With Voltage Sensitive Capacitor Patents (Class 331/177V)
  • Patent number: 5564100
    Abstract: A frequency modulator (100) is provided which includes a VCO (200) having a modulation varactor (122) coupled to its output (128). The VCO (200) includes a resonator stage (112) coupled to an amplifier stage comprising a transistor (118). Coupling of the varactor (122) and the resonator stage (112) is provided via the phase collector capacitance (C.mu.) of the transistor (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip M. Huang, John K. McKinney
  • Patent number: 5561398
    Abstract: A differential delay stage for a ring oscillator utilizes a resonant circuit formed by an inductor and a capacitor consisting of two varactor diodes connected back-to-back. A common cathode connection is connected to a variable voltage source to vary the capacitance of the diodes. Other forms of capacitors may replace the varactor diodes. Varying the capacitance value varies the resulting oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator. When several delay stages, each incorporating the resonant circuit, are connected together in a ring, the net effect is to allow only a signal at the resonant frequency of the resonant circuits to propagate around the ring. Other oscillator circuits employing a resonant circuit are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Richard R. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 5559479
    Abstract: A voltage control oscillator which has an oscillator circuit comprising at least an inductive resonator, active element, and variable capacitance diode and externally applies a direct current control voltage to the variable capacitance diode through a bias circuit to change an oscillation frequency by altering a capacitance value of the variable capacitance diode with variations of the direct current voltage, comprising bias circuit is a low-pass filter comprising a resistor and a capacitor and the oscillation frequency is set higher than a cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Ohmori, Kenji Fukayama
  • Patent number: 5559474
    Abstract: In accordance with a loop open/close control signal, an analog switch closes or opens a loop including a voltage controlled oscillator, a variable frequency divider, a phase comparator, and a first loop filter, the analog switch, and a second loop filter. In order to reduce the change of frequency caused when the open loop state is set immediately after the output frequency is changed, the second loop filter uses a capacitor which shows properties of a small change of capacitance in response to an applied voltage and a small hysteresis. In another embodiment, the voltage controlled oscillator includes a second diode, one terminal of which is grounded, connected in reverses parallel to a first diode switch which switches the output oscillation frequency ranges of the voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsumoto, Hisashi Adachi, Hiroaki Kosugi, Makoto Sakakura
  • Patent number: 5557244
    Abstract: A transceiver (10) includes a dual port phase and magnitude balanced synthesizer modulator (60). The modulator (60) couples a modulation input to a voltage controlled oscillator (40) and to a reference oscillator (42) that are coupled together in a phase locked loop (44). The modulator 60 includes a magnitude balancing circuit (64) that divides a modulation input representing data or the like into a first modulation input signal applied to the reference oscillator (42) and a second modulation input signal for the voltage controlled oscillator (40). A phase balancing circuit (68) induces a negative phase shift in the second modulation input signal that is coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator (40) in order to compensate for the phase lag of the reference oscillator loop (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Raul Salvi
  • Patent number: 5548252
    Abstract: A digital control system such as a digital temperature compensated crystal oscillator (DTCXO) system is arranged to offer superior oscillating performance with reduced size and cost. For example, to reduce the memory capacity, a memory 31 receives upper 6 bits of temperature data, and a decoder 32 calculates temperature compensation data from lower 4 bits and output data from the memory (FIGS. 1-11). For a one-chip configuration and low power consumption, a MOS type Colpitts oscillator (FIG. 16) is provided with a circuit for adjusting the source resistance of the MOS. For size reduction and fine frequency adjustment, a DTCXO is provided with sections such as an adder 341, an up-down counter 342 and an auxiliary frequency control section (AFC) 332 (FIGS. 20, 21, 24 and 25). An adding section 415 is provided between a D/A converting section 414 and a capacitance varying section 416 to obtain superior linearity with respect to a control voltage and quality of offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takao Watanabe, Mutsuo Hayashi, Kazunari Matsumoto, Chikara Tsuchiya, Takashi Matsui, Masaru Matsubayashi
  • Patent number: 5539359
    Abstract: An impedance adjustment capacitor connected in parallel to a choke coil formed by a conductive pattern formed on a substrate adjusts the impedance of a control voltage applying circuit. A control voltage is applied via the choke coil to a variable capacitance diode included in a resonance circuit. This control voltage determines a resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Goma
  • Patent number: 5534826
