We have developed a high-performance, low-volume, low-weight, and low-power sensor based on a self-sustaining oscillator. The techniques described here may be used for sensing various fields; we demonstrate magnetic sensing. The oscillator is based on a dielectric resonator that contains paramagnetic defects and is connected to a sustaining amplifier in a feedback loop. The resonance frequency of the dielectric resonator shifts in response to changes in the magnetic field, resulting in a shift in the frequency of the self-sustaining oscillator. The value of the magnetic field is thereby encoded in the shift or modulation output of the self-sustaining oscillator. The sensor as demonstrated uses no optics, no input microwaves, and, not including digitization electronics, consumes less than 300 mW of power and exhibits a sensitivity at or below tens of pT/√{square root over (Hz)}. In some implementations, the sensor is less than 1 mL in volume.

An oscillator includes a resonator and a first loop circuit. The first loop circuit includes an amplifier and a first coupler. That first loop circuit is electrically coupled to the resonator. The oscillator is configured to produce negative feedback for the amplifier in a cavity mode relative to short circuit terminations or open circuit terminations of a cavity modelling the oscillator at frequencies offset from a carrier frequency. The oscillator has a loss of less than 4.00 dB for a bidirectional trip through the cavity at the frequencies offset from the carrier frequency.

Systems and methods are provided for detection and compensation of dielectric resonator oscillator frequency drift. DRO frequency drift detection and compensation may be applied in a system, such as an outdoor unit, during handling of received signals. The DRO frequency drift detection and compensation may include, for each input signal, obtaining DRO frequency drift related information, related to the input signal; determining, based on the obtained DRO frequency drift related information, one or more adjustments applicable to processing of the input signal and/or the generation of the output signal using the at least portion of the input signal; and applying the one or more adjustments. The DRO frequency drift detection and compensation may be applied continually, occasionally, and/or periodically.

Systems and methods are provided for detection and compensation of frequency drifts. Frequency related information may be determined for each of one or more channels in an input signal, and a frequency drift may be determined based on the determined frequency related information of the one or more channels. Frequency related adjustments may be determined based on the frequency drift, and the frequency related adjustments may be applied to different circuits used during one or more of: receiving of the input signal, processing of the input signal, processing of an intermediate signal generated based on the processing of the input signal, and generating of an output signal corresponding to the input signal. Applying the frequency related adjustments may be configured to meet one or more criteria.

An oscillator and method for maintaining a phase lock is provided. The oscillator may include an oscillator input port for receiving a reference signal, an oscillator output port for outputting an oscillator output, an unlocked oscillator oscillating in an unlocked state and outputting at a resonance frequency configured to drift in response to changes in an operating environment, and a phase locked loop (PLL) including a mixer having an output port configured to output the unlocked oscillator output mixed with a local oscillator output, the mixer output port in communication with a phase frequency detector and the oscillator output port, and the phase frequency detector generating a control signal based on a detected phase difference between the reference signal and the mixer output wherein the control signal adjusts the local oscillator output to compensate for the resonance frequency drift of the unlocked oscillator when mixed with the unlocked oscillator output.

We have developed a high-performance, low-volume, low-weight, and low-power sensor based on a self-sustaining oscillator. The techniques described here may be used for sensing various fields; we demonstrate magnetic sensing. The oscillator is based on a dielectric resonator that contains paramagnetic defects and is connected to a sustaining amplifier in a feedback loop. The resonance frequency of the dielectric resonator shifts in response to changes in the magnetic field, resulting in a shift in the frequency of the self-sustaining oscillator. The value of the magnetic field is thereby encoded in the shift or modulation output of the self-sustaining oscillator. The sensor as demonstrated uses no optics, no input microwaves, and, not including digitization electronics, consumes less than 300 mW of power and exhibits a sensitivity at or below tens of pT/?{square root over (Hz)}. In some implementations, the sensor is less than 1 mL in volume.

Systems and methods are provided for detection and compensation of frequency drifts. Frequency related information may be determined for each of one or more channels in an input signal, and a frequency drift may be determined based on the determined frequency related information of the one or more channels. Frequency related adjustments may be determined based on the frequency drift, and the frequency related adjustments may be applied to different circuits used during one or more of: receiving of the input signal, processing of the input signal, processing of an intermediate signal generated based on the processing of the input signal, and generating of an output signal corresponding to the input signal. Applying the frequency related adjustments may be configured to meet one or more criteria.

Systems and methods are provided for detection and compensation of dielectric resonator oscillator frequency drift. DRO frequency drift detection and compensation may comprise, for a received input signal, detecting one or more channels in the input signal, determine frequency offset for each of the detected channels; determining determine dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) frequency drift based on combining frequency offsets of the detected channels, and determining, based on the DRO frequency drift, one or more adjustments for compensating for the DRO frequency drift. The DRO frequency drift may be determined based on analysis of an intermediate signal generated during processing of the input signal.

Systems and methods are provided for detection and compensation of dielectric resonator oscillator frequency drift. DRO frequency drift detection and compensation may comprise, for a received input signal, detecting one or more channels in the input signal, determine frequency offset for each of the detected channels; determining determine dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) frequency drift based on combining frequency offsets of the detected channels, and determining, based on the DRO frequency drift, one or more adjustments for compensating for the DRO frequency drift. The DRO frequency drift may be determined based on analysis of an intermediate signal generated during processing of the input signal.