Integrated Modules With Discrete Elements Oscillators Patents (Class 331/108D)
  • Patent number: 6157265
    Abstract: A programmable multi-scheme clocking circuit supports multiple applications. In one implementation, the clocking circuit includes multiple clock sources such as a crystal oscillator, a RC oscillator, an internal oscillator, and an external clock. Each of the clock sources can be enabled by a respective control signal. A multiplexer couples to the clock sources and provides a clock signal from one of the clock sources as the output clock signal. External support circuitry (e.g., external tank circuits) for some of the clock sources (e.g., the crystal oscillator and the RC oscillator) can be coupled to the clocking circuit through one or more device pins. The pins to support the crystal oscillator, the RC oscillator, and the external clock signal are shared so that no additional device pins are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Hassan Hanjani
  • Patent number: 6107892
    Abstract: Phase noise in an RF oscillator is significantly reduced by loosely couping another quieter RF oscillator having noise patterns uncorrelated to the first RF oscillator so that it frequency locks with the first RF oscillator. The coupling is increased until a significant reduction in phase noise occurs at high coupling levels where the first RF oscillator displays phase noise similar to the the second RF oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Robert Raymond Miller, II
  • Patent number: 6049256
    Abstract: A low profile integrated oscillator operable to provide an oscillator signal includes a substrate having a cavity and a via passing through the substrate. A crystal or other resonator is disposed in the cavity and stabilizes the oscillator signal. An electrical circuit means is mounted to the substrate and electrically connects to the via to condition the oscillator signal. A cover seals the resonator in the cavity. A connector electrically connects the resonator to the via. A heater is mounted to the substrate to elevate the oscillator temperature and a temperature sensor is mounted to the substrate to monitor and control the oscillator temperature. The substrate is surrounded by an insulation and mounted within a housing. The housing has a connection means for connecting to an external electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Fry
  • Patent number: 6046647
    Abstract: A Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) mitigates the effects of package parasitics by providing positive feedback connections, to sustain a desired oscillation, external to the IC package, thereby mitigating the effect of the bond wires and internal parasitics to allow the oscillation to be controlled by the desired external components. The VCO includes an electronic circuit with gain that is at least part of an integrated circuit (IC) and a package for the IC. A passive resonant circuit may be provided external to the IC package. The positive feedback of the electronic circuit is provided through at least one additional lead of the package, such that the connection is external to the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Dale Harvey Nelson
  • Patent number: 6002303
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit (100) provides improved noise immunity by utilizing a differential common base configuration. The oscillator includes a differential transistor pair (102, 104) having common bases (110) coupled through an AC ground (108) and emitters coupled through a differential common mode point (120). First and second resonant tank circuits are each referenced to the differential common mode point (120) for generating a differential output (OUT, OUTX).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Cesar Carralero, Raul Salvi, Branko Avanic
  • Patent number: 5966052
    Abstract: Four generally quadrant-like indentations are formed at the corners of a substrate. A conductive member is applied to the inner surfaces of the indentations to form input and output terminals, namely a power voltage terminal, a voltage control terminal, a modulation terminal, and an output terminal. By placing these terminals at the corners of the substrate, sufficient distances are provided between the input terminals and the output terminals so as to prevent interference between these terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken Sakai
  • Patent number: 5959503
    Abstract: A method (100) for tuning a voltage controlled oscillator by changing electrical circuit parasitics includes a first step (102) of providing a voltage controlled oscillator circuit on a circuit board and a plurality of different metal lids each having different numbers, sizes and locations of holes. Each different lid presents a different electrical circuit parasitic to the voltage controlled oscillator. In a second step (104), the voltage controlled oscillator frequency is measured, and the frequency shift needed to achieve a desired operating frequency is calculated in a third step (106). In a fourth step (108), a lid is chosen that will present the parasitics needed to provide the amount of frequency shift needed. As a last step (110), the chosen lid is attaching to the circuit board to obtain the desired nominal operating frequency from the voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Knecht, Glen O. Reeser
  • Patent number: 5952894
    Abstract: A resonant circuit of the present invention has a ceramic substrate, a quartz element provided on said substrate, and a capacitor for temperature compensation. Connection terminals are formed on the rear of the substrate in order to mount the resonant circuit to another substrate. A seam ring for air-tight sealing is positioned at the edges of the substrate. The quartz oscillator with this configuration can be mounted without resorting to leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Fukiharu
