Abstract: Inductive position sensing uses inductance multiplication with series connected sensor coils. In one embodiment, a first sensing domain area is established in a first target plane using first and second sensor coils disposed on a longitudinal axis, on opposite sides of the first target plane and connected in series, so that a series-combined inductance is a multiple of a sum of the respective first and second coil inductances. Target position within the first sensing domain area of the first target plane is detected based on the series-combined inductance of the first and second coils, which changes as the target moves within the first sensing domain area of the first target plane. Further sensitivity can be achieved by additional coils, series connected on the same longitudinal axis, each coil pair defining a sensing area on a respective target plane intermediate the coils.

Abstract: A buried object detector comprising: a loop antenna and an RF source, the RF source coupled to the loop antenna and arranged to feed the loop antenna with an RF signal, the detector further comprising a detector circuit coupled to the loop antenna and arranged to detect changes in the quality factor of a resonant circuit formed by the loop antenna, wherein the loop antenna is arranged to magnetically couple with a buried object, thereby reducing the quality factor of the resonant circuit.

Abstract: A proximity sensor includes a relatively simple health monitoring circuit. The proximity sensor includes a variable gain oscillator, a feedback circuit, and a proximity determination circuit. The variable gain oscillator has a gain that varies with the proximity of a target to a sensor coil, generates an oscillating electrical signal having a substantially constant amplitude magnitude, and generates an energy signal representative of the electrical energy needed to sustain oscillations. The feedback circuit supplies feedback to the oscillator, and the proximity determination circuit, based on the energy signal, supplies a proximity signal representative of target proximity to the sensor coil. The health monitor circuit also receives the oscillating electrical signal and supplies a health status signal representative of proximity sensor health.

Abstract: Resonant impedance sensing with a resonant sensor (such as LC) is based on generating a controlled negative impedance to maintain steady-state oscillation in response to changes in resonance state caused by interaction with a target. Resonant impedance sensing can include: (a) generating a controlled negative impedance at the sensor; (b) controlling the negative impedance based on a detected resonance state to substantially cancel the sensor resonant impedance, such that the sensor resonance state corresponds to steady-state oscillation, where the negative impedance is controlled by a negative impedance control loop that includes the sensor resonator as a loop filter; and (c) providing sensor response data based on the controlled negative impedance, such that the sensor response data represents a response of the sensor to the target. Thus, the response of the sensor to the target corresponds to the negative impedance required for steady-state oscillation.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a crop feeler system automatically executes a navigational task based on a proximity of a vehicle to an obstacle. The crop feeler system includes a hub attached to the vehicle. Inside the hub are two oscillating circuits each having an oscillating frequency. A member is coupled to the hub. Two inductive elements are positioned within the member so that, when the obstacle comes into contact with the member, at least one of the inductive elements moves closer to at least one of the oscillating circuits and alters the oscillating frequency of that oscillating circuit. A navigation sensor measures the oscillating frequency of the oscillating circuit, identifies a navigational task using the oscillating frequency of the oscillating circuit, and executes the navigational task.

Abstract: An oscillator system having: an UHF oscillator, such as a SAW oscillator, for producing a signal having a controllable frequency; a passive vibration, suppressor mechanically coupled to the UHF oscillator for suppressing vibrations above a predetermined bandwidth BW1 on the UHF oscillator; and an active vibration suppressor. The active vibration suppressor includes an accelerometer for sensing vibrations within a predetermined bandwidth BW2 on the UHF oscillator; and an HF or VHF oscillator, such as a crystal oscillator, producing a signal having a frequency controlled by the accelerometer. A control loop having a bandwidth changeable with sensed vibration level is fed the oscillator and the UHF oscillator for controlling the frequency of the signal produced by the SAW oscillator in accordance with a difference between the signal produced the HF or VHF oscillator and the signal produced by the UHF oscillator, the control loop having a bandwidth BW3; where BW1<BW3<BW2.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting analytes, a method of making the sensor, and a method of using the sensor. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises at least one array comprising a plurality of resonators. The resonators can be arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and can be connected in a combined series-parallel configuration. The resonators can be adapted to vibrate independently at about the same resonance frequency and about the same phase. The sensor can also comprise an actuator and a signal detector electrically coupled to the array. The sensor can also further comprise an analyte delivery system and can be functionalized for detection of at least one analyte.

