IP Library Granted Patent US 9,312,871
Granted Patent B2
US 9,312,871 · App. 14/576,795 · Granted Apr 12, 2016

Gas cell, quantum interference device, atomic oscillator, electronic device, and moving object

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,312,871
App. No.
14/576,795
Granted
Apr 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas cell includes an internal space in which metal atoms and a buffer gas are sealed. The buffer gas includes a gas mixture including nitrogen gas and argon gas. The mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is equal to or greater than 15% and equal to or less than 40%.

Claims (59)

1. A gas cell comprising:

a body having a columnar through-hole, a recess and a groove, the columnar through-hole penetrating through the body from a first end to a second end of the body in a first direction, the recess being open to the first end of the body, and the groove interconnecting the columnar through-hole and the recess;

a pair of windows bonded to the first and second ends of the body;

an internal space being configured by the columnar through-hole, the recess, the groove and the pair of windows;

metal atoms which are sealed in the internal space; and

a buffer gas which is sealed in the internal space,

wherein the buffer gas is a gas mixture including nitrogen gas and argon gas, and

a mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 15% and equal to or less than 40%.

2. The gas cell according to claim 1 ,

wherein the mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 20% and equal to or less than 37%.

3. The gas cell according to claim 1 ,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

4. The gas cell according to claim 1 , wherein

a distance between the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

5. The gas cell according to claim 4 ,

wherein a width between the first and second ends of the body parallel to the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

6. A quantum interference device comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1 .

7. An atomic oscillator comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1 .

8. An electronic device comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1 .

9. A moving object comprising:

the gas cell according to claim 1 .

10. A gas cell comprising:

a body having a columnar through-hole, a recess and a groove, the columnar through-hole penetrating through the body from a first end to a second end of the body in a first direction, the recess being open to the first end of the body, and the groove interconnecting the columnar through-hole and the recess;

a pair of windows bonded to the first and second ends of the body;

an internal space being configured by the columnar through-hole, the recess, the groove and the pair of windows;

metal atoms which are sealed in the internal space; and

a buffer gas which is sealed in the internal space, wherein

a distance between the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm, and

a width between the first and second ends of the body parallel to the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

11. The gas cell according to claim 10 ,

wherein the mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 20% and equal to or less than 37%.

12. The gas cell according to claim 11 ,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

13. The gas cell according to claim 10 ,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

14. A gas cell comprising:

a body having a columnar through-hole, a recess and a groove, the columnar through-hole penetrating through the body from a first end to a second end of the body in a first direction, the recess being open to the first end of the body, and the groove interconnecting the columnar through-hole and the recess;

a pair of windows bonded to the first and second ends of the body;

an internal space being configured by the columnar through-hole, the recess, the groove and the pair of windows;

metal atoms which are sealed in the internal space; and

a buffer gas which is sealed in the internal space,

wherein the buffer gas is a gas mixture including nitrogen gas and argon gas,

a mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 15% and equal to or less than 40%,

a distance between the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm, and

a width between the first and second ends of the body parallel to the pair of windows is equal to or less than 10 mm.

15. The gas cell according to claim 14 ,

wherein the mole fraction of the argon gas in the gas mixture is in a range equal to or greater than 20% and equal to or less than 37%.

16. The gas cell according to claim 15 ,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

17. The gas cell according to claim 14 ,

wherein the metal atoms are cesium atoms.

18. The gas cell according to claim 14 , wherein a first space is formed by the columnar through-hole, a second space is formed by the recess, and a third space is formed by the groove, and the first, second and third spaces configure the internal space;

the first, second and third spaces communicate with each other; and

the first and second spaces communicate with each other via the third space.

19. The gas cell according to claim 14 ,

wherein a material which forms the pair of windows transmits excitation light which excites the metal atoms in the gas cell.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 061301/0770 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2015
From: YOSHIDA, HIROYUKI; TAMURA, TOMOHIRO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034742/0064 →