  • Patent number: 5949293
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for measuring the distance houses an oscillator in a package. Further, a plane inductor is provided on the surface of the package housing the oscillator. The plane inductor is connected to the oscillator so as to specify a frequency of the oscillator. If conductive material approaches the surface of the package, the frequency of the oscillator is varied by means of the plane inductor. The approaching distance of the conductive material is detected by detecting the frequency of the oscillator. The conductive material is mostly metal, however, the integrated circuit for measuring the distance can measure the approaching distance of non-metal conductive material such as conductive liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Japan System Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Akamatsu, Hideshi Kanaoka
  • Patent number: 5942951
    Abstract: In a high current, high frequency integrated circuit chip characteristic of producing an excess of internal on-chip circuit induced noise with respect to a low current, low frequency circuit implemented on the high current, high frequency integrated circuit chip, a method is disclosed for reducing noise in the low current, low frequency circuit. The method includes placing noise sensitive components of the low current, low frequency circuit external to the integrated circuit chip, corresponding to an off-chip placement. An exclusive power supply reference line V.sub.(REF) tapped off of a power supply bus internal to the integrated circuit chip is provided. The exclusive power supply reference line V.sub.(REF) is tapped off the internal power supply bus on-chip at a physical location proximate the low current, low frequency circuit and routed off-chip. The noise sensitive components are connected between the low current, low frequency circuit and the power supply reference line V.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: James Brady
  • Patent number: 5920235
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator has a cross-coupled negative resistance cell formed as an integrated circuit connected to off-chip components of a high-Q resonant tank circuit. To counteract spurious oscillations brought about by package parasitics caused by the interconnection of the chip to the external components, the cell is provided with a degeneration impedance. Typically, a pure inductor is used if all the elements of the tank circuit are off-chip. In a case where the tank circuit includes an on-chip fixed capacitor, the degeneration impedance may take the form of a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Douglas Beards, Samuel Alfred Tiller
  • Patent number: 5874864
    Abstract: A control circuit includes: a temperature 30; a temperature sensing section 32; a memory 36, an amplifying section 31 to which the memory and the temperature sensor are electrically connected; a first D/A converting section 38 electrically interposed between the memory and the temperature sensing section; a second D/A converting section electrically interposed between the memory and the amplifying section 31, The amplifying section 31 includes: a polarity inverting circuit 33 connected to the temperature sensor; and a variable attenuator 34, an offset adjusting circuit 100, and an amplifying circuit 35 that are connected sequentially to the polarity inverting circuit. The amplifying section 31 is connected to a sample hold circuit 41 through a displacement buffering means 101. The memory has 8 or less working control voltage setting groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Muto, Yoshihisa Mochida, Ryuji Mizukoshi, Chikao Maeda
  • Patent number: 5844377
    Abstract: A kinetically multicolored light source is described, comprising: a light source capable of producing a plurality of primary colors; oscillatory means for driving said light source; and means for moving said light source. The oscillatory driving means may drive the light source so that one or more of the primary colors is alternately turned on and off at a frequency above the critical fusion frequency of an observer, whereby each of the colors appears to emanate simultaneously and continuously thereby appearing to the observer as a single secondary color when the light source moves slowly with respect to the observer.The light source may move relative to the observer sufficiently rapidly that each of the oscillating primary colors if viewed alone would appear to the observer to emanate from bright segments of a curvilinear path with intervening dark segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventors: Matthew E. Anderson, Thomas A. Hughes
  • Patent number: 5781074
    Abstract: A low noise clock oscillator in modular form to plug into a standard 14 or 8 pin DIP clock oscillator socket on the motherboard of a host device to retrofit the host device without redesign of the host device motherboard so that the host device can reduce its EMC emissions sufficiently to pass EMC emission tests. The oscillator is characterized by use of a spread spectrum clock generator, EMC filters between the clock generator and the Vcc, ground and clock bus coupling points to the motherboard and a single point ground connection to the motherboard. This oscillator module allows an easy retrofit to a host device that has already been designed to substantially lower EMC emissions that can be traced to the clock by as much as 20 dB without expensive, time consuming redesign efforts to add shielding, more grounds and possibly reroute the motherboard traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventors: Chuong Dinh Nguyen, James John Levante
  • Patent number: 5745012