    Abstract: Oscillation is easily and reliably initiated in an oscillator by increasing the gain of the circuit at startup time. For example, the gain of an oscillator circuit may be increased at startup by reducing the value of a user controlled impedance until oscillation commences. Alternatively, or in combination, the input impedance of an amplifier used in the oscillator may be reduced at startup to facilitate the initiation of oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Shawn M. Logan
  • Patent number: 5534825
    Abstract: In a voltage-controlled oscillation circuit, a parallel resonance circuit which is formed by connecting a coil (an inductive element) and a capacitor (a capacitive element) in parallel with each other is provided between a control terminal and a resonance circuit. A control voltage is inputted at the control terminal and is supplied to the resonance circuit through the parallel resonance circuit, so that the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit is responsive to the control voltage; an oscillation stage of the voltage-controlled oscillation circuit oscillates at that resonance frequency. The oscillation output of the oscillation stage is outputted at an output terminal from a buffer stage through an output matching stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Goma, Tatsuo Bizen
  • Patent number: 5532651
    Abstract: An oscillator (100) includes a resonator (218) having a mirco-strip (217). The micro-strip (217) couples an inductive component (221) to a capacitive portion (219). To tune the oscillator (100), a number of cuts are made on the pad (221) in order to restrict the signal flow. The width of these cuts determine the degree of restriction posed on the signal flow. This controllable restriction of the signal flow provides the circuit (100) with enhanced tunability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Rene I. Jager, Peter Vizmuller, Mathias M. Gimpelj
  • Patent number: 5512862
    Abstract: An oscillator (200) with improved sideband noise is disclosed. This improvement is accomplished without affecting the Q or the output power of the oscillator (200). The improvement is realized by increasing the rate of change of reactance over frequency. The increase in the rate of change is realized by placing two transmission lines (208, 210) in close proximity of each other. This increase assures oscillation while minimizing the sideband noise, and providing maximum bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Branko Avanic, Peter J. Yeh, Leng H. Ooi
  • Patent number: 5508665
    Abstract: An oscillator arranged to operate at an oscillation frequency includes a resonant structure 137, preferably a coaxial resonator, selected to resonate at a frequency, and an impedance 210, preferably a transistor 101 based common collector circuit, parallel coupled to said resonant structure 137, having a negative real part with a real magnitude and an imaginary part with an imaginary magnitude, said real magnitude being a function of said imaginary magnitude, said imaginary magnitude selected such that said real magnitude falls within 50% of a maximum at the oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Yiu K. Chan, Krista Tindorf
  • Patent number: 5502420
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator apparatus for generating a desired frequency, set by a tuning voltage, toward modulating a transmission signal on the desired frequency. The voltage controlled oscillator apparatus includes an oscillator transistor the base of which is RF live so as to destabilize the transistor such that it oscillates. The oscillator transistor emitter is operably connected through a capacitor to a tank circuit, which stores RF energy at the desired frequency, based on the tuning voltage, to set the oscillator transistor frequency. The inherent collector-base junction capacitance serves to provide voltage variable capacitance resulting in the generation of a carrier signal. The oscillator transistor collector is electrically connected to an amplifier transistor's emitter, such that the amplified transistor and oscillator transistor are in cascode configuration. The amplifier transistor amplifies the transmission signal input at its base and presents a signal output on its collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: VTech Communications, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael J. Barclay
  • Patent number: 5493715
    Abstract: A voltage controlled tunable resonant circuit (100) has at least two resonant frequency ranges and reduced self modulation, and includes a resonant element (120), a variable reactance element (130), and a first voltage variable capacitor (VVC) (150). The variable reactance element (130) is coupled to the resonant element (120). The VVC (150) has two fixed capacitance values corresponding to two fixed capacitance bias voltage ranges, and is coupled to the resonant element (120) and the variable reactance element (130). The first VVC (150) is controlled by a first DC bias voltage (190) selected to be within one of the two fixed capacitance bias voltage ranges to establish one of the two resonant frequency ranges over which the voltage controlled tunable resonant circuit (100) is tuned by variation of the variable reactance element (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Humphreys, Robert M. Gorday
  • Patent number: 5493257
    Abstract: A modulator for digital modulation is described to produce a modulated output from a voltage controlled oscillator in a phase locked loop during transmission of a random modulating input. The input voltage is applied to a coupling capacitor and when transmission ceases, the state of charge on the capacitor will not change because of a biasing circuit which comprises two resistors fed by a tri-state buffer which holds the input terminal of the capacitor at the average level between logic zero and logic one when no modulation is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Plessey Semiconductors Limited
