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.

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.

Abstract: A superheterodyne receiver has a receiver circuit formed into a single semiconductor chip comprising a pseudo band-pass filter employing components equivalent to those of an intermediate-frequency filter of the receiver circuit and an oscillation circuit employing the pseudo band-pass filter as a feedback path thereof.The oscillation circuit oscillates at a frequency equal in value to the center frequency of the intermediate-frequency filter. The semiconductor chip is further equipped with a PLL circuit allowing the frequency-division ratio of a variable frequency-divider circuit to be varied in order to control a reception frequency, and the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit is monitored. Data representing the reception frequency is derived from the monitored oscillation frequency and the value of the frequency-division ratio of the variable frequency-divider circuit, and then output to a display element to display the reception frequency.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: In addition to a first opening (11) forming a primary output from a waveguide cavity (10) of a microwave oscillator, a coupling aperture (12) in a reflective wall (32) provides a secondary output which does not degrade the performance or tuning characteristics of the source. Less than -20 dB of the source power may be coupled out via the aperture (12) and is used in a feed-back loop (12,21,23,24,36) with an harmonic mixer (21) and frequency discriminator (24) to stabilize the source. The mixer comprises a further waveguide section (15) separated from the source cavity (10) by the reflective wall (32). An advantageous mixer assembly comprises a circuit substrate which is mounted across the further waveguide cavity (15) and which carries an inductive probe by which the signal from the coupling aperture (12) is fed to an antiparallel pair of mixer diodes on the substrate. The whole assembly may be bolted together through holes (34).

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) comprised of a differential pair of transistors that have respective positive feedback paths with phase-lead networks cross-coupled. Each positive feedback path on each side has two different phase-lead branches. The two phase-lead branches have the same phase differences on each side of the differential pair, in order to maintain a symmetry that improves common-mode noise rejection on a voltage control differential input. Current-steering is used to control the mixture of currents that arrive at the bases of the differential transistor pair from the respective two different phase-lead branches, and thereby changing the frequency of the VCO.

Abstract: A modulation circuit that is particularly suited for a communication modem and provides for each of the channels precise carrier mark and space frequencies generated in response to external signals from an FSK communication station. The modulation circuit includes first and second frequency controlling circuits arranged with an inductor to form a resonant circuit of a voltage variable oscillator. The modulation circuit further includes a feedback control network and a voltage-frequency control adjustment circuit. The feedback control network generates a loop error signal applied to both frequency controlling circuits. The voltage-frequency control adjustment circuit generates a voltage-frequency adjustment control signal and has a switching circuit responsive to the external signals. The voltage-frequency control adjustment circuit includes an inverting network and a bias network.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator according to the present invention comprises: a transistor, where the drain electrode is grounded, the gate electrode is connected to a resonator whose resonant frequency is adjustable according to a voltage applied to a voltage-dependent capacitance diode electromagnetically coupled with the resonator, an output signal is output from the source electrode; a resistor connected in gate bias circuit or source voltage supply circuit for detecting a low-frequency noise component generated in the transistor, where the detected low-frequency noise component is amplified and fed back to the voltage-dependent capacitance diode so as to cancel a phase-noise component generated in the voltage-controlled oscillator. The above-described voltage-controlled oscillator may be further provided with a reference crystal oscillator to which the voltage-controlled oscillator is phase-locked.

Abstract: A SAW stabilized oscillator includes a phase locking circuit which is phase locked to a lower frequency reference signal having an odd order difference with respect to the fundamental frequency of the SAW oscillator. A mixer is disposed in the phase locking circuitry and is used as a sub-harmonic phase detector by mixing the fundamental with an odd harmonic of the reference signal.

Abstract: A monolithically integrated microcomputer clocked at a processor clock rate includes a clock generator in the form of an RC oscillator being synchronizable by external signals for controlling at least one functional unit operating asynchronously with the processor clock rate. The RC oscillator has a frequency-determining resistor and a frequency-determining capacitor being monolithically integrated. The frequency-determining capacitor is formed of a plurality of switchable capacitors to be interconnected to make a total capacitor with a variable size. Registers are each connected to a respective one of the capacitors for defining a switching state of the switchable capacitors. A central processing unit is connected to the registers for adjusting the frequency of the clock generator by setting the registers.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop includes an oscillator controlled by means of a switching network and a microprocessor which generates, in response to the output of a phase detector, two groups of output signals. A first group (Q1 . . . QN) is for adjusting the frequency of the oscillator in steps by selectively switching in frequency determining elements, and a second group (P1 . . . PM) for feeding a pulse duration modulator. The pulse duration modulator produces a control signal for a frequency determining minimum element of the switching network. The control signal has a duty cycle indicative of the frequency determination contribution by the minimum element.

