[time-nuts] TIC resolution impact on GPSDO's performance

[Didier Juges]

Poul-Henning Kamp wrote:
> In message <20061226.125102.1723212534.cfmd at bredband.net>, Magnus Danielson wri
> tes:
>
>   
>> harmonic(2)
>> 1a) a tone in a harmonic series
>> 2) in physics, a component frequency of a harmonic motion that is an integral
>>   multiple of the fundamental frequency
>>
>> overtone
>> 1b) Harmonic(2)
>>     
>
> Overtone is a musical term and it is not the same as harmonic.
>
> An harmonic frequency is N times the fundamental, where as an
> overtone merely holds a rational relationship to the fundamental
> (3/2, 4/3 etc.)
>
> The reason you can tell the difference between a violin and a
> clarinet is that they have different overtone spectra.
>
> A somewhat arbitrary subset of an intruments overtones are called
> "formants" because they are the principal "formers" of the instruments
> sound.
>
>   
>> synchronous
>> 1) happening, existing or arising at precisely the same time
>> 2a) going on or operating together at exactly the same rate
>> b) recurring together
>> 3) involving or indicating synchronism
>>     
>
>
>   
>> 4) in physics, having the same period or having the same period and phase
>>     
>
> Close, but no cigar.
>
> If they merely have the same period/frequency, they are "syntonous",
> but if the phase is also coincident, they are synchronous.
>
>   
>> asynchronous
>> not synchronous, proceeding at its own pace; 
>>     
>
> But just because two signals are asynchronous, doesn't mean they cannot
> have the same frequency or phase for a shorter or longer period of time,
> it just means that there is no mechanism that makes it so.
>
>   
>> The "asynchronous" serial line is actually anisochronous BTW.
>>     
>
> No, each transmitter and receiver are anisochronous, but the
> communication between them, and by language extension the actual
> cable, is asynchronous.
>
>   
This is interesting because overtone, when used to describe oscillation 
modes in crystals, has a slightly different meaning.

When a crystal is made to oscillate on one of it's *overtone* 
frequencies, the oscillation frequency is not exactly an harmonic of the 
*fundamental* (or 1st harmonic) oscillation frequency.

This term is obviously overloaded and maybe we should not be using it.

Didier KO4BB