PPM -2 x 10-12 20 µW 20 gram

Temperature compensated 10-6 2-5 PPM -2 x 10-12 100 µW 50 gram

crystal oscillator (TCXO)

Microcomputer compensated 10-8 to 10-7 1-3 PPM -2 x 10-12 200 µW 100 gram
crystal oscillator (MCXO)
Oven controlled crystal oscillator
(OCXO) 10-8 2 x 10-8 to 2 x 10-7 -2 x 10-12 1–3W 200-500 gram
- 5 to 10MHz 5 x 10-7 2 x 10-6 to 11 x 10-9
- 15 to 100MHz

Small atomic frequency standard 10-9 5 x 10-10 to 5 x 10-9 2 x 10-13 6 – 12 W 1500-2500 gram
(Rb, RbXO)

High Performance atomic 10-12 to 10-11 10-12 to 10-11 2 x 10-14 25 – 40 W 10000-20000

standard (Cs) gram

* Sizes range from <5 cm3 for clock oscillators to >30 liters for Cs standards.
Costs range from <$5 for clock oscillators to >$40,000 for Cs standards.
** Including the effects of military environments and one year of aging.
4
Raw Quartz to Resonator
Z
•Dynamic
Cleaning
•Crystal Cutting
i.e. SC, AT, FC,
etc
•Rounding
X
•Contouring
•Polishing
•Plating Y
•Mounting
•Aging
•Sealing
Piezoelectric
•Test properties of quartz
•Into Oscillator

5
 Resonator Packaging
Two-point Mount Package Three- and Four-point Mount Package

Quartz Electrodes Quartz

blank blank
Bonding
Cover area Bonding
area
Mounting Cover
clips
Mounting
Seal Base clips

Pins Seal Pins

Base

Top view of cover

6
Crystal Technology
Mounting Examples

7
Crystallographic Axes

8
 SC-Cut 21.93o
Frequency-Temperature vs.
Angle-of-Cut

∆θ

9
 Frequency-Temperature vs.
Angle-of-Cut, AT-cut
Z
AT-cut BT-cut
25 49o
∆θ 35¼o

20 R r R
’
8 m m Y
R r R -1’
15 7’
0’
’
10 6 Z
Y-bar quartz
5’ 1’
(ppm)

5
4’ 2’
0
3’
3’
∆f
f

-5 2’
4’
-10 1’
5’
’
0
-15 θ = 35o 20’ + ∆θ, ϕ = 0
6’
-1 ’ for 5th overtone AT-cut
-20 θ = 35o 12.5’+ ∆θ, ϕ = 0 for
fundamental mode plano-plano AT-cut 7’

8’
-25 -45 -40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90

Temperature (oC) 10
Sealing

ƒSealing
•For precision oscillators
cleanliness and purity is
extremely important, and
sealing takes place in
atmospheric chambers down
to 1E-9 Tor, and requires about
18 hours of pumping to
achieve this atmospheric level
ƒTesting
11
Typical Crystal Oscillator

Tuning
Voltage

Crystal
resonator

Output
Frequency
Amplifier

12
 Into Oscillators

Secure
Missile
Communications
Systems

Aircraft
Commercial
Systems
Telecommunications Space
Applications

13
 Accuracy, Precision,
and Stability

Precise but Not accurate and Accurate but Accurate and

not accurate not precise not precise precise

f f f f

Time Time Time Time

Stable but Not stable and Accurate but Stable and

not accurate not accurate not stable accurate

14
 Oscillator Stability
ƒ Definitions:
– 1x10-10 = 1E-10 = 1e-10 = 1/10,000,000,000 =
.000 000 000 1 or 0.1x10-9 = 0.1ppb.
– Example: An Accuracy of 1x10-10 at 10MHz affects
the frequency as shown on a sensitive freq meter
10,000,000.001 Note that the milli-Hertz position is affected

ƒ What Affects Oscillator Stability?

– Aging
– Temperature
– Radiation
– Vibrations
15
 Typical Aging Behaviors
A(t) = 5 ln(0.5t+1)

Time
∆f/f

A(t) +B(t)

B(t) = -35 ln(0.006t+1)

16
 Aging Mechanisms
ƒ Mass transfer due to contamination
Since f ∝ 1/t, ∆f/f = -∆t/t; e.g., f5MHz ≈ 106 molecular layers,
therefore, 1 quartz-equivalent monolayer ⇒ ∆f/f ≈ 1 ppm

ƒ Stress relief in the resonator's: mounting and bonding structure,

electrodes, and in the quartz (?)

ƒ Other effects
{ Quartz outgassing
{ Diffusion effects
{ Chemical reaction effects
{ Pressure changes in resonator enclosure (leaks and outgassing)
{ Oscillator circuit aging (load reactance and drive level changes)
{ Electric field changes (doubly rotated crystals only)
{ Oven-control circuitry aging

17
 QUARTZ CRYSTAL THICKNESS
AS A FUNCTION OF CUT
f = AK/t f = Frequency in MHz
A = Overtone (1, 3, 5, 7)
t = AK/f K = A constant (Mils)
t = Thickness in Mils
KAT = 65.5 Mils
KFC = 68 Mils
KSC = 72.3 Mils
e.g.: t = 1 x 65.5 = 65.5 mils thick for an AT cut Fundamental 1MHz
crystal 1
• THICKNESS SHEAR QUARTZ RESONATORS ARE PREDOMINANTELY USED
FOR MOST HIGH PRECISION QUARTZ APPLICATIONS.