Abstract: Gain switching is performed by a DC amplifying circuit. The DC amplifying circuit is provided with individual gain generating circuits and a gain selecting circuit, and saturation preventing circuits are provided in earlier stages than the individual gain generating circuits. The individual gain generating circuit generates a gain G1, the individual gain generating circuit generates a gain G2 (where G2>G1), and the individual gain generating circuit generates a gain G3 (where G3>G2). The gain selecting circuit selects, as a used gain generating circuit, one of the individual gain generating circuits, and sends the output thereof to an A/D converting circuit in a later stage.

Abstract: An IC includes first and second pads. The first pad is configured to receive an external clock. Alternatively, the first and second pads are configured to be coupled to a crystal oscillator and receive a reference clock. Alternatively, the second pad is configured to be grounded. The IC includes an internal oscillator for generating an internal clock, and an oscillator detector coupled to the second pad. The oscillator detector includes a transistor having a gate coupled to the second pad configured to pull a source-drain region to a first state if the second pad receives the reference clock or allow the source-drain region to be pulled to a second state if the second pad is grounded. The IC includes a buffer for transferring the first state to the internal oscillator for keeping the internal oscillator enabled and transferring the second state to the internal oscillator for disabling the internal oscillator.

Abstract: A resonator-controlled oscillator arrangement comprises a resonator-controlled oscillator of which the operating frequency is adjustable and a control circuit for setting the operating frequency of the oscillator. The control circuit is operative to set the operating frequency in dependence upon prevailing ambient conditions. The control circuit has a control input for initiating a set-up procedure during which the operating frequency of the oscillator is set to a value remote from any resonance frequency of a coupled mode that would cause an activity dip.

Abstract: A resonator comprising: a frame; a first oscillator configured to oscillate with respect to the frame; a first driver configured to drive the first oscillator at the first oscillator's resonant frequency; a first half of a first relative position switch mounted to the first oscillator; a second oscillator having substantially the same resonant frequency as the first oscillator, wherein the first and second oscillators are designed to respond in substantially the same manner to external perturbations to the frame; a second half of the first relative position switch mounted to the second oscillator; and wherein as the first oscillator oscillates there is relative motion between the first and second oscillators such that the first relative position switch passes through a closed state in each oscillation when the first and second switch halves pass by each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oscillator and a communication system using the oscillator, in particular, an LC oscillator adapted to lessen phase noise deterioration due to harmonic distortions and increase the amplitude of oscillation, thereby having a favorable low phase noise characteristic. The oscillator comprises at least one voltage to current converter consisting of a transistor and a resonator comprising two LC tanks consisting of a pair of conductive elements and inductive elements. A feedback loop is formed such that an output terminal of the voltage to current converter is connected to the resonator and a current input to the resonator is converted to a voltage which is in turn fed back to an input terminal of the voltage to current converter. Inductive elements constituting the two LC tanks constituting the resonator are mutually inductively couple and a coefficient of the mutual induction is about ?0.6.

Abstract: The device has a component providing an outlet signal whose oscillation frequency depends on a physical unit to be measured, and a reference oscillator. A phase comparison component compares the component and the oscillator for control on the component or for mutual control. A synchronization unit permits alternatively blocking and oscillation of the component. A determination unit determines a derivative signal from evolution of the output signal of the component. The device also includes an electrostatic type keyboard having an electrode assembly.

Abstract: A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, an output circuit that causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations based on a signal that is converted into a voltage with respect to a given voltage, and a high-pass filter that is provided in the oscillation loop between the current-voltage converter and the output circuit. The driver device causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while changing a reference potential of the high-pass filter, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while fixing the reference potential.

Abstract: An oscillator assembly including an oscillator seated on a pad of thermally conductive material formed on the surface of a printed circuit board and covered by a lid defining an oven for the oscillator. In one embodiment, a plurality of heaters are located on different sides of the oscillator and at least partially seated on the pad for evenly transferring heat to the pad and the oscillator. In one embodiment, the oscillator is a temperature compensated crystal oscillator and an integrated amplifier controller circuit on the printed circuit board integrates at least one operational amplifier for controlling the heater(s) and one or more transistors for providing heat to the oven. A canopy seated on the pad and covering the oscillator can be used for transferring heat more evenly to the oscillator. A cavity in the bottom of the printed circuit board defines an insulative air pocket.

