JPH0120557B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an atomic oscillator. Atomic oscillators, which control the frequency of crystal oscillators based on the resonance frequencies of atoms and molecules, are used as high-precision frequency generation sources because of their excellent long-term frequency stability.

The present invention relates to a lighting mechanism for a light source lamp for optical pumping of an atomic oscillator using optical pumping light.
A high frequency discharge is generated using a 100 MHz exciter.
This lighting method includes a method of forcibly applying a high voltage pulse of several thousand volts to the lamp cell to start the discharge, or a method of exciting the lamp cell with sufficient power to start the discharge. However, as the excitation power of the lamp increases,
Generally, the long-term frequency stability and temperature characteristics of the atomic oscillator deteriorate, and the life of the lamp is shortened, so it is desirable that the excitation power be as small as possible. Therefore, the former method of applying high voltage pulses only when lighting is
Although this method has the disadvantage of requiring a start pulse generation circuit, it is advantageous in terms of extending the life of the lamp and increasing its reliability because the lamp can be excited with a relatively weak excitation power. Once the lamp is lit, the start pulse is unnecessary unless the lamp goes out. In a normal atomic oscillator, the start pulse generation circuit is controlled to stop operating once atomic resonance is obtained and the atomic oscillator enters normal operation. It is desirable that a system be constructed.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional lamp lighting system. In this figure, 1 is a start pulse generation circuit, 2 is a lamp, 3 is a filter, 4 is a cavity, 5 is a gas cell, 6 is an atomic resonator, 7, 8, and 9 are temperature controllers that control the temperature of the thermostatic chamber. 10 is a solar cell, 11
is a capacitor, and 12 is a resonance signal. In this configuration, the lamp 2 is turned on by the start pulse generating circuit 1, and the resonance signal 12 is output.
According to such a conventional circuit configuration, if the resonance signal decreases for some reason during operation and the lock is lost, it takes time to determine whether the lamp went out or something abnormal has occurred in the frequency control system. vinegar.

The present invention provides a method for controlling the operation of the start pulse generation circuit in order to eliminate these inconveniences and separate the above two factors so that a quick determination can be made. Therefore, in the configuration of the present invention, in an atomic oscillator equipped with a start pulse generation circuit for lighting an optical pumping lamp and a solar cell for detecting lighting of the lamp, A detector detects the presence or absence of an output voltage, and the start pulse generating circuit is activated or deactivated based on the output signal of the detector. When there is no output from the solar cell, a start pulse is given to the lamp and the solar cell is activated. The present invention is characterized in that when there is an output from the battery, lighting of the lamp is automatically controlled by stopping the operation of generating a start pulse to the lamp.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 1 to 12 are parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 1, and are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. 13 is a detector newly provided according to the present invention, and solar cell 10
This is a detector that detects the output of

In the present invention, the output voltage of the solar cell 10 that detects the resonance signal is detected by the detector 13 and the start pulse generator 1 is controlled. When the lamp 2 is on, some voltage is also output to the solar cell 10. At this time, the start pulse generator 1 is controlled to be inactive. If such a system is incorporated into the conventional start pulse generation circuit 1, the operation of the start pulse generator 1 can be automatically controlled.

In this embodiment, one of the outputs of the solar cells is connected to the frequency control system by AC coupling, and the other is connected to the detector by DC coupling, but the same function can be achieved even if two solar cells are used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a conventional embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a start pulse generation circuit, 2 is a lamp, 3 is a filter, 4 is a cavity, 5 is a gas cell, 6 is an atomic resonator, 7, 8, 9
10 is a temperature controller, 10 is a solar cell, 11 is a capacitor, 12 is a resonance signal, and 13 is a detector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An atomic oscillator equipped with a start pulse generation circuit for lighting an optical pumping lamp and a solar cell for detecting lighting of the lamp, which is connected to the solar cell and has an output voltage of the solar cell. a detector that detects the presence or absence of the solar cell; and an output signal from the detector to activate or deactivate the start pulse generating circuit, and when there is no output from the solar cell, a start pulse is given to the lamp to activate the solar cell. An atomic oscillator characterized in that when there is an output, lighting of the lamp is automatically controlled by stopping the operation of generating a start pulse to the lamp.