Abstract: A PLL synthesizer includes a voltage-controlled oscillator generating an output signal having a frequency based on a first signal supplied thereto, a PLL control circuit which generates a second signal based on the output signal and a set frequency, a lowpass filter having an input terminal and an output terminal, for filtering the second signal supplied through the input terminal to thereby generate the first signal supplied to the voltage-controlled oscillator through the output terminal, and a switch circuit which is coupled between the input and output terminals of the lowpass filter and which supplies the second signal directly to the voltage-controlled oscillator during a predetermined time when the set frequency is changed.

Abstract: A reference time signal generation system 10 is provided which comprises a phase lock loop circuit 12 which generates a reference voltage V.sub.m. The phase lock loop circuit 12 comprises first and second divider circuits 14 and 18 coupled to the input of a phase comparator 16. The output of the phase comparator 16 is coupled to a loop filter 20 which generates a DC representation of the phase differential of the inputs of the phase comparator 16. The output of the loop filter 20 is input into a bias generator 26. The output of the bias generator 26 is coupled to the input of a voltage controlled oscillator 28 which has its output coupled to the input of second divider circuit 18. The reference voltage signal V.sub.m is taken from the output of the bias generator 26 and is transmitted to remote timing elements 32, 34 and 36 where it may be used to create reference timing signals which will accurately track the reference clock signal input into phase lock loop circuit 12.

Abstract: A diode tuned resonant circuit (42) with an inductor (L1) a first variable reactance diode (VAR1) connected in parallel with the inductor (L1), and a second variable reactance diode (VAR2) connected in series with the parallel combination of the inductor (L1) and first diode (VAR1) is used in an oscillator circuit. The resonant frequency of the circuit may be adjusted over a relatively broad frequency range while maintaining a relatively constant Q-factor by applying a biasing voltage to the first and second diodes (VAR1, VAR2).

Abstract: A circuit for generating a control signal includes a frequency-determining element (C3), a clock generator for generating a clock signal and a control circuit coupled to the clock generator for generating a control signal as a function of the magnitude of the voltage at the frequency-determining element and for applying the control signal to the frequency-determining element. The control circuit includes a sawtooth generator having a sawtooth frequency-determining element (C1) for converting the clock signal into a second signal having a constant slope as a function of time, and a storage element (C2) which produces a voltage that depends on the amplitude of the sawtooth signal.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer is designed to modify voltage value data read out of a memory in accordance with the output voltage of a filter, and apply a d.c. voltage corresponding to the modified data to a second variable-capacitance diode at the control input of a VCO, thereby allowing the VCO frequency switching without imposing a significant fluctuation of the application voltage to a first variable-capacitance diode and accomplishing a short channel switching time and stable operation against temperature fluctuation. The device is further designed to supply a voltage setup value read out of the memory to the second variable-capacitance diode thereby to reduce the frequency matching time at channel switching, and to determine such another voltage setup value as to reduce the time of phase matching based on the trend of change in the filter output voltage and supply the value to the second variable-capacitance diode.

Abstract: A circuit for use in conjunction with a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The circuit introduces modulation into a radio system (to create a substantially flat frequency response) at the same VCO port at which VCO frequency centering and negative bias control signals are introduced. A potentiometer is utilized both for providing an adjustable negative bias to the varactor in the VCO resonant circuit and for setting the VCO to the appropriate center frequency. Modulation compensation circuitry is coupled to the control arm of the potentiometer and to the anode of the varactor (via a choke 4). The modulation compensating circuitry is preferably designed to have a transfer function that is substantially the inverse of the closed loop transfer function of the phase locked loop system with respect to the frequency modulation of the VCO.

Abstract: A timing recovery apparatus for a burst mode communication receiver. The apparatus provides for optimum sampling and digitizing of received data at a plurality of data rates. In particular, a VCO is phase-locked to a local frequency reference prior to data being received. A reference timing preamble transmitted prior to the data is filtered and fed to the VCO causing it to injection lock such that the VCO becomes phase aligned with the preamble. The VCO is then permitted to "free run" during data transmission and continues to operate at substantially the same frequency. A synchronous divider and multiplexer, responsive to the VCO, allows selection of sampling clocks for the plurality of data rates. The divider is forced to a known state during VCO injection locking, to assure that the sampling clocks have maintained the proper phase for optimal sampling at the corresponding data rate. Further, means is provided to monitor the frequency of the VCO.