• THE MOST USEFUL QUARTZ CRYSTAL CUTS ARE THE AT, FC AND SC.

• THE THICKEST QUARTZ BLANK SHOULD BE USED AT THE HIGHEST

PRACTICAL OVERTONE FOR BEST AGING AND RETRACE PERFORMANCE. 18
19
 Typical Aging Plot

Aging Plot
Aging per day
18x10-10/21weekx7days 5.00E-09
4.50E-09
163

4.00E-09

≈1.2x10-11 3.50E-09
3.00E-09

DeltaF/F in 5ppe-10 / div.

2.50E-09
2.00E-09
1.50E-09
Aging after 10 years linear 1.00E-09
5.00E-10
approximation 0.00E+00
-5.00E-10
-1.00E-09
(1.2x10-11)(365days)(10year) -1.50E-09
-2.00E-09

≈4.38x10-8
-2.50E-09
-3.00E-09
-3.50E-09
-4.00E-09
-4.50E-09

τ1/2 ≈ (4.38x10-8)/2 ≈ 2x10-8 -5.00E-09

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

WEEKS

20
 Temperature Effects
ƒ Crystal must be maintained at constant temperature
over entire operating range
– Operating range may be from –40C to +85C
– The more precise is the oven the better is the
temperature coefficient

ƒ Precision ovens are constructed around the

resonator and insulation is added around the oven to
maintain a more uniform temperature gradient

ƒ Ovens come in different sizes and shapes

– Single oven
– Double oven
– Ovens in Dewar Flasks for super precision
21
 Frequency vs. Temperature
Characteristics
f (LTP)
Frequency

Inflection Point

f (UTP)

Lower Temperature Upper

Turnover Turnover
Point (LTP) Point (UTP)

22
 Example of Super Precise
Double Oven OCXO
(FE-205A Series)

2”W x 2”L x 1.5”H 3”W x 3’’L x 1.4”H

For Through Hole Package For Rubidium Package
23
 Example:
Effects of Aging and
Temperature on a
10 MHz Quartz Oscillator

24
 Example: Stability vs. Aging
ƒ Example: Aging Rate or Drift
– 10 MHz oscillator ages at ±5.1x10-9/day (oscillator
frequency may be expected to change by that amount
per day times the number of days involved…WORSE
CASE)
– The measured frequency output after 1 days of
operation could read:
(10,000,000)(±5.1x10-9)(1 days) = ±0.051 Hz of 10
MHz or between
10,000,000 +0.051 =10,000,000.051 Hz and
10,000,000 – 0.051 = 9,999,999.049 Hz

25
 Example: Temperature Effects

ƒ Temperature effects

– Assumptions:
ƒ 10 MHz oscillator that operates from -20o C to +70o C and
exhibits a frequency stability of 2x10-9 (temperature
coefficient).
ƒ Oscillator will be used in an environment where the
temperature varies only from -5o C to +50o C.

– The frequency error is calculated as follows:

Temp Coeff per oC = Temp Coeff /total temperature range
= 2x10-9 / 90 oC = 2.2x10-11/ oC
Error (-5oC to+50oC) = (2.2x10-11/oC)(55oC)= 1.2x10-9
Freq Error=(10,000,000)(1.2x10-9) =.012 Hz =10,000,000.012

26
 Total Error Due to
Aging and Temperature
ƒ Total Error: Two major components
– Linear Drift (fractional frequency drift rate per day or F’) =0.051
– Temperature (fractional frequency offset or ∆f/f) =0.012
– Total Frequency error 0.063 Hz
ƒ Or calculate a one day error as follows:
Drift (F’) 5.1x10-9
Temp(∆f/f) 1.2x10-9
Total Error at end of 24 hrs 6.3x10-9
Effect on Freq: (10,000,000)(6.3x10-9)=0.063 Hz=10,000,000.063
ƒ Translate into accumulated time error:
For Linear Drift Rate ∆t (in µsec) =(4.32x1010)(F’ per day)(Days)2
=(4.32x1010)(5.1x10-9)(1)2= 220 µsec
For Linear Temper ∆t (in µsec) =(8.64x1010)(∆f/f)(Days)
=(8.64x1010)(1.2x10-9)(1)= 103 µsec
Total accumulated time error in a day = 220 + 103 = 323 µsec
ƒ See Charts at end of presentation to easily determine accumulated time
error

27
 DSP-1 OCXO PROTOQUAL UNIT LOW LEVEL RADIATION TEST

2
START RAD: .002 rad/sec
-12
SLOPE = -1.8 X 10 /rad
1 -10
AVGERAGE = -3.15 X 10 / day
0
POST-RAD RECOVERY
∆ F/F (pp10^9)

-1
PRE-RAD AGING:
11
-2 -2pp10 / day

-3
END RAD: 1720 rads TOTAL
-4
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
DAYS

Effects of Radiation on
Aging
28
 OCXO Retrace
15
14 days
10
OVEN
5 OFF
OVEN ON (a)
-9

0
f X 10

15
∆f

14 days
10

OSCILLATOR
5
OFF
OSCILLATOR ON (b)
0

In (a), the oscillator was kept on continuously while the oven was
cycled off and on. In (b), the oven was kept on continuously while
the oscillator was cycled off and on. 29
 Frequency Jumps
Unexplainable Oscillator Phenomenon

Frequency jumps occur in oscillators--in some many times a

day in others less frequent.
Magnitude of jumps in precision oscillators are typically in the
range of 10-11 to 10-9 .
The frequency excursion can be positive or negative.
30
 Noise in Crystal Oscillators

ƒThe resonator is the primary noise source close

to the carrier; the oscillator sustaining circuitry is
the primary source far from the carrier.