Abstract: A driver device that forms an oscillation loop with a vibrator and causes the vibrator to produce driving vibrations includes a current-voltage converter that converts a current that flows through the vibrator into a voltage, an output circuit that causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations based on a signal that is converted into a voltage with respect to a given voltage, and a high-pass filter that is provided in the oscillation loop between the current-voltage converter and the output circuit. The driver device causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while changing a reference potential of the high-pass filter, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations while fixing the reference potential.

Abstract: A device for inducing a user's motion in a rhythm responsive to a motion rhythm after the user's motion rhythm changes suddenly. The walking assist device generates a first oscillator which attains mutual entrainment with a user's hip joint angular velocity to reflect a natural angular velocity. On the other hand, a new natural angular velocity is set based on the phase difference between the hip joint angular velocity and the first oscillator. A second oscillator which oscillates in rhythm reflecting the natural angular velocity is generated. An inducing oscillator is generated based on the second oscillator, and a torque responsive to the inducing oscillator acts on the user's body. If the magnitude of a periodic variation in the hip joint angular velocity exceeds a threshold value, a second oscillator which oscillates in rhythm reflecting the angular velocity of the first oscillator instead of the natural angular velocity is generated.

Abstract: A method for compensating a clock bias in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver includes deriving at least one clock drift value comprising a first clock drift value corresponding to a first time point, and calculating the clock bias according to the at least one clock drift value and at least one interval within the time period between the first time point and a specific time point after the first time point. An apparatus for compensating a clock bias in a GNSS receiver is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inductive proximity switch with an oscillator having a resonant circuit and an amplifier and with an evaluating and control device for evaluating an impedance of the resonant circuit and for outputting a switching signal. According to the invention, the proximity switch is characterized in that a frequency measuring device is provided for measuring the oscillation frequency of the oscillator and for eliminating ambiguities of the evaluation result of the evaluating and control device. The invention also relates to a method for operating an inductive proximity switch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of a predamping state of an inductive sensor. The sensor has at least one oscillator with a resonant circuit and an oscillation amplifier. According to the method the oscillatory response of the oscillator is analyzed with an operating amplification or gain. According to the invention the method is further developed in that the oscillatory behavior of the oscillator is additionally analyzed for an analysis amplification or gain, which is chosen lower than the operating amplification. The analysis amplification is also chosen in such a way that the oscillatory response of the oscillator reacts sensitively to objects or articles located in close proximity to the sensor. The invention also relates to an inductive sensor with predamping detection.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oscillator having reduced sensitivity to acceleration. The oscillator includes a plurality of asymmetrically mounted resonator portions each having an active resonance region. The asymmetric mounting of the resonator portions means that each resonator portion has an axis passing through its active resonance region along which the acceleration sensitivity vector is dominant, i.e. the sensitivity to acceleration along the direction defined by one axis is much greater than the sensitivity to acceleration in other directions. The resonators are mounted in an oscillator such that their dominant axes are directed in different directions, e.g. an anti-parallel arrangement, which means that the dominant acceleration sensitivity vectors can cancel each other out.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sensing instrument capable to detect a substance existing in a very small quantity, such as environmental pollutants, instantly with a high degree of precision. As a specific means for solving the problem, a frequency signal from a crystal oscillator is sampled using a frequency signal from a reference clock generating part, the sampling value is outputted in a digital signal, quadrature detection is conducted with the digital signal for a frequency signal corresponding to the output signal, the rotational vector rotating at a frequency corresponding to the difference between the frequency of the frequency signal and the frequency of a sinusoidal wave used for the quadrature detection is taken out, and the variation of the frequency is detected by detecting the velocity of the rotational vector based on the respective sampling values.

Abstract: A speed monitor circuit integrated in an integrated circuit (IC) determines the speed of the IC. The speed monitor circuit includes an oscillator that generates an oscillator signal. A speed determining circuit generates a first count based on transitions of the oscillator signal. A match signal corresponds to the speed of the oscillator based on the first count and a reference count.

