MEMS Huygens clock improves timekeeping precision and stability

MEMS Huygens clock improves timekeeping precision and stability

2024-06-12 18:47:59

In a significant development for the miniaturization of electronic devices, a study published in Engineering has reported the creation of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) clock that offers improved precision and stability. The paper is titled "MEMS Huygens Clock Based on Synchronized Micromechanical Resonators."

Breakthrough MEMS Huygens clock improves timekeeping precision and stability
(a) Schematic of original Huygens's clock. (b) Structure of MEMS Huygens clock system. (c) Operating mode of MEMS resonator. (d) Image of microfabricated MEMS resonator. PLL: phase locked loop; TIA: trans-impedance amplifier; Va: DC driving voltage of the active oscillator; Vb: DC driving voltage of the passive oscillator; Ref: reference. Credit: Xueyong Wei et al.

In a significant development for the miniaturization of electronic devices, a study published in Engineering has reported the creation of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) clock that offers improved precision and stability. The paper is titled "MEMS Huygens Clock Based on Synchronized Micromechanical Resonators."

The clock, which utilizes the synchronization principle discovered by Christiaan Huygens, consists of two synchronized MEMS oscillators and a frequency compensation system.

The details how the MEMS Huygens clock enhances short-time stability, with the Allan deviation—a measure of the clock's accuracy over time—improving by a factor of 3.73 from 19.3 ppb to 5.17 ppb at 1 second. The clock's long-term stability is also significantly boosted, with the Allan deviation improving by 1.6343 × 105 times to 30.9 ppt at 6,000 seconds.

To achieve these results, the researchers developed a frequency compensation system that counteracts the MEMS oscillator's temperature-frequency characteristics, thereby maintaining the clock's accuracy by controlling the resonator current. This led to a highly efficient method of compensating for frequency shifts in both oscillators simultaneously, consuming just 2.85 mW∙°C−1.

The study's comprehensive solution scheme paves the way for high-precision MEMS oscillators and expands the application scope of synchronization in MEMS technology. With the continuous shrinking of electronic components, this breakthrough offers promising prospects for industries relying on precise timekeeping, such as telecommunications, navigation, and .

As the demand for more accurate and reliable timing sources grows, the MEMS Huygens clock presented in this study stands to make a substantial impact on the future of microelectromechanical systems and their integration into everyday technologies.

More information: Xueyong Wei et al, MEMS Huygens Clock Based on Synchronized Micromechanical Resonators, Engineering (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2023.12.013

Provided by Engineering

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