Abstract: An improved voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is provided whereby the control voltage is utilized for modulation compensation by a modulation compensation network (90). The modulating signal is variably coupled into the voltage controlled oscillator (70) to compensate for the variation in the VCO's gain factor to yield a constant modulation level over a frequency band.

Abstract: A modulation and range shift device for use with a PLL frequency synthesizer VCO. The modulation signal is provided to the negative side of the tuning varactor (16) of the VCO (14). In addition, variable voltages can be applied to the negative side of the tuning varactor (16) to achieve range shift as desired. Component variations in the modulation section (18) need not be varied to accommodate changes in the loop filter (12 and 13) of the PLL circuit.

Abstract: Receiver (1-9) provided with a frequency control loop (2-6) for automatic fine tuning, consecutively incorporating a controllable oscillator (6) which is tunable in frequency by means of a variable capacitance diode (D), a mixer stage (2) to which the signal from the controllable oscillator (6) is applied for converting an RF receiver signal into an intermediate frequency signal, a frequency voltage converter (4) tuned to a fixed intermediate frequency for converting frequency deviations of the intermediate frequency signal relative to the fixed intermediate frequency into amplitude variations of the frequency voltage converter (4) output signal relative to a refrence value, a control signal generating circuit (5) for deriving a control signal for the variable capacitance diode (D) of the controllable oscillator (6) from the output signal of the frequency voltage converter (4), which at least partly compensates the asymmetrical diode capacitance-voltage characteristic.

Abstract: A four-diode bridge is positioned within the cavity of a Gunn diode oscillator. A subharmonic signal is applied to the diode bridge and the diode bridge couples an odd harmonic of the injected signal into the cavity. The cavity is thus caused to resonate at the odd harmonic of the injected signal. The injected signal can be changed using a frequency synthesizer in order to provide a microwave oscillator with multiple-channel operation. The diode bridge provides a feedback signal indicative of the phase of cavity oscillation. The feedback signal is applied to a varactor which pretunes the Gunn diode oscillator and thereby provides phase-locked control.

Abstract: A variable capacitance circuit includes a varactor having an anode side and a cathode side. A first variable bias voltage is applied to one of the sides and one of a plurality of voltages is applied as a second bias voltage to the other side for controlling the capacitance of the varactor. A voltage multiplier circuit connected to a voltage divider network is used for supplying the plurality of voltages. A decoder is responsive to input signals for selecting and applying one of the multiple voltage outputs. The variable capacitance circuit is used in a voltage controlled oscillator of a frequency synthesizer for providing extended frequency range.

Abstract: The IC chip consists of electronic circuits wherein voltage control oscillator whose oscillation frequency is dependent on the product of the resistance value of a resistor element and the electrostatic capacity of a capacitor element is provided; said capacitor element consists of the first variable capacitor; said voltage control oscillator comprises said capacitor consisting of said first variable capacitor; said first variable capacitor is controlled by the output obtained by detecting the output signal of said voltage control oscillator by its phase, using the predetermined reference signal, whereby the oscillation frequency of said voltage control oscillator can be made to agree with the frequency of said reference signal.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes automatic adjust circuitry to achieve and maintain desired operating characteristics such that for a predetermined output frequency the oscillator will have a predetermined input voltage. The oscillator may advantageously be incorporated into a phase locked loop circuit. The phase locked loop will lock onto the frequency of an input signal. Automatic adjust circuitry monitors the input to the voltage controlled oscillator in the phase locked loop and varies the amount of a bias voltage applied to the oscillator so that the input voltage to the oscillator will change until it reaches the desired level. The provision of the automatic adjust circuitry enables the desired operating characteristics of the oscillator to be maintained in spite of long term changes in the circuit operation.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator of the type wherein a variable capacitance diode is connected in parallel with a distributed parameter line functioning as a resonance circuit, whose capacitance varies in response to voltage control. To vary the resonance wavelength of the distributed parameter line a condenser is connected in series therewith, and the condenser is short-circuited by a switching diode. A coaxial dielectric line, strip line, coaxial cable, etc. may be used as the resonance circuit element by dividing the distributed parameter line into two parts and employing these elements as the divided parts.