ƒFrequency multiplication by N increases the

phase noise by N2 (i.e., by 20log N, in dB's).

ƒVibration-induced "noise" dominates all other

sources of noise in many applications
(acceleration effects discussed later).

31
 Types of Phase Noise
40 dB/decade (ff-4)
L(ff) Random walk of frequency

30 dB/decade (ff-3)
Flicker of frequency
20 dB/decade (ff-2)
White frequency; Random walk of phase
10 dB/decade (ff-1)
Flicker of phase
0 dB/decade (ff0)
White phase

ff
~BW of resonator
Offset frequency
(also, Fourier frequency,
sideband frequency,
or modulation frequency)

32
Example
of Super
Low Noise
100 MHz
Quartz
Oscillator

33
 Section 2

Atomic Frequency
Standards

34
 Atomic Frequency
Standard Basic Concepts
When an atomic system changes energy from an exited state to
a lower energy state, a photon is emitted. The photon frequency ν is
given by Planck’s law E2 − E1
ν =
h
where E2 and E1 are the energies of the upper and lower states,
respectively, and h is Planck’s constant. An atomic frequency
standard produces an output signal the frequency of which is
determined by this intrinsic frequency rather than by the properties
of a solid object and how it is fabricated (as it is in quartz oscillators).

The properties of isolated atoms at rest, and in free space,

would not change with space and time. Therefore, the frequency of
an ideal atomic standard would not change with time or with changes
in the environment. Unfortunately, in real atomic frequency
standards: 1) the atoms are moving at thermal velocities, 2) the
atoms are not isolated but experience collisions and electric and
magnetic fields, and 3) some of the components needed for
producing and observing the atomic transitions contribute to
instabilities. 35
 Generalized Atomic Resonator

Prepare
PrepareAtomic
Atomic Apply
Apply Detect
DetectAtomic
Atomic B
State
State Microwaves
Microwaves State
StateChange
Change

hν0
Tune
TuneMicrowave
MicrowaveFrequency
Frequency A
For
ForMaximum
MaximumState
StateChange
Change

36
Atomic Frequency Standard
Block Diagram

Multiplier
Multiplier Quartz
Quartz
Atomic
Atomic Crystal
Crystal
Resonator
Resonator Feedback
Feedback Oscillator
Oscillator

5 MHz
Output

37
Rubidium Cell Frequency Standard
Energy level diagrams of 85Rb and 87Rb
F=3 F=2
363 MHz 52P1/2 816 MHz
F=2
F=1

795 nm 795 nm

F=3 F=2

3.045 GHz
52S1/2 6.834,682,608 GHz
F=2

F=1

85Rb 87Rb

38
 Rubidium Cell Frequency Standard
Atomic resonator schematic diagram

Magnetic shield
“C-Field”
Absorption
cell
85Rb
87Rb Rb-87
+ buffer Light + buffer
lamp gas gas
Photo Detector
Filter cell output
Cell Cavity
Frequency
input
6.834,685 GHz
rf Power supplies C-field
lamp for lamp, filter power
exciter and absorption supply
cell thermostats

39
Rubidium Atomic Standards
Wireline and Wireless
Applications
Space Time Keeping

Airborne and Ground-Base

Radar Applications
40
 Example of Rubidium Standard
FE-5650 Series

3”

Size: 3x3x1.4 in.

Digitally Programmable
Frequency: 1 Hz to 20 MHz or other desirable frequency
Freq. Vs. Temp. From + 3x10-10 to +5x10-11
(from -55 to +850C)
41
Example of Rubidium Standard
FE-5680 Series

Side .98″
View

42
 Rubidium Capabilities
ƒ Frequency Typical 5 MHz, 10MHz, 20 MHz
ƒ Aging 10 Year No Adjustment Operation <1 x 10-9/ 10Years
ƒ Settability (1.5 x 10-12 Steps) Range: 2 x 10-7

ƒ Allan Variance 5 x 10-12/√τ

ƒ Input Voltage ≤4 x 10-12
Sensitivity
ƒ Frequency Vs 1 x 10-10 to 7 x 10-11 (-55°C - +85°C)
ƒ Temperature 1 x 10-10 (-55°C To +95°C) Temperature Compensated
with TEC

ƒ Input Voltage Standard Voltages (+15 V To +50v) (-15v To –70v)

ƒ Packaging Configurable
ƒ Package Size Various
43
 Examples of Cesium
Clocks
Spacecraft Cesium Clocks Units
flown on GPS I sponsored by
USNRL
Vibration Isolated Cesium Standard
for Low Noise Aircraft Applications