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator is provided having a semiconductor integrated circuit and a piezoelectric resonator. A variable-capacitance diode may be connected in series with the piezoelectric resonator. The variable-capacitance diode may be further mounted a land of a lead frame. The piezoelectric resonator, variable-capacitance diode and lead frame may be resin molded into a single unit. In operation, a signal may be applied to a node located between the variable-capacitance diode and the DC-cutting capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Oka, Yukari Nakajima, Masayuki Kikushima, Kazuhiko Shimodaira
  • Patent number: 5705957
    Abstract: This invention provides a temperature-compensated piezoelectric oscillator having an oscillation frequency that is easily adjusted in an adjustment procedure after its assembly. Compensation for frequency-temperature characteristics is achieved without the need for an externally installed variable reactance element. The temperature-compensated piezoelectric oscillator includes a piezoelectric oscillator element and an oscillator circuit that drives the piezoelectric oscillator element. The oscillator circuit changes the oscillation frequency in response to an applied power supply voltage VDD(T). A temperature sensor circuit senses the ambient temperature T of the piezoelectric oscillator element. A variable power supply circuit changes the power supply voltage VDD(T) applied to the oscillator circuit in response to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor circuit. The changes in the applied power supply voltage VDD(T) changes the frequency-temperature characteristics of the oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Oka, Masayuki Kikushima, Kazunari Ichinose
  • Patent number: 5696469
    Abstract: A clock oscillator having a pair of pins adapted for coupling to an external crystal, a first one of such pair of pins being adapted for coupling to an external clock. A switch, formed on the chip, is provided for electrically decoupling the crystal excitation circuit from one of the pair of pins in response to a control signal. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the switch is disposed between the output of a crystal excitation circuit and the second one of the pair of output pins and, in another embodiment, the switch is placed in circuit between the input to the crystal excitation circuit and the first one of the pair of pins. In each of these embodiments, when the switch is in a first condition, clock pulses are prevented from being coupled to the second one of the output pins, either: by preventing the external clock from feeding the input to the crystal excitation circuit; or, by preventing the output of the crystal excitation circuit from feeding the second one of the pair of pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Meany, Patrick R. Hickey
  • Patent number: 5675294
    Abstract: A single pin integrated oscillator circuit includes an amplifier having a first input terminal to which an external crystal may be connected, and a second input terminal which receives a feedback path from an output terminal of the amplifier. An oscillator output signal having a relatively large voltage swing is provided from the first input terminal through a buffer. The oscillator operates over a wide range of voltages and process variations, and it can accept an input signal from an external crystal or can accept any clock signal having a swing of approximately 1 V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Sierra Semiconductor
    Inventors: Jyn-Bang Shyu, Jin Zhao
  • Patent number: 5650754
    Abstract: Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuits include a VCO and voltage regulator provided on an integrated VCO module, balanced control input for the VCO, buffering of the VCO and frequency multiplication of the VCO output signal. Such improved VCO circuits are especially useful in phase-locked loop (PLL) circuits. Improved PLL circuits are also provided, including a PLL circuit with separate analog and digital grounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Synergy Microwave Corporation
    Inventors: Shankar R. Joshi, Ulrich L. Rohde, Klaus Eichel
  • Patent number: 5608359
    Abstract: A function-differentiated temperature compensated crystal oscillator (10) is disclosed having an integrated circuit (12), at least one capacitor (14) and a piezoelectric element (16) being electrically coupled to a leadframe (18), and being encapsulated in a molded package body (36). The leadframe (18) includes two groups of leads (20, 26), each group accessing different functionalities of the temperature compensated crystal oscillator (10). In one application, the first group of leads (20) may be excised preventing user access to internal functions of the oscillator (10). In another application, the second group of leads (26) may be excised allowing user access to the internal functions of the oscillator (10). This configuration enables a single package to be used for different user applications and functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Knecht, Tandy M. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5539358
    Abstract: A component-module-adapted oscillating circuit arrangement adapted to form a signal with a high frequency and a narrow frequency range includes a signal amplifying circuit, a signal generating circuit with a resonance element, required electrical wiring, and required matching network. On one surface of a carrier substrate belonging to the component module, electrically conductive surface sections are formed and distributed in such a way that they can coact in a firm and electrically conductive manner with corresponding contact surfaces of the resonance element. An integrated circuit is attached to the surface sections adjacent to the surface sections intended for the resonance element. This integrated circuit includes the required amplifying circuit. The contact surfaces of the resonance element are connected to the contact surfaces of the carrier substrate by bonding or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson
    Inventor: Mats O. J. Hedberg
  • Patent number: 5444421
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a multiple output transconductance amplifier having a positive voltage input, a negative voltage input, and three current outputs. A first current output is coupled to the positive input, a second current output is coupled to the negative input, and a third current output provides the full logic voltage oscillator output signal. A resistor network is coupled to the positive voltage input of the transconductance amplifier. The first current output is used to generate a square wave signal at the positive voltage input. A capacitor is coupled to the negative voltage input of the transconductance amplifier. The second current output is used to generate a triangle wave signal at the negative voltage input. Both the square wave and triangle wave have a mean DC level centered halfway between the power supply rails of the transconductance amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Racom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary T. Carroll, J. Donald Pauley
  • Patent number: 5369377
    Abstract: A self-configurable clock circuit which automatically detects at power up whether an off-chip crystal oscillator is connected to an integrated circuit including the self-configurable clock circuit, and following such detection generates a system clock signal and a power on reset signal to be used by other circuitry included in the integrated circuit. If the off-chip crystal oscillator is connected to the integrated circuit, then the self-configurable clock circuit provides the system clock signal from a first signal generated from the off-chip crystal oscillator. On the other hand, if the off-chip crystal oscillator is not connected to the integrated circuit, then the self-configurable clock circuit provides the system clock signal from a second signal generated from an on-chip RC oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Boubekeur Benhamida
  • Patent number: 5327104
    Abstract: A flat package piezoelectric oscillator, sealed with resin, and having leads or terminals includes an IC chip mounted on one side of an island portion of a lead frame, and a piezoelectric oscillator element mounted on an opposite side of the island portion. The resin package of the oscillator has at least one hole through one of opposite surfaces of the package. An injection hole for resin injection is provided along a diagonal line extending between diametrically opposed corners of the resin package, and a cylindrical case of the piezoelectric crystal oscillator element is located such that its longitudinal axis is aligned with the diagonal line to within a range from -45.degree. to +45.degree.. The connection portions of lead terminals for the piezoelectric oscillator element and the pads of the IC chip are located adjacent to the diagonal line. The fabrication of the piezoelectric crystal oscillator is completed by sealing the above described structure with resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kikushima
  • Patent number: 5291153
    Abstract: An oscillating circuit includes a substrate, a FET formed on the substrate, a series feedback capacitor connected to the source of the FET, a microstrip line formed on the substrate and connected to the gate of the FET, and a dielectric resonator which is electromagnetically coupled to the microstrip line. The dielectric resonator is located near the microstrip line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Shiga
  • Patent number: 5140286
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator and buffer amplifier circuit (211) is disclosed. The circuit is in a stacked configuration, whereby, the current from the power supply (361) is used by the buffer amplifier circuit and reused by the VCO circuit. The VCO circuit includes two transistors (333, 325). The transistors are set-up in a mirrored configuration, so that one of the transistors (325) controls the bias current in the other transistor (333). Both of the transistors are integrated into a semiconductor circuit die (365), thus, matching the thermal characteristics of the transistors (333, 325) and improving control of the bias current. The die (365) is bonded to a ceramic substrate (601). The substrate (601) has connectivity paths for connecting components in the circuit die to components external to the circuit die. Some of the connectivity paths are made of a material and length to form passive circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Black, Alexander W. Hietala, Darioush Agahi-Kesheh
  • Patent number: 5101177
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) mounted on a laminated printed circuit board which has a surface layer, a plurality of intermediate layers, and a back layer. Various component parts of the VCO are arranged on the surface layer. One of the intermediate layers which underlies the surface layer constitutes a ground potential layer and is removed at locations thereof corresponding to the area where the parts of the VCO are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hidehiko Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 5093633
    Abstract: A circuit has a mask option for choosing between a crystal or an RC oscillator. The RC oscillator is completely fabricated on an integrated-circuit chip and includes a charging path, a discharging path, and a capacitor coupled at a node. The alternating charging and discharging of the node produces the oscillating output voltage signal at certain frequency. The oscillation frequency may be trimmed by coupling a single optional external resistor to either the charging or discharging paths, thereby reducing the output oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Zilog, Inc.
