Patent ID: 11507026

Abstract:
A miniature atomic clock with pulse mode operation. The clock includes: a local oscillator; a dual-frequency laser source; a pulsing element to pulse the output signal from the source according to a Ramsey-type interrogation sequence having pulses with duration T1 separated by intervals with duration T2; an alkaline vapour microcell; a photodiode; a feedback control loop for controlling the microwave frequency of the local oscillator; and a feedback control loop for controlling the optical frequency of the source by using a pulse control block receiving the output signal from the photodiode and the interrogation sequence, and providing a correction signal to the source. During the period T1, the block extracts an error signal from the output signal received from the photodiode and generates the correction signal from the error signal. During the period T2, the block resets the error signal to zero and generates the correction signal by extrapolation.