44
Passive Hydrogen Maser

45
Active Hydrogen Maser

46
 Summary: Precision
Frequency Standards
ƒ Quartz crystal resonator-based (f ~ 5 MHz, Q ~ 106)
ƒ Atomic resonator-based
Rubidium cell (f0 = 6.8 GHz, Q ~ 107)
Cesium beam (f0 = 9.2 GHz, Q ~ 108)
Hydrogen maser (f0 = 1.4 GHz, Q ~ 109)
Cesium fountain (f0 = 9.2 GHz, Q ~ 5 x 1011)

47
 Section 3

Applications

48
 Commercial
Applications
New Quartz
Technology
FE-205A
FE-405A
FE-505A
(Poor Man’s Rubidium)

49
 FE-205A Quartz Oscillator Series
“Poor Man’s Rubidium ???”
ƒReadily Available, Producible in Large Quantities
ƒNear Rubidium Accuracy at 1/3 the Cost
2”W x 2”L x 1.5”H
ƒTemperature Stability <1x10-10 From –400 C to +750 C

ƒLow Aging <3-5 x 10-11 / day

ƒAny frequency from 1 pps to 100 MHz

(10 MHz to 15 MHz standard frequencies)
3”W x 3’’L x 1.4”H
3”W x 2.8”L x 0.89H
ƒAnalog or Digital Frequency Control with better than
1 % Linearity
(both for legacy and new all-digital designs)

ƒConventional through hole package

3”W x 3.5”L x 0.98’’H
ƒRubidium packages/interchangeability
50
 FE-205A Series OCXO
Characteristics
ƒ SC-cut 5th overtone resonator with good aging
and excellent short-term stability.
ƒ Thermal control electronics with inner oven
stability of ±1 x 10-3 oC over a change in ambient
temperature of 115o C
ƒ Stability of internal reference clock electronic
circuit is better than 3x10-11 over ambient
temperature of –40oC to +75oC and with a change
in Supply Voltage of ±5%
ƒ High-resolution DDS ≈ 2x10-14
ƒ Microprocessor Controlled
ƒ Less than 1x10-12 with load variation of ±10%

51
 System Block Diagram

Double
VCXO Oven
OUTPUT Reference
5 MHz
DDS SC-cut 5th
Overtone

Digital
Microprocessor
VCO Thermal
INPUTS
Analog Control
A/D Electronics
(Patented Design)
52
 Aging: Statistical Data

Aging (Drift)

60% better than 3 x 10-11 /day

90% better than 5 x 10-11 /day

100% better than 1 x 10-10 /day

53
 Double Oven Precision
Crystal Oscillator
Temperature Performance

54
 Statistical Data
Frequency Stability vs. Ambient Temperature
(-40oC to +75oC)
Percent of Production

40

30
Units

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10

Delta Frequency in e -11 p-p

(Typical unit < 5 e-13/ oC)

55
 Comparison of Oscillators
Stabilities vs. Temperature
O scillator T ype F requency S tability
(In severe tem perature
environm ents e.g. –40 o C to
+75 o C , and high slew rates)
C rystal O scillator (X O ) 1x10 -4 to 1x10 -5
Tem perature C om pensated 1x10 -6
C rystal O scillators (TC X O )
M icrocom puter C om pensated 1x10 -7 to 2x10 -8
C rystal O scillators (M C X O )
O ven C ontrolled C rystal 1x10 -8 to 3x10 -10
O scillators (O C X O )
F EPoor
-205A
Man’sSRubidium
eries ??? 1x 10 -10
H igh-P recision D ou ble
O ven C rystal O scillator
(D O C X O )
R ubidium A to m ic F requency 3x10 -10 to 7x10 -11
S tandards (Rb)
[–10 o C to +60 o C]
C esium A to m ic S tandard 3x10 -11 to 3x10 -12
(C s) [0 o C to +50 o C]
56
 Retrace Data

ƒRetrace: After 24 hours of

shut off frequency stabilizes
within 30 minutes after
turn-on to 1 x 10-10 of the
previous frequency

Typical Frequency
Retrace of 15 MHz
Device

Typical Warm-Up
of 10 MHz Device
57
Phase Noise of 10 MHz
Oscillator

Wireless/Wireline
Requirements

58
 Comparison Chart
Characteristic Quartz Rubidium
Power (w) 1-2W 1 - 15 W

MTBF (Hrs) 500K / 1,000K 100K - 200K

Drift/Aging
1 Sec 1 - 2 x 10-12 1 - 2 x 10-11
1 Day 3 x 10-11 1 x 10-11 { 5 x 10-12 }
10 Years 2 - 5 x 10-8 <1 x 10-9
Temperature 5 x 10-11 3.3 x 10-10 { 7 x 10-11 }

(-5oC to +50oC)
Warm up
From Cold Storage 1 x 10-10 1 x 10-10
(off for a long period) in 48-96 Hrs in 1 Hr
59
 Comparison (Continued)
Characteristic Quartz Rubidium
Warm up
Short Power Interrupt
1 to 2 Hrs off 1 x 10-10 in 1 Hr 1 x 10-11 in 1 Hr
1 Day off 1 x 10-10 in 1 to 24 Hrs 1 x 10-11 in 24 Hr

