Abstract: A cascaded oscillator array includes a first oscillator array and a second oscillator array. The first oscillator array includes at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a first ring such that the first oscillator array outputs a first oscillating signal. Each of the at least three oscillator elements is coupled to receive a signal from a sensing element. The second oscillator array includes at least three oscillator elements coupled unidirectionally in a second ring such that the second oscillator array outputs a second oscillating signal. A first number of the at least three oscillator elements of the first oscillator array is the same as a second number of the at least three oscillator elements of the second oscillator. Each oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the second oscillator array is coupled to receive an output signal from a single oscillator element of the at least three oscillator elements of the first oscillator.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) module including a first VCO unit, a second VCO unit, and a matching circuit is provided. The first VCO unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal and generates a first oscillator signal. The second VCO unit is coupled to the first VCO unit and generates a second oscillator signal. The matching circuit is coupled between the first VCO unit and second VCO unit. The matching circuit includes a plurality of inductor modules respectively coupled between the first terminal of the first VCO unit and the second VCO unit, between the first terminal and the second terminal of the first VCO unit, and between the second terminal of the first VCO unit and the second VCO unit. Furthermore, a method for generating oscillator signals is also provided.

Abstract: A signal generator provides a plurality of oscillating signals, whereby each oscillating signal has a different peak voltage and has a predictable and consistent phase relationship with the other oscillating signals. The signal generator includes a plurality of stacked oscillators arranged between two reference voltages, such that each oscillator in the stack generates an oscillating signal having a different peak voltage. Each oscillator stage in a designated oscillator includes a transistor that is connected to a transistor of a corresponding stage in another oscillator. This arrangement of the oscillators provides for charge transfer between the corresponding stages to provide for similar voltage swings in each oscillating signal, as well as to provide for predictable phase relationship between the oscillating signals.

Abstract: A quadrature output high-frequency RF divide-by-two circuit includes a pair of differential complementary logic latches. The latches are interconnected to form a toggle flip-flop. Each latch includes a tracking cell and a locking cell. In a first embodiment, the locking cell includes two complementary logic inverters and two transmission gates. When the locking cell is locked, the two gates are enabled such that the locked (i.e., latched) signal passes through both transmission gates and both inverters. In one advantageous aspect, the tracking cell only involves two transmission gates. Due to the circuit topology, the first embodiment is operable from a low supply voltage at a high operating frequency while consuming a low amount of supply current. In a second and third embodiment, the tracking cell involves a pair of inverters. The sources of the transistors of the inverters are, however, coupled together thereby resulting in performance advantages over conventional circuits.

Abstract: A device can be coupled to an electrical load for supplying electrical power to the electrical load. The device contains an oscillator unit and an auxiliary oscillator unit. The oscillator unit is configured to generate an output signal of the device which can be supplied to the electrical load and which has a first frequency. The auxiliary oscillator unit is electrically coupled to the oscillator unit. The auxiliary oscillator unit is configured to excite the oscillator unit to oscillate at a second frequency greater than the first frequency. The auxiliary oscillator unit contains a timing element which is configured and arranged to terminate the excitation of the oscillator unit after the expiration of a pre-specified period of time after the start of the oscillator unit and the auxiliary oscillator unit.

Abstract: Methods are described that involve characterizing an oscillator's jitter or phase noise over a plurality of the oscillator's effective number of delay stages. The oscillator comprises a series of delay stages. Each one of the effective number of delay stages, if selected for the oscillator, describes a respective permissible range of inverter drive strengths that may be used within each delay stage of the oscillator to achieve a respective jitter or phase noise characteristic.

Abstract: A first and a second fixed-frequency oscillator coupled in a ring topology to generate a variable frequency output is provided. Frequency variation is achieved by varying the coupling between the two oscillators. The coupling may be varied by using a variable current or voltage source. The first fixed frequency oscillator may generate a first signal which is ninety degrees out of phase with a second signal generated by the second fixed frequency oscillator. An apparatus is provided comprising a first oscillator which produces a first signal, a second oscillator which produces a second signal which is about ninety degrees out of phase with the first signal, and first and second coupling modules, coupling the first and second oscillators. A frequency control circuit is provided which varies the coupling of the first and second coupling modules and thereby varies the frequency of the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator, with high noise rejection of the supply voltage, includes a plurality of delay cells in an odd number N.gtoreq.3, which are connected to form a first ring oscillator and powered by the difference between a supply voltage Vcc and a variable regulating voltage VR. The VCO comprises at least one second ring oscillator formed by a plurality of delay cells in an odd number M.gtoreq.3, at least one of which is also a delay cell of the first oscillator and at least two of which do not belong to the first oscillator. At least one of these two cells is powered by a constant voltage (Vcc), in such a manner that the two oscillators operate at the same frequency and the interaction between the two oscillators introduces a high-frequency negative feedback which has the effect of effectively reducing the noise of the supply voltage Vcc.

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.

Abstract: BiCMOS technology is used in the design of a VCO (200) to improve low DC operation. The VCO (200) includes two coupled oscillator circuits (201,219) tuned to different fixed frequencies such that the oscillator resonant frequencies define the tuning range of the VCO (200). The oscillator circuits (201, 219) are coupled such that the frequency of oscillation of the VCO (200) is adjustable via variable resistors (206, 214) by manipulating the bias currents to the two oscillator circuits (201,219). A biasing circuit (208) along with variable resistors (206 and 214) provide the DC bias to the oscillator circuits (201 and 219). The biasing circuit (208) maintains the sum of the biasing currents to the oscillator circuits constant. The oscillator circuits (201, and 219) are interconnected utilizing an RF coupling circuit (211). The VCO (200) is capable of operating at voltages as low as 1.8 volts DC.

Abstract: A pulse generator includes a capacitor having one end held at a reference potential and the other end, a first inverter having a threshold voltage and its input portion connected to the other end of the capacitor, a control circuit producing a signal for discharging the capacitor for a limited time period in response to an output from the first inverter, a switch for discharging the capacitor in response to the discharging signal, a resistor having a resistance, a current controller controlling the current flowing through the resistor to have a value obtained by dividing the threshold voltage by the resistance, and a means for supplying the current to the capacitor, output pulses being derived from input and/or output portion and/or internal portion of the control circuit. The control circuit may be a monostable multivibrator, a delay circuit or the like.

Abstract: Structures (30) with IMPATT type diodes (34) located periodically along a transmission line (38-32) to simulate a distributed diode are disclosed. Preferred embodiments include incorporation of the periodic diode structures as the gain element of microwave amplifiers and oscillators. Preferred embodiments also place capacitors between the diodes to fix nodes in the electric field and increase the effective structure size.

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.

Abstract: A frequency converter utilizing a novel four terminal semiconductor device having an emitter grounded current amplification characteristic which is V-shaped wherein the gate terminal of the four terminal device is biased to the low point of the emitter grounded current amplification characteristic and wherein a signal which varies in time is applied to the gate terminal to cause the emitter grounded current amplification factor to fluctuate at both sides of its low point. A tuning circuit is provided in series with the emitter-collector terminals of the four terminal device and is tuned to twice the frequency of the input signal applied to the gate terminal.

Abstract: A current-to-current isolator is utilized in a monitoring system between a signal transmitter and a control room instrument. The isolator has a master oscillator, including a first transformer, a slave oscillator, a current transformer and a rectifying circuit, so that the current signal at its input is closely reproduced at its output. The isolator is powered by the signal current from the transmitter and does not require an external power source.