Subminiature rubidium frequency standard: manufacturability and performance results from production units

The FE-5650 subminiature rubidium frequency standard is a 216 cc (13 cubic inch) device capable of producing any output frequency between 1 Hz and 15 MHz, with a setting resolution of 1/spl times/10/sup -14/. This device was designed to provide a flexible, low cost means of achieving atomic frequency stability. Typical applications for this type of frequency standard are presented, with a discussion of appropriate cost performance trade offs to be considered. Design for manufacturability considerations which ensure the production of reliable frequency standards at the lowest possible cost are discussed. Performance results are presented, with a particular emphasis on the statistical distribution of key performance measures based on production samples. The data and analysis are obtained from measurements made at FEI, as well as at NIST, in Boulder, CO, and The Aerospace Corporation.