PRECISION OSCILLATORS FOR MILITARY ELECTRONIC TIMERS,

A need has developed for high-accuracy military electronic timers that require miniature precision audio-frequency oscillators. Usually, operation is required over the temperature range of -55C to 71C along with shock and spin accelerations up to 20,000 g. The types of oscillators presently in use and their capabilities and limitations are discussed. Prototype oscillators of the LC, RC, and saturable-inductance types have achieved better than 0.1 percent stability in laboratory tests over the temperature range required. Ruggedness requirements and long-term stability are seen as the major problems. There is evidence to indicate these difficulties may be overcome with good reliability. Author