    Inventor: Peter E. Chadwick
  • Patent number: 5486796
    Abstract: An oscillator provided with an oscillation circuit provided with two oscillation transistors comprising a differential pair and a resonance circuit connected in common to the bases of the oscillation transistors. The bases of the oscillation transistors are short-circuited by a coil, a center tap coil is connected in parallel to the resonance circuit, and variable capacitive diodes in the resonance circuit are driven by a coil connected to a mixing circuit. Due to this, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of low frequency noise, possible to realize a completely balanced operation, possible to avoid the oscillation carrier flowing into the power source and ground, and possible to reduce the noise in a television picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Tadashi Imai
  • Patent number: 5483206
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled microwave oscillator having a field effect transistor (1) as an amplifier and having a varactor diode (2) as a frequency-determining element has high output power and a large enough frequency sweep in the microwave frequency range that S-parameter scatters of the active components have optimally little influence on the characteristic data of the oscillator. The varactor diode (2) is preceded by a tunable micro stripline filter (3) and the source electrode of the field effect transistor (1) is directly connected to ground in order to form a parallel feedback with the micro stripline filter (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Lohninger
  • Patent number: 5481227
    Abstract: An oscillator capable of setting a desired frequency by using only two resonators without setting up any additional adjustment processes, and a synthesizer tuner circuit with an AM synchronous detect circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Komori, Atsushi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 5481229
    Abstract: A temperature compensated crystal oscillator (10), has a crystal oscillator circuit (12), a voltage controlled reactance element (30), a temperature compensation network (50), and a programmable DC-DC converter network (60) having an output (62) connected to the voltage controlled reactance element (30), or the temperature compensation network (50) or both. The DC-DC converter network (60) provides the capability of operating over an extended voltage range, by increasing the supply voltage to a level necessary to operate the voltage controlled reactance element (30). Much of this structure is adapted for use in an integrated circuit, and provides the advantages of minimizing power and current consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Connell, Timothy J. Collins, Anthony F. Keller, Dennis F. Marvin, Michael L. Bushman
  • Patent number: 5477197
    Abstract: An undesirable relationship between user applied input frequency control voltage and output frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator is counteracted by controlling the characteristics of an amplifier stage in the oscillator as a function of frequency control signal in addition to controlling the output frequency of the oscillator as a function of the capacitance of a user controlled variable capacitance in response to the frequency control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventor: Shawn M. Logan
  • Patent number: 5473289
    Abstract: A temperature compensated crystal oscillator including: an oscillation circuit having a quartz crystal resonator and a control terminal, for providing an oscillating signal determined by the quartz crystal resonator and a control signal, the control signal being applied to the control terminal; a temperature detecting circuit for detecting an operation temperature and outputting a temperature signal based on the operation temperature; and a control signal generating circuit for receiving the temperature signal from the temperature detecting circuit, generating the control signal based on a characteristic curve, and outputting the control signal to the control terminal; the characteristic curve essentially consisting of a plurality of straight lines and being an approximation of an ideal control curve in a predetermined operation temperature range including the operation temperature, the ideal control curve having a relationship between the control signal and the temperature signal for ideally compensating a f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Ishizaki, Yuki Satoh, Koji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5473287
    Abstract: An improved electronic oscillator of limited bandwidth for better phase noise and linearity characteristics, and method for production, where a transmission line of specific characteristics is introduced between major components of the frequency source to significantly improve phase noise and linearity, and minor adjustments to the L/C ratio of the transmission line during production testing further optimize phase noise and linearity without adverse effects on other circuit parameters. The improvement chiefly relates to the length, configuration and accessibility of a transmission line connecting a resonator and main tuning capacitor in a series resonant tank circuit of an oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Micronetics, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Robbins, Richard J. Landry
  • Patent number: 5469117
