Abstract: An oscillator uses a differential signal corresponding to a difference between an oscillation output f1 of a first oscillator circuit and an oscillation output f2 of a second oscillator circuit as a temperature detection value, and outputs a control signal for reducing an influence caused by a temperature characteristic of the oscillation output f1 based on the differential signal. The oscillator includes a switching unit configured to alternately switch between a first state where a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal are connected to a storage unit for access of an external computer to the storage unit, and a second state where the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal are respectively connected to a first signal path and a second signal path via a frequency reduction unit such that the output signals from the frequency reduction unit are extracted to an external frequency measuring unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed by sealing, with a resin, a semiconductor chip (CP1) having an oscillation circuit utilizing a reference resistor. The oscillation circuit generates a reference current by utilizing the reference resistor, a voltage is generated in accordance with this reference current and an oscillation frequency of the oscillation unit, and the oscillation unit oscillates at a frequency in accordance with the generated voltage.

Abstract: Locking multiple VCOs to generate a plurality of LO frequencies, including: receiving a plurality of divided VCO feedback signals from a plurality of VCOs; receiving a reference signal multiplied by a predetermined number of the plurality of VCOs; generating and processing the predetermined number of phase differences between the multiplied reference signal and the plurality of divided VCO feedback signals in a single PLL circuit including a digital loop filter to receive and process the phase differences and generate (produce) a filter output, wherein the digital loop filter includes a plurality of delay cells equal to the predetermined number; and generating and outputting (delayed) control voltages for the plurality of VCOs based on the filter output.

Abstract: A pulse generation circuit (12) includes a PWM waveform outputting part (20) which outputs a PWM waveform having a duty ratio in which one linear PWM pulse is defined with a first number of bits, an input connector (22) which receives as an input a control signal indicating a duty ratio defined with a second number of bits larger than the first number of bits, and a setting part (24) which sets a PWM waveform to be output from the PWM waveform outputting part (20) based on the control signal input to the input connector (22) with one cycle being made up of a set comprised of a plurality of consecutive linear PWM pulses according to the second number of bits.

Abstract: A method for the control of a phase shift between a transmission signal and a received signal of an electromechanical transducer unit to a predetermined value in an oscillatory circuit. The received signal is sampled at discrete points in time predetermined based on the transmission signal. Sampled voltage values are compared with desired values, which the received signal assumes at the respective points in time, when the predetermined phase shift is present, and, in the case of a deviation of a voltage value from its desired value, based on the sign of the deviation, the frequency of the transmission signal is decreased or increased.

Abstract: A temperature control device includes a temperature detector, a difference operation unit, a controller, a saturation processing circuit unit, a rewritable storage unit, and a conversion unit. The difference operation unit operates a digital value corresponding to a difference value between a detected temperature value and a target temperature. The controller calculates a manipulated variable using the digital value operated by the difference operation unit. The saturation processing circuit unit includes a digital circuit to limit an output value of the controller to a pre-set upper limit value. The rewritable storage unit stores the upper limit value read from a storage area of the rewritable storage unit and input into the saturation processing circuit unit. The conversion unit converts the output value of the saturation processing circuit unit into an analog signal to output the converted value as a control command value to the heater.

Abstract: A spin torque oscillator and a method of making same. The spin torque oscillator is configured to generate microwave electrical oscillations without the use of a magnetic field external thereto, the spin torque oscillator having one of a plurality of input nanopillars and a nanopillar having a plurality of free FM layers.

Abstract: Various circuits are described, which sustain an oscillation using a combination of four primary inverters, four feedforward inverters, and four coupling resistors for outputting a quadrature output signal while avoiding contention between a primary inverter and a feedforward inverter. In one configuration, a circuit includes four primary inverters configured in a ring topology, four coupling resistors uniformly interposed in the ring among the four primary inverters, and four feedforward inverters forming four sub-feedback loops, respectively, each sub-feedback loop comprising two primary inverters, one coupling resistor, and one feedforward inverter. In a further embodiment, the circuit further comprises a voltage-to-current converter is for receiving a control voltage and outputting a supply current to the four primary inverters and the four feedforward inverters. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A passive electro-mechanical device that reduces phase noise in oscillators, thereby improving their frequency precision. The noise reduction device can consist of a pair of coupled nonlinear resonators that are driven parametrically—by modulating their natural frequency in time, through the output signal of a conventional oscillator at a frequency close to the sum of the linear mode frequencies. Above the threshold for parametric response, the coupled resonators can exhibit oscillation at an inherent frequency. The novel possibility for noise elimination is realized by tuning the system to operating points for which this periodic signal is immune to frequency noise in the drive signal, providing a way to clean the phase noise of the driving oscillator.

Abstract: An oscillator (200, 300, 350) comprises a tank circuit (100), a first transistor (M1c) and a second transistor (M1r), and the second transistor (M1r) occupies an area of silicon that is smaller than an area of silicon occupied by the first transistor (M1c). A switching apparatus (Sw1 . . . Sw14) selects either one of a first oscillator topology and a second oscillator topology, where in the first oscillator topology, the tank circuit (100) is coupled to the first transistor (M1c) in a first feedback configuration to provide feedback around the first transistor (M1c), and in the second oscillator topology, the tank circuit (100) is coupled to the second transistor (M1r) in a second feedback configuration that is different to the first feedback configuration to provide feedback around the second transistor (M1r).

