SBIR-STTR Award

The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of a vibration suppression technology tailored for crystal oscillator applications called the integrated vibration isolator for Quartz (IVIQ). Vibration is an important factor for Quartz timing applications since vibration causes significant phase noise which reduces the bandwidth in communications systems, compromises slow speed detection in radar systems and can significantly reduce the oscillators frequency accuracy particularly in high frequency applications. Current state of the art vibration isolation systems are large and very expensive. In contrast, the IVIQ technology will consists of a micromachined vibration isolator where heaters and temperature sensors are integrated onto the vibration isolator for oven control. Commercial accelerometers will also be mounted into the system in a configuration which will allow for very precise compensation. We are targeting a total package size of 2 2 0.3 cm3 and at cost of around $200/unitmore than 100 times smaller and 10 times less expensive than current state of the art systems. Furthermore, integrated shock stops will be integrated into the fabrication process which limits the deflection of the platforms making them robust to shock.

Benefit:
The primary benefit of the IVIQ system will be for providing vibration insensitive Quartz oscillator clock references to the military. One of the most important applications is for aircraft communications and targeting applications where vibrations for the jet, helicopter or unmanned air vehicle can reduce performance or make the system completely ineffective. This could also be applied to communications and navigation systems in ground vehicles, missiles and space satellites as well as many industrial applications.

Keywords:
compensation, compensation, quartz, MEMS, Isolation, oscillators, Packaging, Vibration, micromachining

The goal of this work is to provide the Navy with a new, ultra-small vibration resistant quartz oscillator, which will be used as a master clock reference for fast data rate sensor arrays, radar, anti-jamming, and other electronic countermeasures used in high vibration environments. This is important because precision clocks needed for electronic warfare applications are extremely vibration sensitive and are compromised by the vibration inherent in ground vehicles, helicopters, and jets. This technology is called the Low Power Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator (LP-OCXO). This system consists of a microelectromechanical (MEMS) thermal isolation platform which allows for low power oven control of SC-Cut quartz crystals. SC-Cut crystals provide orders of magnitude better noise performance under vibration in addition to several orders of magnitude better frequency stability/accuracy. Their drawback is they require an oven for operation which draws around 2W of power. Because of excellent thermal isolation, the LC-OCXO allows the crystal to be oven controlled with only 50mW input powerdramatically shrinking their size, weight and power (SWAP)allowing their use not only for high vibration environments, but also for higher performance in wide range of new applications.

Benefit:
All electronic systems need clock references for synchronization between systems and sub-systems. In particular, communications systems and military targeting systems need very high performances. The clocks for these high performance applications are very vibration sensitive and their functionality can be completely compromised by vibrations seen in jets, helicopters and ground vehicles. In particular, communications system on aircrafts experience huge reductions in the system bandwidth do to the vibration sensitivities of the clock oscillator and the sensitivity to slow moving aircrafts can be completely compromised for radar systems. Although this solicitation specifically targets military aircraft applicationsthis technology could also be applied for many other civilian aircraft communications systems as well as industrial applications. One commercial application of interest is for mobile internet in freight trucks, helicopters and jets. Another important application is for UV and IR sensor arrays which need to transmit very high data rates.

Keywords:
oscillator, vibration isolation, quartz, MEMS, TCXO, OCXO, clock