    Abstract: An oscillator comprising an amplifier device, a capacitive divider bridge whose terminals are connected between a control electrode of the device and a reference voltage, the intermediate junction point of this bridge being connected to a principal electrode of the device, and also comprising, in parallel between the control electrode and the reference voltage, a tuning circuit having parallel branches: a first branch with an inductance in series with a variable capacitance, and, a second branch equivalent to a variable capacitance. The tuning circuit has a third branch constituted by a capacitance in parallel with the first branch, while a series inductance whose value is smaller than that of the tuning inductance is arranged between the junction point connecting the two latter branches and the junction point connecting the control electrode of the device to the second branch and to the divider bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Pascal Philippe
  • Patent number: 5444422
    Abstract: A low phase noise, high frequency low voltage integrated circuit oscillator has a minimum number of live pins. It includes a three transistor current mirror defining a voltage node and a current node with an emitter follower transistor coupled between the voltage node and the current node. An output is taken from the emitter follower transistor and a tuned circuit is coupled to the voltage node. A pair of power supply pins are provided for power application to the integrated circuit and one live pin is coupled to the voltage node. A tuning circuit for affecting capacitance changes for varying the frequency of the oscillator is connectable to the voltage node. In some versions of the oscillator that use a separate crystal, additional pins are needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Victor G. Mycynek
  • Patent number: 5434543
    Abstract: Oscillator having first frequency-determining elements provided for a first oscillation frequency. In order to provide an oscillator, particularly for use in video signal processing, which can be switched and tuned to at least two oscillation frequencies, at least a second frequency-determining element is provided which can be connected to the first frequency-determining element for adjusting the oscillator to a second oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Brilka, Wolfgang Weltersbach
  • Patent number: 5434542
    Abstract: A high-frequency oscillator is provided for a frequency range of 1.6 to 3 GHz. An oscillator stage includes an oscillator transistor and a voltage-controlled resonator unit. A buffer stage is connected at an output of the oscillator stage. The resonator unit includes an open resonator in the form of an etched structure with a wavelength which is shorter than lambda/4 (where lambda is an oscillator length). The resonator unit includes a voltage-controlled variable-capacitance diode, and a resonator terminal is connected between the voltage-controlled variable-capacitance diode of the resonator unit and the oscillator transistor of the oscillator stage. The resonator is preferably an open microstrip resonator, and the stages are disposed in a standardized housing in SMD (surface mounted device) technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Oesterreich
    Inventors: Peter E. Veith, Janos Gila
  • Patent number: 5422605
    Abstract: A low phase noise oscillator 10 having a balanced feedback transformer 24 and a push-pull resonant circuit 12 for generating an oscillation excitation signal. The resonant circuit 12 is loaded by an output buffer 20 connected between first and second feedback terminals 16 and 18. The feedback transformer 24 provides first and second feedback paths of opposite phase polarity which link the resonant circuit 12 with the first and second feedback terminals 16 and 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Hughes Missile Systems Company
    Inventors: Steve S. Yang, Yiu-Man So
  • Patent number: 5418503
    Abstract: A compensation circuit including resistors, capacitors and a varactor diode powered simultaneously by the same voltage source applied to a voltage controlled oscillator for reducing deviation from a desired oscillator output frequency on power-up. When power is applied, an exponentially varying voltage is applied to the varactor diode changing its capacitance in such a manner as to change the oscillator frequency in the opposite direction to its natural drift tendency, thus producing a substantially constant output frequency over the period of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Ericsson GE Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Ellis Glazebrook
  • Patent number: 5418500
    Abstract: A high-frequency oscillator circuit designed to efficiently output fundamental and second harmonic waves. A second harmonic resonance circuit is inserted between bases of a pair of transistors having collectors connected to each other. Each of a pair of capacitors is inserted between the base and an emitter of the corresponding one of the pair of transistors, and each of another pair of capacitors is inserted between the emitters of the transistors. Further, a pair of fundamental wave output terminals for outputting fundamental waves are respectively connected to the bases of the transistors, and a pair of second harmonic output terminals for outputting second harmonic waves are respectively connected to a connection between the second pair of capacitors and a connection point between the collectors of the pair of transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadao Igarashi
  • Patent number: 5402087