Abstract: A system capable of controlling an autonomous walking assist rhythm, while following changes in a walking rhythm of a walker at the same time. A control system 100 in accordance with the present invention generates a first oscillator x that tugs and is tugged by a walking oscillator (hip joint angular velocity) ?H? such that an intrinsic angular velocity is reflected. Then, a new intrinsic angular velocity ?m is determined on the basis of the difference between a first phase difference ?HM between the first oscillator x and the walking oscillator ?H? and a desired phase difference ?d. Furthermore, a second oscillator y is generated that tugs and is tugged by the walking oscillator ?H? such that the intrinsic angular velocity ?m is reflected, and has a second phase difference ?hm, which is closer to the desired phase difference ?d than the first phase difference ?HM is, with respect to the walking oscillator ?H?.

Abstract: An oscillation driver circuit includes a gain control amplifier which causes a vibrator to produce driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in an oscillation loop, and a comparator which generates a synchronous detection reference signal based on a signal in the oscillation loop. The oscillation driver circuit sets a gain in a first oscillation loop including the vibrator and the comparator to be larger than unity using an output from the comparator, and then causes the vibrator to produce the driving vibrations by controlling an oscillation amplitude in a second oscillation loop including the vibrator and the gain control amplifier in at least one of an oscillation startup state and a sleep mode.

Abstract: A system that generates a haptic effect generates a drive cycle signal that includes a drive period and a monitoring period. The drive period includes a plurality of drive pulses that are based on the haptic effect. The system applies the drive pulses to a resonant actuator during the drive period and receives a signal from the resonant actuator that corresponds to the position of a mass in the actuator during the monitoring period.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (“SAW”) sensor includes; a first signal generator which generates a first signal having a predetermined frequency bandwidth using a pseudo random sequence, a second signal generator which generates a second signal with a predetermined frequency, a signal blender which blends the first signal with the second signal to generate a blended signal having the predetermined frequency bandwidth with the predetermined frequency as a center frequency, a wave generator which generates a surface acoustic wave using the blended signal, which converts the surface acoustic wave into a third signal after the surface acoustic wave travels a predetermined distance, and which outputs the third signal, and a signal detector which detects a change in the third signal from the wave generator to sense a substance bound to the wave generator.

Abstract: A lead wire led-out type crystal oscillator of constant temperature type for high stability is disclosed, which includes a heat supply body that supplies heat to a crystal resonator from which a plurality of lead wires are led out, to maintain the temperature constant. The heat supply body includes a heat conducting plate which has through-holes for the lead wires and is mounted on the circuit board, and which faces, and is directly thermally joined to, the crystal resonator and a chip resistor for heating which is mounted on the circuit board adjacent to the heat conducting plate, and is thermally joined to the heat conducting plate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises an oscillator that generates an oscillator signal. A first counter generates a first count based on transitions of the oscillator signal. A first circuit generates a match signal based on the first count and a reference count. A second counter generates a second count that is initialized at a starting count and adjusts the second count based on transitions of a reference clock signal. An output circuit outputs an oscillator speed based on the second count and the match signal. The oscillator speed is defined by a range that is independent of a frequency of the reference clock signal.

Abstract: An oscillation driver device includes a gain control amplifier, an automatic gain control circuit, and a mode setting circuit. When the mode setting circuit has switched a mode from a normal operation mode to a low power consumption mode, the automatic gain control circuit is disabled, and the gain in an oscillation loop that drives the vibrator changes from a state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is controlled to be unity by the automatic gain control circuit to a state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is set to be larger than unity. When the mode setting circuit has switched the mode from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode, the automatic gain control circuit resumes operation, and the gain in the oscillation loop changes from the state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is set to be larger than unity to the state in which the gain in the oscillation loop is controlled to be unity by the automatic gain control circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling frequency in a crystal oscillator are provided that allows for continued reception of GPS signal solution in a continuous high G environment. One method comprises measuring G-forces asserted on the crystal oscillator, determining a shift in frequency of the crystal oscillator due to the measured G-forces, determining a temperature that would shift the crystal oscillator's frequency back to a rate that would occur without the measured G-forces, and changing the temperature of the crystal oscillator based on the determined temperature to shift the crystal oscillator's frequency back to a rate that would occur if the G-forces were not present.