Phase Noise Meets Specs Meets Specs

Spurious -80 dBc -70 dBc
Cost 1X 3X
Life No known wear out Rb consumption
mechanism in 10 to 15 years

60
 Synchronization for Wireless Base Stations
CDMA, UMTS, W-CDMA, TDMA
Plug in Assemblies
Precision OCXO
GPS Receiver

Rubidium Atomic
Frequency Standard

•GPS disciplined Rubidium/Quartz

Rubidium Frequency Atomic Standard module
•Customized packaging directly interchangeable with OCXO module
•Optimized for extreme temperature
swings
•Excellent aging and temperature
stability
•Hot swappable with glitch free
operation
61
Wireless

62
SPACE APPLICATIONS

63
 Quartz for
Space
applications

FE-4220A
OCXO

64
MASTER LOCAL OSCILLATOR
MODEL FE-2139A

65
PRECISION FREQUENCY
REFERENCE SOURCES
Triple Redundant Master Local Oscillator
(MLO) and Distribution Assembly

66
 FREQUENCY SOURCES /
GENERATORS
ACTS
Frequency Generator FE-5150A
5 MHz to 6.8 GHz; Fully Redundant; Includes DC / DC Converter

67
 Double Oven Crystal
Oscillator with Dewar Flask

68
MLO Assembly

Master Oscillator Assembly

DC to DC Converter
69
 MILSTAR TIMEKEEPING
With FEI Supplied Clocks
Milstar Today
FLT-1 FLT-2
FLT-4 Crystal Clock Rb Atomic Clock
Rb Atomic Clock (7 Feb. ‘94) (6 Nov. ‘95)
(2000)
SLAVE
CLOCK
MASTER
CLOCK

Timekeeping
UTC Data
SMCS
Satellite Mission Control Subsystem

United States MASC

Naval Observatory
Milstar Auxiliary Support Center

70
RUBIDIUM PRECISION FREQUENCY
REFERENCE SOURCES
MILSTAR
Rubidium Master Oscillator SN 003
Total of 19 systems delivered to MILSTAR
Excellent
performance
in space

Aging Rate:
≈ 7x10-14/day

71
 Rubidium in Space Clocks
MILSTAR
ƒ Rubidium Master Oscillator (RMO) on board
MILSTAR Space Craft since 1995
– FLT 2 4 Redundant Rb Clocks
– FLT 3 4 Redundant Rb Clocks
– FLT 4 4 Redundant Rb Clocks
ƒ Two Satellites soon to be launched
– FLT 5 3 Redundant Rb Clocks
– FLT 6 3 Redundant Rb Clocks

Because of the extensive reliability experienced in

FLT 2 to 4 the configuration in FLT 5 and FLT 6
were reduced to Three Redundant Rb Clocks
72
 Rubidium in Space Clocks
MILSTAR
Low Drift < 7 x 10-14 / day
10
Spec required only
1 x 10-11 / day Actual data
Fractional Frequency x 1011

5
Slope = +7.0 x 10-14 / day

-5

-10
12/11 2/5 4/2 5/28 7/23 9/17 11/12 1/7 3/4 4/29
Date 1996-1998 73
GPS APPLICATIONS
ƒ Commercial
ƒ Military i.e. SAASM

74
 Oscillator’s Impact on GPS
ƒ Satellite oscillator’s (clock’s) inaccuracy & noise are major
sources of navigational inaccuracy.
ƒ Receiver oscillator affects GPS performance, as follows:

Oscillator Parameter GPS Performance Parameter

Warmup time Time to first fix
Power Mission duration, logistics costs (batteries)
Size and weight Manpack size and weight
Short term stability ∆ range measurement accuracy, acceleration
(0.1 s to 100 s) performance, jamming resistance
Short term stability Time to subsequent fix
(~15 minute)
Phase noise Jamming margin, data demodulation, tracking
Acceleration sensitivity See short term stability and phase noise effects

75
 Building Blocks of a Time/Frequency System

Inputs Oscillators and Circuitry Outputs

L1 or
L1/L2
Displays
RS-232 Displays
GPS L1-C/A Controls
Controls
Com’l RCVR Redundancy
Diagnostics

OR
GPS Frequency
GPS-SAASM Precision Time and
1PPS Disc. Time
L1/L2-P(Y) OSCs Freq Gen
Mil RCVR Module Network
Outputs
OR

External Various
Inputs from Categories of
CESIUM Qz & Rb Osc.
Osc. Disc.
STDS & possibly
Algorithms
or other Cs Stds

76
 Examples of GPS Based Products

Kstar II and C-GPS and Cell-Site Time/Frequency Generation

CommSync R-GPS and Synchronization

AccuSync and AccuSync-R Low Profile, General Purpose Time and

GPStarplus Frequency Synchronization

CommSync II – Civil C/A- Code,

Military P(Y)-Code SAASM, and
Distribution Amps (DA) Commercial and Military
Ground and Satellite Link,
GSync – Civil C/A and High Functionality Time &
Military P(Y)-Code SAASM Frequency Sync Systems
Portable Clock

NanoSync
Sub-Systems and Modules for E911
E911 Engines and Special Purpose Applications