Abstract: A system and method for continuous tuning of a YIG oscillator over its entire operating range by control of a resolver in a feedback loop around the oscillator. The resolver and a delay line form a phase shift network the output of which is compared in phase with the output of the oscillator, which is also coupled to the input of the resolver, and the phase-difference signal resulting from the phase comparison is coupled to an integrator connected in turn to the tuning signal input of the oscillator. Repetitive operation of the resolver over its operating range enables continuous tuning of the oscillator over its entire operating range.

Abstract: A frequency stable RF oscillator 10 comprises a variable frequency RF source in the form of a microwave cavity 24 having a Gunn diode 26 and a varactor 28 mounted therein, and produces an RF output frequency f.sub.o. The output of a frequency stable reference oscillator 14 having a frequency f.sub.r is impressed upon the RF source. Through self-mixing action of the Gunn diode, an IF whose frequency is f.sub.IF =.vertline.nf.sub.r -f.sub.o .vertline. is generated, n being a high harmonic number. The IF is detected by an IF amplifier 18 which forms part of a frequency lock loop controlling the frequency of the RF source.

Abstract: A modulatable oscillator for radio frequencies is disclosed in which the single resonant tank includes a tightly coupled varactor diode for wideband modulation and frequency control. Nonlinearities introduced by the varactor diode are compensated by predistortion of the modulated signal yielding a predetermined modulation characteristic which is maintained over temperature.

Abstract: An injection locked RF oscillator comprises a variable frequency RF source 12 having a Gunn diode 20 and a varactor 22, and a frequency stable reference oscillator 14 whose output f.sub.i is injected into the source to cause injection locking of the source. The output of a low frequency perturbation oscillator 30 is applied to the varactor and the resultant variation in the current consumption I.sub.o of the Gunn diode detected by amplifier 28 and filter 36 to provide a control signal which is effective to shift the resonant frequency f.sub.o of the source 12 towards the frequency f.sub.i of the reference oscillator, or a harmonic thereof. A sweep-and-lock circuit 44 is provided to acquire injection locking upon switch-on.

Abstract: An FM demodulator having a phase comparator, a low-pass filter and a VCO including a variable capacitance diode, an input signal being applied to the phase comparator and a demodulated output signal being taken from the low-pass filter. The FM demodulator further includes a compensating circuit consisting of a non-linear element connected between the demodulated output terminal and the VCO, whereby the secondary distortion in the output signal to be caused due to the non-linearity of the variable capacitance diode is canceled.

Abstract: A PLL circuit arrangement comprising a voltage controlled oscillator, the frequency of which is determined by the alternating charging and discharging of a capacitor, and a phase comparator, to a first input of which the output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator is supplied and to a second input of which a reference signal is supplied and from the output signal of which the signal controlling the oscillator is derived, wherein the capacitor can be charged by means of a current source circuit having a current intensity which can be switched over, the current intensity of the current source circuit can be switched over to a different value during each charging process, and wherein the moment of switching over of the current source circuit can be changed as a function of the output signal of the phase comparator.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement of an FM demodulator of the PLL system including a VCO, a phase comparator and a low-pass filter, whereby the distortion components of the FM demodulated signal to be caused due to nonlinearity of the frequency vs. control voltage characteristic of the VCO are eliminated. This improved FM demodulator of the PLL system includes a circuit for making the harmonic distortion components from the output signal of the low-pass filter and synthesizing them with the output signal of the low-pass filter so as to obtain the non-distorted FM demodulated signal.

Abstract: In a voltage-controlled oscillator having an LC resonant circuit including a varactor circuit so that resonant frequency is controlled by a D.C. bias or control voltage applied to the varactor circuit, three or more varactors are connected in series in one embodiment so that a high-frequency voltage applied to the varactor circuit is divided into a plurality. The varactors may be connected in the same direction or opposite direction. In another embodiment, a plurality of series circuits of varactors are connected in parallel to provide the varactor circuit, where each series circuit comprises two or more varactors. A series-parallel connection of a plurality of varactors may be arranged in a matrix. In order to reduce undesirable stray capacitance, some or all varactors are attached to a printed circuit board so that they are normal to the plane of the printed circuit board. In one embodiment an auxiliary printed circuit board is employed so that some varactors are spaced from a main circuit board.

Abstract: An LC-type oscillator employing a differential amplifier to switch a tank circuit in response to a feedback signal. A voltage controlled variable capacitor is employed to control the frequency of oscillation. The bias across the variable capacitor is closely controlled to avoid errors in the frequency of oscillation during the period of startup, which would otherwise create an undesired error in the oscillation frequency.