    Inventor: Boubekeur Benhamida
  • Patent number: 5087896
    Abstract: A coplanar waveguide based microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) oscillator chip (14) having an active oscillator element (16) and a resonant capacitor (18) formed thereon is flip-chip mounted on a dielectric substrate (12). A resonant inductor (22) is formed on the substrate (12) and interconnected with the resonant capacitor (18) to form a high Q-factor resonant circuit for the oscillator (10). The resonant inductor (22) includes a shorted coplanar waveguide section (24) consisting of first and second ground strips (24b,24c), and a conductor strip (24a) extending between the first and second ground strips (24b,24c) in parallel relation thereto and being separated therefrom by first and second spaces (26a,26b) respectively. A shorting strip (24d) electrically interconnects adjacent ends of the conductor strip (24a) and first and second ground strips (24b,24c) respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignees: Hughes Aircraft Company, Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng P. Wen, Gregory S. Mendolia, Mario Siracusa, Joseph J. Maieron, William D. Higdon
  • Patent number: 4973922
    Abstract: A voltage variable capacitor (VVC) having two terminals in a variable frequency crystal oscillator integrated into a common substrate with the oscillator circuitry and isolated therefrom. The VVC is constructed using the same processing steps as the oscillator circuitry and achieves low series resistance and wide capacitance variation by utilizing a substrate or epitaxial layer (body) having a well with a diffused region therein. The region, of the same conductivity type as the well and a first one of the two terminals, forms a rectangular ring in the well. Over the region and insulated therefrom, a conductive layer is deposited to provide a second one of the two terminals. Both terminals are electrically isolated from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: David M. Embree, Shawn M. Logan
  • Patent number: 4916413
    Abstract: A piezo-oscillator includes a semiconductor element having at least an oscillating circuit. A piezo-vibrator having leads extending therefrom is connected to the semiconductor element by a plurality of lead terminals. The semiconductor, vibrator and lead terminals are contained within a unitary resin package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushima Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Iwao Nakayama, Kazushige Ichinose, Hiroyuki Ogiso
  • Patent number: 4849717
    Abstract: This invention discloses an oscillator circuit wholly contained in a single integrated circuit and implemented in compound semiconductor technology, wherein the oscillation frequency thereof is substantially stable over variations in supply voltage, process variations in fabrication, and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Gazelle Microcircuits, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Fitzpatrick, Andrew C. Graham
  • Patent number: 4734656
    Abstract: An oscillator is disclosed including a current mirror which is alternately enabled and disabled by a control signal and having an output and an input to which first and second currents are sourced and a capacitor which is coupled to the output of the current mirror. When the current mirror is enabled the capacitor is discharged through the current mirror to a first voltage level and is charged at substantially the same rate to a second voltage level when the current mirror is disabled. A merged two comparator structure having an input coupled to the output of the current mirror switches output level states at first and second outputs in response to the capacitor being charged and then discharged to said second and first voltage levels. A merged latch and load circuit coupled to the outputs of the merged two comparators is responsive to the output level states of the latter for providing said control signal to the input of the current mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Ira Miller
  • Patent number: 4680555
    Abstract: A wide frequency range, switched-band, output signal from an oscillator is obtained by dividing the overall oscillator bandwidth into two bands having an overlapping band of frequencies. An input signal that triggers the oscillator also is supplied to a frequency-to-voltage converter. The magnitude of its output signal is compared to a reference signal in a comparator, and a control signal having a certain characteristic is derived when the input signal is in the high band of frequencies. When the input signal is in the low band, the control signal has a characteristic that is different from the first-mentioned characteristic. Switching takes place in the overlapping band of frequencies. The control signal is applied to a switching device that adds or removes impedance, e.g., capacitance from the capacitive part of the, for example, resistive-capacitive, frequency-determining network of the oscillator depending upon the characteristic of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Electrohome Limited
    Inventor: Gerald Waldeck
  • Patent number: 4670721
    Abstract: An oscillator integrated circuit is disclosed in which a predetermined current is reliably established through a discharge transistor by zener zapping appropriate circuit components. In accordance with an embodiment, a plurality of zener diodes are provided in parallel with a plurality of resistors and one or more is shorted out to achieve a predetermined discharge current. In accordance with a second embodiment, the multiplication factor of the discharge transistor is set by trimming its emitters through zener zapping to obtain a predetermined discharge current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Cherry Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Walter S. Gontowski, Jr., John G. Metro, Steven S. Yole
