Low Cost Global Positioning System (GPS) Oscillator

Global Positioning System (GPS) based navigation systems have become widespread for both military and commercial applications with new uses emerging constantly. GPS navigation systems have been put to use for weapon guidance, air and maritime navigation,search and rescue operations, and tracking to name a few. The development crystal oscillators that offer faster warm-up times, utilize lower power, are capable of operating over extended temperature ranges, are lower profile and available at lower cost, isnecessary for the continued advancement of GPS based applications.A directly heated crystal oscillator (DHXO) using a SC cut quartz crystal is considered to meet the design goals of the SBIR topic. A heating element plated directly on to the quartz blank in conjunction with an integrated oven control circuit,substantially reduces both the warm-up time and power consumption. The DHXO has conceptually been shown in Phase I to meet several of the most stringent design goals and criteria, representing a major advance in technology.Phase II of the project will address the need for the development of a domestic source for directly heated quartz crystals that will be utilized to develop working directly heated crystal oscillator prototypes. Phase II will also develop the manufacturingtechniques necessary for large-scale, low cost production of directly heated quartz crystals as well as the oscillators. An oscillator meeting the goals outlined in this SBIR topic is a highly desirable and marketable product. In consideringcommercialization, there seems to be no meaningful distinctions between military and commercial/industrial applications. While military applications tend to require more ruggedized assemblies, with proper mechanical design, there does not need to bephysical differences between the applications. A single product approach will provide cost advantage to both military and commercial users by increasing the available production volumes.Directly heated crystal oscillators (DHXO), offer extremely fast warm-up times and consume much less power, while having reasonable short-term stability, thermal performance and enhanced reliability. For many applications where power is limited, such asbattery operated equipment, the performance achieved using this approach is an order of magnitude better than what is currently available in the market.In addition to the commercial applications for these products, a favorable response from military original equipment manufacturers of missile defense guidance systems, aircraft monitoring, encryption devices, as well as portable communications andsurveillance systems has been received. Many programs such as JSOW, JDAM and GRAM-S SAAAM require oscillator solutions similar to the proposed product. The principal reason being the ability of the new DHXO technology to warm-up in the short time periodnow demanded by such applications.