Abstract: A push-pull microwave oscillator circuit, including two transistors, for producing the second harmonic of a fundamental frequency at a symmetry point of the circuit which is connected to the bases of the transistors through identical arrangements of circuit elements. The circuit includes tuning means coupled to at least one of the transistors, an output and an input. The output, which is utilized to provide to a phase comparison means an output signal at the fundamental of the second harmonic frequency, is coupled to the base of at least one of the transistors by a capacitive impedance. The input, which is utilized to receive a tuning signal produced by the phase comparison means in response to the output signal, is coupled to the tuning means.

Abstract: A circuit for minimizing non-linearity of an FM-demodulator which is in the form of a phase control circuit whereby its voltage controlled oscillator is controlled by adjusting the voltage applied to a capacitive diode coupled thereto so as to adjust the zero-axis crossing of the demodulator to coincide with the center frequency of the input signal to be demodulated.

Abstract: A high-frequency negative resistance circuit for use in a voltage controlled crystal oscillator has a pair of input terminals thereby defining an input current and input voltage. The high-frequency negative resistance circuit includes a sensing circuit for sensing the input current, a biasing voltage source and a load impedance connected to the voltage source. The high-frequency negative resistance circuit further comprises a current mirror circuit connected to the sensing circuit and to the load impedance for producing a current in the load impedance. The current in the load impedance is approximately equal to the input current. The current mirror circuit also controls the sensing circuit to cause the input voltage to decrease as the input current increases. Decreasing input voltage with increasing input current defines the negative resistance. When this negative resistance circuit is configured with a crystal and a voltage controlled capacitance, an oscillator capable of high-frequency operation results.

Abstract: Two collocated, weakly coupled probes, on loop and one dipole, detect the magnetic and electric fields inside a maser cavity. Signals from the probes are compared in phase, and the signal output from the phase detector is applied to a varactor, the reactance of which is coupled into the cavity by a microwave coupler. Alternatively, the varactor may be placed inside the cavity. Any deviation of phase from 90.degree. as detected by the phase detector will then produce an error signal that will change the reactance coupled into the resonant cavity to change its reactance, and thus correct its resonance frequency. An alternative to using two probes is to use a single disk probe oriented to detect both the magnetic and electric fields, and thus provide the error signal directly.

Abstract: In a compensated VCO circuit arrangement for providing constant modulation level over a wide frequency band a VCO is disclosed having a linear VCO gain factor vs. control voltage curve over the wide frequency band of interest. A compensation network is coupled to the VCO to provide an audio output having a linear output level vs. control voltage curve. By appropriately matching the two linear curves the variation in modulation level over the frequency band of interest is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A phase lock circuit including a phase/frequency detector, a plurality of selectable filters, and a plurality of variable frequency signal generators connected in a loop to lock an output signal to an input signal. An out-of-frequency-range condition detector is provided to facilitate automatic selection of an appropriate in-range combination of filter and signal generator to cause lock to occur.

Abstract: An oscillator having sufficient accuracy and precision for use in aircraft microwave-landing systems is constructed without the use of an external inductor. A resonant tank circuit comprising both capacitance and inductance is attained by the use of inductance found internally in the base-emitter junction of a transistor suitably biased for operation at the frequencies of a microwave landing system. A transistor having greater-than-unity gain in the oscillation-frequency range is selected for which the angle of the reflection coefficient of the base-emitter junction is positive in the oscillation-frequency range.

Abstract: A wideband phase locked loop oscillator (PLLO) for tracking the frequency of an altitude signal in an FM/CW type radio altimeter. The phase locked loop oscillator conventionally includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the altitude signal to be tracked with the phase of the VCO output and an error signal amplifier for applying the output of the phase comparator as control voltage to the VCO. The frequency range of the PLLO is extended by changing the natural frequency of the VCO in steps spanning the useful frequency range of the altitude signal. Selection of the proper value of VCO natural frequency is effected through microprocessor directed digital control.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator for use in a phase locked loop is provided with a first varactor circuit that responds to a control signal to set the center frequency of the oscillator, and with a second varactor circuit comprising a modulation varactor that responds to a modulation signal to cause the oscillator to produce a modulated output. The modulation sensitivity of the oscillator is made relatively constant between upper and lower center frequencies by applying a portion of the modulation signal to the first varactor circuit in addition to the control signal.