  • Patent number: 4626799
    Abstract: There are three oscillator circuits which oscillate at different frequencies, each oscillator circuit including a gate having an input and an output. The output of the first gate is connected to an inverter and the input of the second gate. The output of the inverter is connected to the input of the third gate. The output of the second and third gates is connected across a piezoelectric transducer to produce a warble sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Miroslav Matievic
  • Patent number: 4614940
    Abstract: A micropower DC voltage indicator is provided that is a two terminal device with a very high input impedance. An oscillator circuit is provided by a series of inverters, such as metal-oxide semiconductors (MOS) with the power inputs connected in parallel. A suitable RC circuit connects the output of one MOS inverter to the input of another MOS inverter, otherwise the output of each MOS inverter connects directly to the input of the next MOS inverter. Across one of the MOS inverters is connected a liquid crystal display which indicates if a DC voltage within a specific range is applied to the two terminals of the DC voltage indicator. The two terminal inputs to the oscillator circuit have a very high impedance and operate over a fairly broad DC voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas H. Jaeckle
  • Patent number: 4607238
    Abstract: In a monolithic integrated RC-oscillator comprising only one external frequency-determining network of a capacitance and a discharge circuit, a charging circuit which can be switched on and off periodically is connected to the network, which charging circuit is switched on and switched off by means of a threshold circuit with two switching thresholds when the voltage across the capacitor of the network reaches the lower and the upper switching threshold, respectively. In order to ensure that the frequency of the generated sawtooth signal is independent of a fixed discharge current, which is subject to spreading, and of the temperature coefficient of this current, the charging current of the charging circuit is controlled by the voltage across a second capacitor, which is charged or discharged with a current (I.sub.1) when the frequency-determining capacitance is discharged and which is discharged or charged with a second current when said frequency-determining capacitor is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Cord H. Kohsiek
  • Patent number: 4603317
    Abstract: An improved electrically-operated backup alarm for use on mobile construction and industrial machinery, including selectable lower and higher loudness levels, automatically adjustable loudness level with respect to varying ambient noise level in which the alarm is operating, high and low frequency compensation to substantially eliminate high and low frequency signal components of the sensed ambient noise, and compensation for responding to transient signal components of the sensed ambient noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Electronic Controls Co.
    Inventors: Samuel H. Gailbreath, Ronald K. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 4603306
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit for sensing and indicating temperature by changing oscillator frequency with temperature comprises a programmable operational amplifier which is operated on the roll-off portion of its gain versus frequency curve and has its output directly connected to the inverting input to place the amplifier in a follower configuration. Its output is also connected to the non-inverting input by a capacitor with a crystal or other tuned circuit also being connected to the non-inverting input. A resistor is connected to the program input of the amplifier to produce a given set current at a given temperature, the set current varying with temperature. As the set current changes, the gain-bandwidth of the amplifier changes and, in turn, the reflected capacitance across the crystal changes, thereby providing the desired change in oscillator frequency by pulling the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Leonard L. Kleinberg
  • Patent number: 4591807
    Abstract: A low power, fast start up time crystal oscillator circuit has an amplifier portion powered from a one cell battery. The input stage of the amplifier portion is a common emitter amplifier circuit. A second stage includes a dual collector current mirror circuit having a current established at 3 times the input stage current. The output stage includes a current mirror circuit having a current established at 4 times the second stage current. A negative D.C. feedback circuit biases the amplifier portion. A single transistor interface circuit boosts and limits the output of the amplifier portion and permits the oscillator to drive other circuits that operate at higher voltages than the amplifier battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter L. Davis
  • Patent number: 4570130
    Abstract: A phase lock loop oscillator is provided with a voltage controlled oscillator which includes a current controlled oscillator and an input controller therefor that maintains the center frequency of the current controlled oscillator substantially constant irrespective of changes in the gain of the voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Grindel, Gary A. Trudgen
  • Patent number: 4560953
    Abstract: A vital integrated circuit square-wave oscillator having an integrated circuit operational amplifier. A reference voltage dividing resistor network connected to an inverting input of the amplifier for providing a 50--50 duty cycle. An L-C tank circuit connected between the inverting input and a noninverting input for determining the frequency of oscillation. A starting capacitor for initiating the oscillating action and a regenerative feedback circuit for sustaining the oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Bozio