Abstract: A programmable reference-less oscillator provides a wide range of programmable output frequencies. The programmable reference-less oscillator is implemented on an integrated circuit that includes a free running controllable oscillator circuit such as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a programmable divider circuit coupled to divide an output of the controllable oscillator circuit according to a programmable divide value. A non-volatile storage stores the programmed divide value and a control word that controls the output of the controllable oscillator circuit. The control word provides a calibration capability to achieve a desired output frequency in conjunction with the programmable divider circuit. Open loop temperature compensation is achieved by adjusting the control word according to a temperature detected by a temperature sensor on the integrated circuit. Additional clock accuracy may be achieved by adjusting the control word for process as well as temperature.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a loosely-coupled oscillator including a circuit and an electronic device that are not physically connected. The electronic device may include an amplifier for amplifying a signal to produce an output signal and include a wire connected to an input of the amplifier. The wire can be electromagnetically coupled to the circuit that is physically disconnected from the electronic device. The output signal can be produced at an output of the amplifier without transmitting an excitation signal from the electronic device to the circuit and when the wire is electromagnetically coupled to the circuit.

Abstract: An oscillator includes an oscillator circuit and a resonator that produces an output frequency. A temperature compensation circuit is coupled to the oscillator circuit. The temperature compensation circuit stabilizes the output frequency in response to changes in temperature. At least one temperature sensor and a temperature sensor signal modification circuit are coupled to the temperature compensation circuit. The temperature sensor signal modification circuit receives a temperature signal from the temperature sensor and generates a modified temperature sensor signal that is transmitted to the temperature compensation circuit.

Abstract: A real time clock integrated circuit (RTC IC) and an electronic apparatus thereof are provided. In the RTC IC, only a low-power oscillator is used for generating a standard clock for a real time counter, and the standard clock with a frequency drift of the low-power oscillator is compensated through table lookup. Accordingly, the power consumption, fabrication cost and design complexity of the RTC IC are reduced and the counting operation duration of the RTC IC is prolonged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a proximity switch, particularly an inductive proximity switch, with an oscillator having an at least partly self-compensated feedback network influenceable by a target to be detected, as well as an oscillator amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of a predamping state of an inductive sensor. The sensor has at least one oscillator with a resonant circuit and an oscillation amplifier. According to the method the oscillatory response of the oscillator is analyzed with an operating amplification or gain. According to the invention the method is further developed in that the oscillatory behaviour of the oscillator is additionally analyzed for an analysis amplification or gain, which is chosen lower than the operating amplification. The analysis amplification is also chosen in such a way that the oscillatory response of the oscillator reacts sensitively to objects or articles located in close proximity to the sensor. The invention also relates to an inductive sensor with predamping detection.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator is provided that avoids use of any crystal resonator, or any resonator that is external to and not integrated upon the voltage-controlled oscillator monolithic substrate. The present oscillator can receive two or more parameters that would likely have an affect on the oscillator frequency, yet the oscillator includes compensating transfer functions that will remove, or correct for, that effect. Transfer functions involve electronic subsystems implemented in hardware or software that receive the input parameter that has changed from a nominal value, and will note the drift in output frequency, yet will compensate for that drift so that the output frequency remains near the nominal value. The voltage-controlled oscillator preferably is an LCVCO, and the transfer function outputs can be summed to take into account multiple parameter changes.

Abstract: An oscillator device includes an oscillation system including an oscillator and a resilient supporting member, a driving member configured to supply a driving force to the oscillation system based on a driving signal, and a driving frequency control unit configured to control a driving frequency of a driving signal to be outputted to the driving member, wherein, when an oscillation frequency of the oscillator is to be changed from a current oscillation frequency to a target oscillation frequency, the driving frequency control unit temporarily outputs, to the driving member, a driving signal having a driving frequency which is made different from the target oscillation frequency, being changed from the current driving frequency and beyond the target oscillation frequency, thereby to cause the driving member to drive the oscillation system.

Abstract: Position sensor circuits are disclosed for use with variable reluctance sensors. Variable reluctance sensors are described for linear, angular and rotary position measurement and for acceleration measurement.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an automatic page detector, to determine which page of a book is open. The automatic page detector uses a sensor plate and an inductor as a sensor. In the invention, there is a sensor plate at each page of the book and the locations of the sensor plates for different pages are different. There is an array of inductors just beneath the sensor plates when the book is closed. The inductors are connected to the feedback loop of a LC oscillator through analog switches. The proximity of a sensor plate to an inductor will change the frequency of the LC oscillator. Scanning the analog switches by a microprocessor and detecting the variation of frequency of the LC oscillator during each scanning time period, the status of each sensor plate will be detected and we can determine which page of a book is opened.

