US 11,796,967 B2
Molecular atomic clock with wave propagating rotational spectroscopy cell
Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Allen, TX (US); Argyrios Dellis, Dallas, TX (US); and Adam Joseph Fruehling, Dallas, TX (US)
Assigned to TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed by TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/1,356.
Application 17/001,356 is a continuation of application No. 16/234,492, filed on Dec. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,754,302.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/612,074, filed on Dec. 29, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0387115 A1, Dec. 10, 2020
Int. Cl. H03L 7/26 (2006.01); H03B 17/00 (2006.01); G04F 5/14 (2006.01); H01P 5/16 (2006.01); H01P 5/18 (2006.01)
CPC G04F 5/14 (2013.01) [H03B 17/00 (2013.01); H03L 7/26 (2013.01); H01P 5/16 (2013.01); H01P 5/185 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A clock apparatus, comprising:
a signal waveguide including: a gas cell having a sealed interior; and a dipolar gas inside the sealed interior;
a first apparatus configured to provide a first electromagnetic wave through the sealed interior along a first direction;
a second apparatus configured to provide a second electromagnetic wave through the sealed interior along a second direction, in which the second direction is opposite the first direction; and
transceiver apparatus coupled to the signal waveguide and to the first and second apparatus, the transceiver apparatus configured to:
control the first and second apparatus to concurrently sweep the first and second electromagnetic waves across a range of frequencies;
detect amounts of energy in the second electromagnetic wave passing through the dipolar gas across the range of frequencies;
from among the detected amounts of energy, determine a peak energy and a frequency at which the peak energy occurs; and
control the first and second apparatus to maintain the first and second electromagnetic waves at the determined frequency.