High Precision eLORAN clock

高精度(约100毫微秒)电子钟被广泛用于在许多部门(如国防/安全、电信、金融和公用事业)同步分布式数据/通信网络。这些时钟是必不可少的网络组件，代表着一个巨大的全球市场，估计每年约为2.3亿美元。这些时钟中的大多数利用全球导航卫星系统(GNSS)发送的信号。在政府一级，人们对这些信号易受设备故障或“攻击”以及由此产生的干扰产生相当大的关注，因为目前正在制定替代条款(例如伽利略)。值得注意的是，人们对使用陆基技术‘备份’高精度授时设备重新产生了兴趣和投资，主要的一个是eLoran系统(增强型Loran)，它是成熟的Loran系统的升级。巴斯大学在STFC资助的闪电研究资助下，展示了基于eLoran信号建造高精度时钟的可能性，其性能可与基于全球导航卫星系统的时钟(Füllekrug，MEAS)相媲美。SCI。技术，21,015901,2010年，和Füllekrug等人，地球物理。研究报告，36(L06104)，2009)。据信，这项技术具有商业潜力，可以集成到目前的精密电子钟产品中，在GNSS信号较弱或不存在时充当“后备”或主要来源(见所附的摩托罗拉和国家物理实验室的支持函)。拟议的STFC后续基金项目将非常详细地探索市场(规模、竞争)和进入市场的途径。在技术方面，将开发一个“概念验证”单位(重点放在一个目标“生产成本”内的性能和紧凑性)，并将调查供应链合作伙伴和知识产权保护的潜力。

High precision (c.100nsec) electronic clocks are widely employed to synchronize distributed data/communication networks in many sectors (e.g. defence/security, telecommunications, financial, and utilities). These clocks are essential network components and represent a significant global market estimated at c.US$230m pa. The majority of these clocks utilise signals transmitted from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Considerable concern, at governmental level, is developing over the vulnerability of these signals to equipment failure or 'attack' and the resultant disruption, which would ensue from alternative provisions (e.g. Galileo) currently being developed. Significantly, there has been renewed interest and investment in using ground based technologies to 'back up' high precision timing provision, the principle one being the eLORAN system (enhanced LORAN) which is an upgrade of the well established LORAN system. The University of Bath, under STFC funded research into lightning research, has demonstrated the possibility to build a high precision clock, based on the use of eLORAN signals, comparable in performance to GNSS based clocks (Füllekrug, Meas. Sci. Tech., 21, 015901, 2010, and Füllekrug et al., Geophys. Res. Lett., 36(L06104), 2009). It is believed that this technology has the commercial potential for integration into current precision electronic clock products to act as either a 'back up' or as a primary source when GNSS signals are weak or non-existent (see attached letters of support from Motorola and the National Physical Laboratory). The proposed STFC Follow-on Fund project will explore in great detail the market (size, competition) and the route to market options. On the technical side a 'proof of concept' unit will be developed (with a focus on performance and compactness within a target 'production cost'), and supply chain partners and the potential to IP protection will be investigated.