Abstract: Sensor circuits including an oscillator circuit are disclosed. In one instance, the sensing element is a variable reactance element (a variable inductor or/and capacitor).

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a loosely-coupled oscillator including a sensor circuit and an electronic device that are not physically connected. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes an amplifier stage and a feedback network and the sensor circuit includes one or more LC circuits. When electromagnetically connected, the sensor circuit and electronic device form an oscillator that is adapted to output an oscillation signal. The resonant frequency of the sensor circuit can be obtained based on the oscillation signal. The sensor circuit may be implanted into an object and the resonant frequency of the sensor circuit can be used to determine characteristics of the object.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an integrated magnetometer has a deformable, electrically conducting beam that is mounted on a substrate and adapted to oscillate with respect to the substrate. When the oscillating beam is exposed to a magnetic field, the magnetic field induces an oscillating electromotive force that generates an oscillating electrical signal along the beam. The magnetometer has a detection circuit that detects this oscillating electrical signal and, based on the results of this detection, determines the magnetic-field strength and/or the magnetic-field gradient.

Abstract: An external signal detection circuit includes an input port, to which a first end of a circuit including a pull-up resistor connected in series with a first switch portion is connected, the input port receiving an input of an external signal; an input detection portion connected to the input port for receiving an input of the external signal and an input of an input detection signal that sets a timing for intermittently detecting the input of the external signal; and a connection control portion turning on the first switch portion in time with the timing at which the external signal is detected.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sensing instrument capable to detect a substance existing in a very small quantity, such as environmental pollutants, instantly with a high degree of precision. As a specific means for solving the problem, a frequency signal from a crystal oscillator is sampled using a frequency signal from a reference clock generating part, the sampling value is outputted in a digital signal, quadrature detection is conducted with the digital signal for a frequency signal corresponding to the output signal, the rotational vector rotating at a frequency corresponding to the difference between the frequency of the frequency signal and the frequency of a sinusoidal wave used for the quadrature detection is taken out, and the variation of the frequency is detected by detecting the velocity of the rotational vector based on the respective sampling values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a proximity switch, particularly an inductive proximity switch, with an oscillator having an at least partly self-compensated feedback network influenceable by a target to be detected, as well as an oscillator amplifier.

Abstract: A circuit and related method of monitoring performance of an integrated circuit is provided comprising: using a variable oscillator that has an oscillation time period that varies within an expected range with variations in one or more of process, voltage or temperature to provide a signal that causes a count of a first counter to change at rate proportional to an oscillation frequency of the variable oscillator; using a clock source that has a frequency that substantially does not vary with variations in one or more of process, time or voltage to cause a count of a second counter to change at rate proportional to an oscillation frequency of the clock source; setting the second counter to start a count from a start; determining when the first counter has counted a reference count; and providing as a circuit speed, a value indicative of a count value produced by the second counter at about the moment when first counter finishes counting the count interval.

Abstract: A programmable reference-less oscillator provides a wide range of programmable output frequencies. The programmable reference-less oscillator is implemented on an integrated circuit that includes a free running controllable oscillator circuit such as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a programmable divider circuit coupled to divide an output of the controllable oscillator circuit according to a programmable divide value. A non-volatile storage stores the programmed divide value and a control word that controls the output of the controllable oscillator circuit. The control word provides a calibration capability to achieve a desired output frequency in conjunction with the programmable divider circuit. Open loop temperature compensation is achieved by adjusting the control word according to a temperature detected by a temperature sensor on the integrated circuit. Additional clock accuracy may be achieved by adjusting the control word for process as well as temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a radiation hardened Phase Locked Loop (PLL) are presented. The radiation hardened PLL includes an adjustable bandwidth loop filter. The adjustable filter modifies an unfiltered voltage control signal and provides a stable voltage control signal to a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) during detected radiation induced transient events. The adjustable filter filters out radiation effects by decreasing its bandwidth when a radiation event is detected.