  • Patent number: 4549178
    Abstract: A transmitter circuit adapted to transmit control signals to receivers which in turn activate fluorescent lamp fixtures. The transmitter comprises a frequency controllable oscillator and means coupled from the oscillator for providing alternating cycle control signals adapted to control the drive of the load. A divider circuit is used responsive to the oscillator frequency for providing a divided frequency signal of lower frequency of that of the oscillator. Feedback means including biphase means is responsive to the divided frequency signal and is coupled to the oscillator for controlling the oscillating frequency thereof. The oscillator output frequency is switchable at the divided frequency signal rate from a first frequency to a second frequency under control from the divider circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: James N. Lester
  • Patent number: 4542353
    Abstract: A sine wave generator circuit for providing, as its output, a substantially perfect sine wave signal includes a multiplier responsive to first input and second input signals of varying magnitude for providing as its output the sine wave signal as a function of the two input signals. There is further included a first feedback circuit path connected between the output and one of the inputs of the multiplier which includes a resistance-capacitance network for providing a phase delayed representation of the output signal as the first of the input signals. The amount of phase delay is determined by the relative values of the resistance-capacitance network and determines the frequency of the sine wave output. Further included is a reference signal the magnitude of which will determine the magnitude of the sine wave output signal. The reference signal is applied to a second feedback circuit path connected between the multiplier output and the other one of its inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel W. Sexton
  • Patent number: 4532439
    Abstract: A logic circuit comprises a first and second circuit. The first circuit consists of at least one first conductivity-type MOSFET having a gate connected to an input terminal, and having a first current path connected at one end to an output terminal. The second circuit consists of at least one second conductivity-type MOSFET having a gate is connected to the input terminal, and having a second current path connected at one end to the output terminal. The logical circuit further comprises a depletion-type MOSFET of the second conductivity type and a depletion-type MOSFET of the first conductivity type. The depletion-type MOSFET of the second conductivity type has a threshold voltage the absolute value of which is larger than that of the first conductivity-type MOSFET, has a current path connected between the other end of the first current path and a first power source, and has a gate connected to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideharu Koike
  • Patent number: 4531237
    Abstract: An energy-saving arrangement for a signal receiver that responds to intermittent incoming signals. The receiver is turned on periodically for short intervals so as to provide a low duty cycle during the standby intervals when there are no incoming signals. If an incoming signal is sensed during one of its "on" intervals, it remains on during the duration of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Inventors: Yair Bar-on, Gavriel Horn
  • Patent number: 4521748
    Abstract: An adjustable frequency oscillator 2 is provided by a comparator timer 4 having a potentiometer 6 at its output 8 for concurrently changing both charging current and threshold trip voltage to control the frequency of oscillation of the comparator output. The oscillator is ideal for proximity switch applications, particularly photoelectric type proximity switches, for timing a delayed output signal following a given sensed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Ryczek, William J. Janutka
  • Patent number: 4518933
    Abstract: The invention relates to a quartz oscillator comprising two transistors to whose base terminals the collector voltage of each one of the other transistors is applied, a two-terminal network incorporating a quartz resonator being connected to the emitter of one of the transistors. The collector voltage is applied to the corresponding base via a semiconductor junction. The oscillator further includes respective emitter and collector impedances for the transistors in which the product of the emitter impedances is greater than the product of the collector impedances. When the supply voltage is sufficiently low so that the collector-base diodes of the transistors are always in the non-conducting state, the oscillator frequency is independent, to a very large degree, of saturation phenomena of the two transistors. When manufactured in integrated circuit form, only one additional exterior terminal is required for the connection of a quartz resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Klaus Kroner
  • Patent number: 4513258
    Abstract: A single input oscillator circuit which provides an oscillating output signal in response to the presence of an input signal is provided. A differential comparator stage having a predetermined trip point established by a reference voltage is connected between the input terminal and a set-reset latch circuit. A gain stage has an input connected to the input termial, and variable bias is derived from both the differential stage and a set-reset latch circuit for providing the output signal in response to the voltage level of the input signal. A discharge portion is connected to the input terminal to periodically couple the input terminal to a voltage potential node in response to the latch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Jamiolkowski, Jules D. Campbell, Jr.