    Abstract: A voltage controlled push-push oscillator is provided having a variable frequency output over a range of frequencies. Usually, the range of frequencies is in the microwave range. The configuration is such that the collectors of a pair of transistors are tied together, and an inductive reactance is provided across the base and collector of each of the transistors, with the emitters of the pair of transistors being each connected to opposite phases (at the fundamental frequency) of a resonator which may comprise of one or more elements, bisected to provide an output tap at which an RF null at the fundamental frequency and an anti-null at the second harmonic exists, whereby the second harmonic output frequency of the push-push oscillator is derived. Particularly when the push-push oscillator operates at microwave frequencies, the resonator element is a microstrip line, having the output tap at the centre thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: B.E.L.-Tronics Limited
    Inventor: Roman T. Gorczak
  • Patent number: 5379003
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillation circuit includes a power supply terminal for supplying power to an oscillation stage, a buffer stage, and an output matching stage. Connected between the power supply terminal and ground is a high frequency bypass capacitor for bypassing electrical noise superimposed on the power supply to the side of ground, a voltage feedback resistor is connected in series in a power supply line connected to the power supply terminal, the high frequency bypass capacitor and the voltage feedback resistor constitute a low-pass filter, and the capacitance value of the high frequency bypass capacitor and the resistance value of the voltage feedback resistor are determined so that the cut off frequency of the low-pass filter is at most the frequency f0 of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Bizen
  • Patent number: 5373264
    Abstract: Problems associated with compromise, fixed base inductances in negative resistance oscillators are overcome by use of an electronically tunable base network. Parameters such as phase noise and output power can thereby be optimized over a wide range of operating conditions. The disclosure is illustrated with reference to a 500-1000 Mhz voltage controlled oscillator employing base-tuning varactors that are slaved to the VCO's tuning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Higgins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5373262
    Abstract: In a voltage controlled oscillator, a dielectric resonator is mounted on a circuit board and a metal case is mounted on the circuit board to shield the dielectric resonator. The dielectric resonator comprises a C-shaped first electrode which is provided in a dielectric body, second and third electrodes which are arranged on upper and lower sides of the first electrode, a signal connecting pattern which is extended from the first electrode toward a side surface of the dielectric body, and earth connecting patterns which are extended from the first, second and third electrodes toward the side surface of the dielectric body, to provide predetermined impedance between the earth connecting pattern and the signal connecting pattern. The dielectric resonator is arranged with the second and third electrodes in parallel with a major surface of the circuit board, and the second electrode is upwardly exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Atsushi Inoue, Tatsuo Bizen
  • Patent number: 5373259
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator comprises more than one dissimilar diode. The dissimilar diodes have different capacitance versus voltage characteristic shapes. The dissimilarity causes the tuning gain factor of the resulting oscillator to be an increasing function of increasing frequency. Such an oscillator when properly incorporated into a phase lock loop can yield loop parameters which are a constant function of increasing frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott Hackman, Anthony J. Estrada
  • Patent number: 5357222
    Abstract: The invention relates to a biased electronic circuit in which a voltage-controlled component has a characteristic with a non-linear portion and a substantially linear portion. The circuit is biased by a voltage being applied to one terminal of the component thereby shifting the operation of the component to the linear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
    Inventor: Seppo Hietala
  • Patent number: 5329256
    Abstract: A tunable oscillator circuit (200) includes surface acoustic wave transducer (303) disposed on a piezoelectric substrate (301) having a high SAW coupling coefficient. The SAW transducer is (303) non-reflective and self-resonant comprising a pair of electrodes with interdigitated fingers. A tuning mechanism, such as a varactor, is coupled across the transducer allowing for output frequency tuning of the oscillator circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Higgins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5327106
    Abstract: An apparatus suitable for use as a local oscillator is disclosed, which includes (a) a tank circuit operatively associated with an FET to generate a fundamental frequency oscillating signal at an output of the FET and (b) a bi-directional clamp circuit coupled at a junction between the tank circuit and a gate of the FET to limit a swing of the gate of the FET, preventing the gate of the FET from entering either a saturation region or a cut-off region. The bi-directional clamp includes a first diode coupled to allow positive current to flow to the junction and a second diode coupled to allow positive current to flow away from the junction. The oscillator produces an output with a reduced level of radiation-prone harmonics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Stuart B. Sanders