NTPSync
NTPSync XL LAN, WAN, MAN GPS-aided Timing
77
 Redundant SAASM CommSync II Modular Time &
Frequency System (3U)

CommSync II Plug-In
GTF Module Output
Modules

Imbedded Trimble
Force-22 SAASM
Receiver

OR
Commercial
C/A-Code
GPS RCVRs

Atomic Oscillators
OR
Qz Oscillators

78
Radar Applications

79
 Effect of Noise in
Doppler Radar System
A

Moving
Moving Decorrelated
Transmitter Object
Transmitter Object Clutter Noise

fD
Stationary
Stationary Doppler Signal
Object
Receiver Object
fD
f

ƒ Echo = Doppler-shifted echo from moving target + large "clutter" signal

ƒ (Echo signal) - (reference signal) --› Doppler shifted signal from target

ƒ Phase noise of the local oscillator modulates (decorrelates) the clutter

signal, generates higher frequency clutter components, and thereby
degrades the radar's ability to separate the target signal from the clutter
signal.
80
 Doppler Shifts

echile

ir
und or A
40

oving V

ircraft
ft
Radar Frequency (GHz)

ra
30

onic Airc

ach 2 A
icle, Gro
Slow M
25

m/h - M
- Subs
Man or

h - Veh
20

700km/h

2,400 k
4km/h -

100km/
15

X-Band RADAR
10

0
10 100 1K 10K 100K 1M

Doppler Shift for Target Moving Toward Fixed Radar (Hz)

Q Doppler radar require low-phase-noise oscillators.
For example to detect slow-moving targets the
noise close to the carrier must be low 81
 Section 4

Breakthrough in Vibration
Effects on Clocks Stabilities
and Side Bands

Vibration Insensitive
Oscillators???
82
 Single Side Band Phase
Noise Resulting From
Vibrations Will Significantly
Affect Oscillator
Performance

83
 Acceleration vs. Frequency
Change
Z’
∆f
f š


œ ž
š œ
… O
Y’
G
› ›
Crystal
plate

X’ ž
Supports
…

Frequency shift is a function of the magnitude and direction of the

acceleration, and is usually linear with magnitude up to at least 50
g’s.
84
 Acceleration Levels and Effects

Environment Acceleration ∆f/f

typical levels*, in g’s x10-11, for 1x10-9/g oscillator
Buildings**, quiesent 0.02 rms 2
Tractor-trailer (3-80 Hz) 0.2 peak 20
Armored personnel carrier 0.5 to 3 rms 50 to 300
Ship - calm seas 0.02 to 0.1 peak 2 to 10
Ship - rough seas 0.8 peak 80
Propeller aircraft 0.3 to 5 rms 30 to 500
Helicopter 0.1 to 7 rms 10 to 700
Jet aircraft 0.02 to 2 rms 2 to 200
Missile - boost phase 15 peak 1,500
Railroads 0.1 to 1 peak 10 to 100

* Levels at the oscillator depend on how and where the oscillator is mounted
Platform resonances can greatly amplify the acceleration levels.
** Building vibrations can have significant effects on noise measurements
85
 Crystal G-Sensitivity (Gamma)
Z

X
Γ is G sensitivity in Hz/G
Γ= (X2 + Y2 + Z2)1/2
Γ= (32+ 32+32)1/2 = 5.2 x 10-10

86
87
 Vibration-Induced Sidebands
0
NOTE: the “sidebands” are spectral
lines at ±fV from the carrier frequency -10 L(f)
(where fV = vibration frequency). The
lines are broadened because of the finite -20
bandwidth of the spectrum analyzer.
-30

These Unwanted Sidebands 10g amplitude @ 100 Hz

-40
are Significantly Attenuated Γ = 1.4 x 10-9 per g
with FEI’s Proprietary -50
Compensation Techniques
-60

-70

-80

-90

-100
f
-250

100
-200

-150

-100

150

200

250
-50

50
0

88
 Vibration-Induced Sidebands
After Frequency Multiplication
L(f) 0 Each frequency multiplication
-10
by 10 increases the sidebands
by 20 dB.
-20

-30

-40
10X
-50

-60

-70
1X
-80

-90

-100
f

250
50

200
0

100

150
-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

89
 Vibration-Induced Phase Excursion
The phase of a vibration modulated signal is
∆ f 
φ(t ) = 2πf0 t +  sin(2πfv t )
 fv 
When the oscillator is subjected to a sinusoidal vibration, the peak
phase excursion is

∆ φ peak =
(
∆ f Γ • A f0
=
)
fv fv
Example: if a 10 MHz, 1 x 10-9/g oscillator is subjected to a 10 Hz
sinusoidal vibration of amplitude 1g, the peak vibration-induced phase
excursion is 1 x 10-3 radian. If this oscillator is used as the reference
oscillator in a 10 GHz radar system, the peak phase excursion at
10GHz will be 1 radian. Such a large phase excursion can be
catastrophic to the performance of many systems, such as those
which employ phase locked loops (PLL) or phase shift keying (PSK).
90
 Sine Vibration-Induced Phase Noise

