Dynamic temperature model and dynamic temperature compensation of crystal oscillators

In temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (TCXO), the compensating action is commonly estimated as a function of one variable-environmental temperature, At the same time, experimental data show that TCXO frequency stability is also dependent on the dynamics of the temperature process. The greater the temperature variation, the more pronounced Is the loss of temperature compensation. In this paper, the origins of this phenomenon are analyzed, and a method for reducing its effects is presented. A new approach is suggested according to which the compensating action is formed as a function of two variables: the temperature and the rate of its variation. A theoretical basis for this method is given. A functional model of the devices performing the dynamic temperature compensation is suggested. Experimental investigations of a TCXO with a microprocessor-based dynamic temperature compensation system confirmed the possibility of TCXO frequency stability improvement in nonstationary thermal conditions. In a system using an AT cut resonator and a separate Y-cut thermosensor, the application of dynamic temperature compensation resulted in an order of magnitude improvement as compared to conventional digital temperature compensation procedures. Even with dual-mode SC-cut resonators, the application of dynamic temperature compensation is shown to be useful.<>