  • Patent number: 5317287
    Abstract: A multirange low-gain voltage controlled ring oscillator generates a substantially temperature-independent oscillator signal. Each frequency range is formed by utilizing a selected value of a voltage variable resistance in each stage of the ring oscillator. The oscillator signal is made to be substantially temperature-independent by utilizing a substantially temperature-independent constant current source to source a fixed current through the variable resistance and a temperature varying current which sinks and sources additional current to the oscillating circuit as temperature rises and falls, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Brown
  • Patent number: 5309118
    Abstract: A hyperfrequency generator comprising a source element (5) of negative resistance adjacent to a cylindrical resonant cavity (2) closed at opposite ends by two transversal closure plates (4, 7) for the purpose of tuning over a frequency band. The source element (5) is installed directly in the resonant cavity (2) such that there is a direct coupling between the source element (5) and the resonant cavity (2). One of the closure plates (7) is movable toward and away from the other for rough tuning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Sadis Bruker Spectrospin Societe Anonyme de Diffusion de l'Instrumentation Scientifique Bruker Spectrospin (Societe Anonyme a Directoire)
    Inventors: Victor Ringeisen, Laurent Martinache
  • Patent number: 5302918
    Abstract: A fundamental or subharmonic optically injection locked oscillator is coupled to a phase locked loop circuit. The injection locked oscillator has two single stage HEMT amplifiers with parallel feedback from the drain of a second transistor to a gate of a first transistor. A feedback resonant network controls the oscillator frequency. A microwave/millimeter wave source modulates a laser diode and the signal from the laser diode is then transmitted via an optical fiber to a PIN photodetector diode. The signal from the photodetector diode is injected into the oscillator at an nth subharmonic of the oscillator frequency. The feedback network may consist of a microstrip gap resonator with two tuning varactors at the ends of the resonator. The phase locked loop includes a balanced mixer used as a phase detector to compare the nth harmonic of the signal from the photodetector diode to the sampled output of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Dana J. Sturzebecher, Thomas P. Higgins, Afshin S. Daryoush
  • Patent number: 5258726
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit (10) for operating at low supply voltages has been provided. The VCO circuit includes an oscillation stage which utilizes a negative resistance technique for oscillation and includes a first inductor (38) for allowing the oscillation stage to operate at low supply voltages. The VCO circuit also includes an output stage which includes a second inductor (52) and a first capacitor (51) for allowing the output resistance of the VCO circuit to be adjusted for maximum output drive capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Phuc C. Pham
  • Patent number: 5254958
    Abstract: Biomedical information is directly digitally telemetered from the patient through a frequency modulated transmitter to a remote receiver and computer station. A phase-lock-loop circuit in the digital transmitter compensates for DC data bias by averaging and generating a scaled measure of the DC content of the digital data fed into the phase-lock-loop circuit. The average signal is then provided as a control signal to a first voltage controlled crystal oscillator, the output of which is then used as a reference frequency for the phase-lock-loop circuit. Frequency modulation of the digital data is provided by coupling the digital data directly into the voltage control input of the voltage controlled oscillator which generates the output frequency. Further control of the phase-lock-loop circuit in the transmitter is achieved by prepositioning the operating frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator by means of a microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Pacific Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry E. Flach, William C. McBride
  • Patent number: 5235293
    Abstract: A resonator (50) is connected in circuit with a negative resistance element (Q3,Q4) for producing oscillation at a resonant frequency of the resonator (50). A digital phase shifter (58) is incorporated into the resonant frequency in accordance with an applied digital signal. The resonator (50) can be connected in series with the negative resistance element (Q3), in which case the phase shifter (58) is connected as either a short-circuit or an open-circuit transmission line. Alternatively, the resonator (50) can be connected in parallel with the negative resistance element (Q4) in a feedback loop. An analog phase shifter (84) can also be provided in the resonator (50') for continuously variably setting the resonant frequency over the tuning increments of the digital phase shifter (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Gregory S. Mendolia
  • Patent number: 5231361
    Abstract: The present invention resides in a push-push voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) utilizing parallel LC resonant tank circuits for improved phase noise characteristics. The push-push VCO of the present invention includes two voltage controlled oscillators connected in parallel and in phase opposition, with each oscillator including a transistor connected in series with the parallel LC resonant tank circuit. The oscillators operate at the same resonant frequency f.sub.0, but are 180 degrees out of phase. Therefore, the fundamental and odd harmonics of the resonant frequency f.sub.0 cancel each other out and the even harmonics add together to produce an output signal at twice the resonant frequency f.sub.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Duncan M. Smith, Barry R. Allen