Sinusoidal vibration produces spectral lines at ±fv from the

carrier, where fv is the vibration frequency.
 Γ • Af0 
L' (fv ) = 20 log  
 2f v 
e.g., if Γ = 1 x 10-9/g and f0 = 10 MHz, then even if the
oscillator is completely noise free at rest, the phase “noise”
i.e., the spectral lines, due solely to a sine vibration level of
1g will be;

Vibr. freq., fv, in Hz L’(fv), in dBc

1 -46
10 -66
100 -86
1,000 -106
10,000 -126
91
 Random Vibration-Induced Phase Noise
Random vibration’s contribution to phase noise is given by:
 Γ • Af0 
L (f ) = 20 log  where lAl = [(2)(PSD )]
1
, 2

 2f 
e.g., if Γ = 1 x 10-9/g and f0 = 10 MHz, then even if the
oscillator is completely noise free at rest, the phase “noise”
i.e., the spectral lines, due solely to a vibration
PSD = 0.1 g2/Hz will be:

Offset freq., f, in Hz L’(f), in dBc/Hz

1 -53
10 -73
100 -93
1,000 -113
10,000 -133
92
 Typical Aircraft Random-Vibration-Induced Phase Noise

Phase noise under vibration is for Γ = 1 x 10-9 per g and f = 10 MHz

Typical Aircraft Random Vibration Envelope

10 Mhz Random Vibration Single Sideband Phase
Noise Utilizing 1E-9/g Csrystal 0.1

Vibration g^2/Hz
-70 0.05

-80
Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

-90 0
-100 1 10 100 1000 10000

-110 Frequency (Hz)

-120
-130
-140 Vib freq Vib dens
-150
-160 Hz g^2/Hz
-170 5 0
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 5 0.04
300 0.04
Frequency (Hz)
350 0.07
1000 0.07
L(f) No Vibration L(f) With Shown Vibration 2000 0

93
 Phase Noise Degradation
Due to Vibration
• Data shown is for a 10 MHz, Impacts on Radar Performance
2 x 10-9 per g oscillator • Lower probability of detection
• Radar spec. shown is for a coherent • Lower probability of identification
radar (e.g., SOTAS) • Shorter range
• False targets
-50

“Good’ oscillator on
vibrating platform (1g)
Required to
“see” 4km/hr
target -100 “Good’
53 dB
oscillator
at rest
dBc/Hz
Radar oscillator
specification
-150 70 Hz

100K 10K 1K 100 10 1 1 10 100 1K 10K 100K

OFFSET FROM CARRIER (Hz)
94
 Coherent Radar Probability of Detection
To “see” 4 km/h targets, low phase noise 70 Hz from
100 the carrier is required. Shown is the probability of
Probability of Detection (%)

detection of 4 km/h targets vs. the phase noise 70 Hz

from the carrier of a 10 MHz reference oscillator.
(After multiplication to 10 GHz the phase noise will be
80 at least 60 dB higher.) The phase noise due to
platform vibration, e.g., on an aircraft, reduces the
probability of detection of slow-moving targets to
zero.
60

40

20

Low Noise High Noise

-140 -135 -130 -125 -120 -115 -110
Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)
at 70 Hz from carrier, for 4 km/h targets

95
 Rugged Clocks

Q Some applications require Rubidium

Atomic Standards
Q Other applications require only Crystal
Oscillators
Q Every Rubidium atomic Standard contains
a crystal oscillator that determines its
single side band phase noise under
vibration

96
 Clocks are available as
Rubidium Standards and/or as
Crystal Oscillators
Rubidium
Atomic
Frequency
Standard 100 MHz
PLL VCXO 100
10 MHz MHz
(Low g-
sensitivity)

97
 Rugged Clocks
Q Rubidium Standard must survive environmental
conditions
Q Rubidium Standard must not loose lock under any
environmental conditions
Q OCXO must provide the phase noise performance
under vibration
Q A phase lock loop with appropriate time constants
must be cable of taking long term stability of Rubidium
and not deteriorate the short term stability and spectral
purity of OCXO
Q All components of this frequency and time system
must operate under all specified environmental
conditions
Q Must be producible and affordable
98
 G-Sensitivity of Quartz
Resonators
Q Quartz resonators exhibit an inherent g-
sensitivity—they are good accelerometers
Q Present crystal technology:
– 1E-9/g typical
– 3E-10/g low yield and expensive
– 2E-10/g state-of-the-art

99
 Breakthrough in G-Sensitivity

Q Develop of a SC-cut resonator with minimum

cross axis coupling
Q Typical g-sensitivity of 1E-10/g
Q Broadband compensation technique from DC to 2
KHz
Q Improvements of 30dB typical
Q Compensation is independent of:
– Temperature
– Nominal setting of oscillator frequency
– Aging of components in frequency feedback loop

100
 Objectives
Q Achieve:
– 2E-12/g
– Economies in manufacturability
– Small package ≈ 3 in3
Q Combination of low g-sensitivity technology with
vibration isolators to accomplish above
performance from DC to 2 KHz
Q The technology is also applicable to Rubidium
Standards in moving/vibrating platforms
(vibration induced errors in Rb standards is
solely due to crystals imbedded in the Rb design)