Abstract: Provided is a random number generating device capable of generating highly irregular random numbers with a simple configuration. The random number generating device includes: a receiving unit including a receiving mechanism configured to receive, in a contactless manner, energy transmitted from a transmitting unit, the receiving unit being configured to convert the energy received by the receiving mechanism into a reception voltage; a voltage controlled oscillator configured to output an oscillating output signal based on the reception voltage; and a pseudorandom number generator configured to generate pseudorandom numbers varying in accordance with an oscillation frequency of the output signal from the voltage controlled oscillator.

Abstract: Synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) and synthetic ferrimagnetic (SyF) free layer structures are disclosed that reduce Ho (for a SAF free layer), increase perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), and provide higher thermal stability up to at least 400° C. The SAF and SyF structures have a FL1/DL1/spacer/DL2/FL2 configuration wherein FL1 and FL2 are free layers with PMA, the coupling layer induces antiferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coupling between FL1 and FL2 depending on thickness, and DL1 and DL2 are dusting layers that enhance the coupling between FL1 and FL2. The SAF free layer may be used with a SAF reference layer in STT-MRAM memory elements or in spintronic devices including a spin transfer oscillator. Furthermore, a dual SAF structure is described that may provide further advantages in terms of Ho, PMA, and thermal stability.

Abstract: A technique for tracking changes in bias conditions of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes applying an electrode bias signal to an electrode of the MEMS device. The technique includes applying a mass bias signal to a mass of the MEMS device suspended from a substrate of the MEMS device. The technique includes generating the mass bias signal based on a target mass-to-electrode bias signal level and a signal level of the electrode bias signal.

Abstract: A technique decouples a MEMS device from sources of strain by forming a MEMS structure with suspended electrodes that are mechanically anchored in a manner that reduces or eliminates transfer of strain from the substrate into the structure, or transfers strain to electrodes and body so that a transducer is strain-tolerant. The technique includes using an electrically insulating material embedded in a conductive structural material for mechanical coupling and electrical isolation. An apparatus includes a MEMS device including a first electrode and a second electrode, and a body suspended from a substrate of the MEMS device. The body and the first electrode form a first electrostatic transducer. The body and the second electrode form a second electrostatic transducer. The apparatus includes a suspended passive element mechanically coupled to the body and electrically isolated from the body.

Abstract: In an integrated circuit, a clock monitor circuit detects when an analog clock signal output by an on-chip crystal oscillator has stabilized. The clock monitor circuit uses an envelope follower circuit to monitor the envelope of the analog clock signal and compare the amplitude of the envelope with a predetermined amplitude value. When the predetermined value is reached and the envelope has remained steady for a predetermined time, an oscillator okay signal is generated. If an oscillator okay signal is not detected within another predetermined time, then an oscillator failure signal may be generated.

Abstract: A resonator element includes a substrate including a vibrating portion that performs thickness-shear vibration and an excitation electrode provided on top and bottom main surfaces of the vibrating portion. Assuming that the average plate thickness calculated from the plate thicknesses of a plurality of regions of the vibrating portion is H and the plate thickness difference, which is a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the plate thicknesses of the plurality of regions of the vibrating portion, is ?H, 0%<?H/H?0.085% is satisfied as a relationship between H and ?H.

Abstract: A method of programming a ring oscillator for use as a temperature sensor comprises selecting an initial number of delay elements for use in a ring oscillator. The method further comprise starting a system clock counter and counting pulses of the ring oscillator until the system clock counter reaches a programmed value. The method also comprises determining whether a number of counted ring oscillator pulses is between lower and upper count thresholds and changing the number of delay elements for the ring oscillator as a result of the number of counted ring oscillator pulses being less than the lower count threshold or greater than the upper count threshold.

Abstract: A chip scale atomic clock (CSAC) accelerometer incorporates a case in which a cesium vapor resonance cell is carried. An optical laser is mounted in the case and emits a laser beam through the resonance cell. The laser is modulated by a microwave signal generator. A photon detector mounted in the case receives photons emitted by cesium atoms in the resonance cell and provides a frequency output representative of interference of energy levels of the emitted photons including momentum changes due to acceleration.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: during a first portion of a cycle of a clock signal generated by an oscillator, pre-charging a first capacitor of a first switched capacitor stage until a first comparator determines that a first node voltage of the first switched capacitor stage is greater than a first reference voltage at a first reference voltage node; applying a second reference voltage to the first reference voltage node; and responsive to a first edge of the clock signal, charging the first capacitor until the first comparator determines that the first node voltage is greater than the second reference voltage at the first reference voltage node.

Abstract: A TPoS resonator includes a substrate and a resonator body suspended over the substrate by at least a first pair of fixed supports (e.g., tethers) that attach to first and second ends of the resonator body. The resonator body includes monocrystalline silicon, which has a [100] crystallographic orientation that is offset by ±? degrees relative to a nodal line of the resonator body (e.g., tether-to-tether axis) when the resonator body is operating at a resonant frequency, where a is a real number in a range from about 5 to about 19 and, more preferably, in a range from about 7 to about 17. The resonator may be an extensional-mode resonator and the resonator body may be rectangular-shaped with unequal length and width dimensions.