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“We envisage an opto-electronic system within a 19in. rack that provides an on-site frequency calibration service,” said lead researcher Geoffrey Barwood. “We hope the system will be a turn-key standard for companies to use. If we do want to move to a Digital Britain, this type of equipment becomes an essential part of the infrastructure.”
Frequency standards that are accurate enough for industrial applications have already been developed at NPL, but these instruments are generally too complex to be deployed in the field.
“The problem is that the higher accuracy frequency standards are usually bulky and need to be operated by trained personnel,” said NPL. “They are also not designed for extended operation in demanding industrial environments where there are often high levels of temperature fluctuations and vibration.”
However, transmitter frequencies – for example those sending digital TV down optical fibres – are going to need testing at a manufacturer’s premises, and therefore the next generation of frequency standards needs to be able to operate in industrial environments.
“The project is not only vital for the telecommunications and broadcast industries, but also for calibrating frequencies in aerospace, defence, instrument manufacture, gas sensing, and navigation,” said Barwood.
The collaboration includes organisations from Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, France, Finland and Germany.
“The success of the project proposal was, in part, due to the large number of letters of support received from various European companies, government agencies and standards committees emphasising the need for this equipment,” said NPL.
