SBIR-STTR Award

It is proposed to reduce vibration-induced phase noise in crystal oscillators by a compact arrangement of active mountings. Such mountings are envisaged as piezoelectric bender elements arranged so that vibrations of a braod bandwidth and moderate amplitude are absorbed in 1 to 3 axes. While the most conservative arrangement would require an electronic control and amplifier (presumably monolithic), the possibility exists, due to the charge behavior of piezoelectrics, of operating without external electronics. The general approach taken in this proposal does not increase the complexity of frequency control by the crystal, nor does it require compromise in the oscillator crystal cut. That is, it avoids possible technical problems in crystal design.

Proposed project to develop the previously demonstrated feasibility of using compact arrangements of active piezoelectric isolation devices as mountings for crystals and crystal oscillators. Project will refine drive methods to improve performance, model performance for design improvement, attempt to optimize all design parameters to best meet criteria, and design and build a working system for evaluation, suitable for installation in frequency systems. To accomplish this, the transient and frequency behavior of the device will be more fully modeled, the requirements for more efficient and linear drive structured, and various design enhancements made beyond the prototype tested in phase i.