Device for producing a signal having a substantially temperature-independent frequency

• US 6,724,266 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques dEbauches (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques dEbauches (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Heck, Pascal, Bühler, Roger, Farine, Pierre-André, Piazza, Silvio Dalla
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/169,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 331/46, 331/176, 331/158, 331/41
• US Class Current: 331/46
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 3/027 by combining pulse-trains of different frequencies, e.g. obtained from two independent oscillators or from a common oscillator by means of different frequency dividing ratios sychronisation of electric time pieces G04G7/00, G04C11/00

Abstract

The device (1) includes a mixer (4) which generates a signal (S4) having a frequency (F4) equal to the difference between two frequencies (F2, F3), which are those of two signals (S2, S3) each generated by a generator (2, 3) and which vary parabolically as a function of the temperature (T) with quadratic coefficients (β₁,β₂) that are different to each other.

In order for the frequency (F4) of the signal (S4) generated by the mixer (4) to be at least substantially independent of the temperature (T), the generators (2, 3) are arranged such that the ratio of the quadratic coefficients (β₁,β₂) is equal to the inverse of the ratio of values (F2_r, F3_r) that the corresponding frequencies (F2, F3) have at a determined temperature (T_r).

Claims

1. A device for generating a first signal having a first frequency, including:

first generator means for generating a second signal having a second frequency which varies at least substantially parabolically as a function of the temperature with a first quadratic coefficient, which has a first maximum value at a first inversion temperature, and which has a first determined value at a reference temperature;

second generator means for generating a third signal having a third frequency which also varies at least substantially parabolically as a function of the temperature with a second quadratic coefficient, different from said first quadratic coefficient, which has a second maximum value at a second inversion temperature, at least substantially equal to said first inversion temperature; and

which has a second determined value at said reference temperature; and

mixer means for generating a fourth signal having a fourth frequency equal to the difference between said third and said second frequency;

said first and said second generator means being arranged so that the ratio between said first and said second quadratic coefficient is at least substantially equal to the ratio between said second and said first determined value, and so that said fourth frequency is equal to the product of said first frequency by an integer number equal to or greater than 1,

wherein the ratio between said second and said first determined value is substantially equal to an integer number.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the latter further includes a frequency divider circuit connected to the output of said mixer circuit and allowing said first signal to be derived from said fourth signal.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first generator means include a first quartz resonator arranged to vibrate in a flexure mode, and wherein said second generator means include a second quartz resonator arranged to vibrate in a torsional mode.