101
 Applications
Q FEI’s recent breakthrough in highly reproducible low-G
sensitivity oscillators that are virtually insensitive to
acceleration/vibration has resulted in a host of applications:
– Precision Navigation
– Radar for helicopters and other challenging platforms
– Commercial and Secure communications
– Space exploration
– Target acquisition
– Munitions and Missile guidance
– SATCOM terminals
– All other applications where the effects of acceleration
or vibration effect the output signal of the oscillator

102
103
 Uncompensated

Compensated

Vibration Profile: 4 g RMS total, Random; 0.08g2/Hz 10 to 200 Hz

Approximate Sensitivity per g

10 Hz 50 Hz 100 Hz
-9 -10
Uncompensated 1.1 x 10 7.9 x 10 8.9 x 10-10
Compensated 6.3 x 10-12 2.2 x 10-11 4.0 x 10-11
104
 Uncompensated

Compensated

Vibration Profile: 4 g RMS total, Random; 0.08g2/Hz 10 to 200 Hz

Approximate Sensitivity per g

10 Hz 50 Hz 100 Hz
Uncompensated 2.2 x 10-11 2.8 x 10-11 2.2 x 10-11
Compensated 2.8 x 10-12 2.5 x 10-12 5.0 x 10-12 105
 Uncompensated

Compensated

Vibration Profile: 4 g RMS total, Random; 0.08g2/Hz 10 to 200 Hz

Approximate Sensitivity per g

10 Hz 50 Hz 100 Hz
Uncompensated 7.0 x 10-11 8.9 x 10-11 7.0 x 10-11
Compensated 1.8 x 10-11 3.1 x 10-11 3.5 x 10-11
106
 Broadband Vibration
0.008g2/Hz 10 Hz to 1 KHz

Note: Fixture resonance observed at ≈ 900 Hz

107
 Typical Aircraft Random-Vibration-Induced Phase Noise
Phase noise under vibration is for Γ = 1 x 10-9 per g , Γ = 1 x 10-10 per g, Γ = 2 x
10-12 per g and f = 10 MHz.

Typical Aircraft Random Vibration Envelope

10 MHz Random Vibration Single Sideband 0.1

Phase

Vibration g^2/Hz
-70 0.05

-80
Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

-90 0

-100 1 10 100 1000 10000

-110 Frequency (Hz)

-120
-130
-140
-150
Vib freq Vib dens
-160 Hz g^2/Hz
-170 5 0
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 5 0.04
Frequency (Hz) 300 0.04
L(f) No Vibration 350 0.07
L(f) With Shown Vibration and Crystal Gamma of 1E-9/g
L(f) With Shown Vibration and Crystal Gamma of 1E-10/g 1000 0.07
L(f) With Shown Vibration and Crystal Gamma of 2E-12/g 2000 0
108
 Typical Helicopter Random-Vibration-Induced Phase Noise
Phase noise under vibration is for Γ = 1 x 10-9 per g , Γ = 5 x 10-11 per g and f = 10 MHz. To
meet the specification a Γ = 5 x 10-12 per g or better is required. Close to carrier noise is
reduced using FEI’s low-g sensitivity breakthrough, and above 200 Hz vibration isolation
is required(see next slide).
Typical Helicopter Random Vibration Envelope

5
10 Mhz Random Vibration Single Sideband Phase Noise
4.5
4

Vibration g^2/Hz
-80 3.5
3
2.5
-90 2
1.5
Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

1
-100 0.5
0
10 100 1000
-110
Frequency (Hz)

-120
Typical Helicopter Random Vibration Envelope
-130
0.5

-140 0.4

Vibration g^2/Hz
0.3
-150 0.2
10 100 1,000 10,000 0.1
Frequency (Hz)
0
10 100 1000
L(f) Spec Requirement Under Vibration for 10 MHz Frequency (Hz)
L(f) With Shown Vibration Crystal Gamma of 5E-11/g
L(f) With Shown Vibration Crystal Gamma of 1E-9/g
109
 Typical Helicopter Random-Vibration-Induced Phase Noise
Phase noise under vibration is for Γ = 5 x 10-11 per g and f = 10 MHz. Close to carrier noise
is reduced using FEI’s low-g sensitivity breakthrough, and above 200 Hz vibration
isolation are utilized. Vibration Isolators are chosen with resonance frequency of ≅ 70 Hz
with damping factor of 0.3 and ≅ -6dB mechanical damping factor per octave.

10 Mhz Random Vibration Single Sideband Phase Noise

Utilizing a Crystal with a Gamma of 5E-11/g
-90

10 Mhz Random Vibration Single Sideband Phase Noise Utilizing a -100

Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

Crystal with a Gamma of 5E-11/g and Vibration Isolators -110

-90 -120
Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

-100 -130

-110 -140

-150
-120
10 100 Frequency (Hz) 1,000 10,000

-130
L(f) Spec Requirement Under Vibration for 10 MHz
-140 L(f) With Shown Vibration Crystal Gamma of 5E-11/g

-150
10 100 1,000 10,000
Frequency (Hz)

L(f) Spec Requirement Under Vibration for 10 MHz

L(f) Under Vibration With Crystal Gamma of 5E-11/g and

Vibration Isolators
110
 Summary: Clocks for
Challenging Environments

Low G-Sensitivity Clocks

- Internal FEI proprietary compensation techniques to reduce
g-sensitivity

- Vibration isolation mounts may be required

111