Integrated infrared thermostat resonator

Claim 1

A resonator having an integrated infrared thermostat, comprisng: a sealed, vacuum tight casing having therein: a piezoelectric crystal having an actively vibratable central section and linkage bridges to an outer peripheral ring; first and second electrodes deposited on opposite surfaces of the central section of the crystal; means for supporting the peripheral ring of the crystal; infrared heating means and reflecting means for reflecting heat from said heating means onto the crystal; at least one temperature sensor; linkage conductors electrically connecting said first and second electrodes, the temperature sensor, and the infrared heating means, respectively, with electrical connection terminals which extend in a sealed manner through the casing from its interior to the exterior thereof: wherein the reflecting means comprise reflectors including an electrically insulating material having a concave hemispherical dome in one surface thereof, said dome being coated with a layer of refecting metal, and said reflectors being located on opposite sides of the crystal with the concave metal coated domes facing the crystal; the infrared heating means comprising small, low voltage incandescent electric light bulbs located between each concave reflective dome and the crystal; and the sensor is a thermocouple comprising two thin metal layers superimposed seriatim on one side of the central section of the crystal, at least one of said layers simultaneously comprising an excitation electrode for the crystal.