  • Patent number: 5229735
    Abstract: A wide frequency deviation voltage controlled crystal oscillator includes a multiple section bandpass filter containing a plurality of crystal or ceramic elements. One embodiment includes a plurality of crystals which are connected into parallel conduction paths. The crystals have resonant frequencies which are separated by small, selected intervals so that the oscillator may be adjusted to a wider range of frequencies than prior art oscillators. Alternatively, the same result may be achieved by using crystals with the same resonant frequency and connecting each crystal to a capacitor having a selected value. In another embodiment a multiple section crystal or ceramic bandpass filter is substituted for the parallel conduction paths. The principles of the invention are applicable to a number of different devices, including the ringing circuits used in color televisions to perpetuate the color bursts which appear in the blanking intervals of the incoming TV signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Macrovision Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald Quan
  • Patent number: 5225793
    Abstract: A ceramic resonator, a variable reactance circuit, and a limiter circuit are connected to the output of an amplifier having an output that is fed back to the positive phase-sequence input, and the frequency of oscillation is controlled by varying an equivalent capacitance of the reactance circuit with a control voltage applied to the reactance circuit. The limiter circuit ensures a variable frequency range on the high frequency side, and the symmetry of the capture range when this system is applied to a PLL can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignees: Pioneer Electronic Corporation, NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Naotoshi Higashiyama, Fumikazu Ohkubo, Tetsuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5218325
    Abstract: A low noise oscillator for use in a radio which provides an output signal with high signal-to-noise ratio. The low noise oscillator includes a voltage controlled oscillator which produces an intermediate sinusoidal voltage signal in response to a DC tuning voltage. The voltage controlled oscillator includes a varactor and junction field effect transistor. The low noise oscillator also includes a buffer amplifier which receives the intermediate sinusoidal voltage signal from a tapped microstrip of the voltage controlled oscillator and produces a highly stable output signal proportional to the DC tuning voltage applied to the input of the low noise oscillator. The buffer amplifier employs a dual gate Gallium Arsenide field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Trelewicz, Michael N. Pickett, Robert H. Bickley
  • Patent number: 5192871
    Abstract: A semiconductor device (10), comprising a semiconductor substrate (12) having a layer of semiconductor material (14) deposited, coated or grown epitaxially as a single crystal or polysilicon on the surface of the substrate. The layer of material is also a semiconductor material, having a higher resistivity than the substrate it is deposited on. A dielectric layer (16) of a metal oxide is formed on the high resistivity layer (14), which is then covered with an amorphous layer (18) of a metal oxide dielectric. Zirconium titanate may be used as a metal oxide dielectric layer. A metal electrode (20) is formed on the amorphous layer (18) to form a Metal Insulator Semiconductor device. In an alternative configuration, the amorphous layer (18) may instead be placed between the high resistivity layer (14) and the dielectric layer (16), or a second amorphous layer (22) may be added between the high resistivity layer and the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: E. S. Ramakrishnan, Kenneth D. Cornett, Wei-Yean Howng
  • Patent number: 5187451
    Abstract: For minimization of a microstrip line and improvement of a Q value, the line length and width of the microstrip line are minimized, and the high frequency trend of the resulting resonant frequency is lowered and corrected to the resonant frequency near the oscillation frequency of an oscillator by connecting an additional capacitance component to the microstrip line. Thereby, the minimization of the microstrip line or the minimization of an oscillation circuit and characteristics equivalent to a dielectric coaxial resonator may be readily obtained. The strip line and the additional capacitance component are made as one piece circuit elements. The microstrip line is connected with a stub such that the stub may be trimmed to adjust the oscillation frequency. A cascode connecting amplifier which lessens the oscillation frequency fluctuation due to load variations is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakamoto, Hiroki Uemura
  • Patent number: 5185583
    Abstract: An actively biased oscillator (200) includes a set of current sensing components (214,216) for sensing the amount of current flowing into the first terminal of the amplifier; and a differential amplifier (212) responsive to the current sensing components for automatically adjusting the amount of current flowing into the second terminal of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Leng H. Ooi, Stephen B. Einbinder