Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a resonator and an amplifier. The resonator includes a capacitive element and an inductive element. The inductive element has a plurality of conductive segments forming a physical loop. The inductive element has electrical connections on the physical loop to the plurality of conductive segments forming at least one electrical loop disposed within an interior space formed by the physical loop. The amplifier has an input and an output, the input coupled to a first conductive segment forming a first impedance and the output coupled to a second conductive segment forming a second impedance.

Abstract: A direct digital synthesis circuit (108) includes a plurality of current sources (210, 211, 212), an output circuit (200), and a logical multiplier circuit (202). The output circuit (200) provides a synthesized waveform (164) output and includes a first (206) and second branch (208). The logical multiplier circuit (202) is operatively coupled to the plurality of current sources (210, 211, 212) and to the output circuit (200). The logical multiplier circuit (202) is operative to receive a plurality of signals. The logical multiplier circuit is also operative to selectively increase a first current flow through the first branch (206) by a determined magnitude and decrease a second current flow through the second branch (208) by the determined magnitude based on the plurality of signals. The synthesized waveform (164) is based on the first and second currents.

Abstract: A dual mode voltage supply circuit (50) includes an active mode voltage supply circuit (58) and a passive mode voltage supply circuit (60). The active mode voltage supply circuit (58) is selectively operative to supply a voltage (57) based on mode control information (22). The active mode voltage supply circuit (58) is operative to provide a first current capacity. The passive mode voltage supply circuit (60) is operatively coupled to the active mode voltage supply circuit (58). The passive mode voltage supply circuit (60) is operative to supply the voltage (57) when the active mode voltage supply circuit (58) is not supplying the voltage (57). The passive mode voltage supply circuit (60) is operative to provide a second current capacity that is less than the first current capacity.

Abstract: A frequency source having a fast start-up time and low noise in steady state is presented. The frequency source includes an oscillator and a hybrid automatic gain control (AGC) loop that switches between an analog AGC loop at oscillator start up and a digital AGC loop at steady state operation. The analog AGC loop includes a peak detector connected to the oscillator and an error integrator integrating the difference between the peak detector output and a reference voltage. The digital AGC loop includes a comparator comparing the peak detector output and high/low reference voltages, an oscillator counter providing a timer signal, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) supplied with a digital word, and a low pass filter between the DAC and the oscillator. The timer signal causes a multiplexer to select either the analog AGC loop or the digital AGC loop.

Abstract: A direct digital synthesis circuit (108) includes a plurality of current sources (210, 211, 212), an output circuit (200), and a logical multiplier circuit (202). The output circuit (200) provides a synthesized waveform (164) output and includes a first (206) and second branch (208). The logical multiplier circuit (202) is operatively coupled to the plurality of current sources (210, 211, 212) and to the output circuit (200). The logical multiplier circuit (202) is operative to receive a plurality of signals. The logical multiplier circuit is also operative to selectively increase a first current flow through the first branch (206) by a determined magnitude and decrease a second current flow through the second branch (208) by the determined magnitude based on the plurality of signals. The synthesized waveform (164) is based on the first and second currents.

Abstract: A dual mode voltage supply circuit (50) includes an active mode voltage supply circuit (58) and a passive mode voltage supply circuit (60). The active mode voltage supply circuit (58) is selectively operative to supply a voltage (57) based on mode control information (22). The active mode voltage supply circuit (58) is operative to provide a first current capacity. The passive mode voltage supply circuit (60) is operatively coupled to the active mode voltage supply circuit (58). The passive mode voltage supply circuit (60) is operative to supply the voltage (57) when the active mode voltage supply circuit (58) is not supplying the voltage (57). The passive mode voltage supply circuit (60) is operative to provide a second current capacity that is less than the first current capacity.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer 100 comprising a charge pump 102, a loop filter 104, a loop divider 106, and an active and dual port VCO 110. An integrator 108 low pass filters a steering voltage to provide a low frequency path while the steering voltage provides a high frequency path. Both steering paths are connected to dual port VCO 110. The dual port VCO 110 is a single frequency generator which is controlled by two control signals. The dual port VCO 110, effectively provides the equivalent of a low frequency path 114 and a high frequency noise compensation path 112, both paths effectively merging 116 by superposition.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprises a plurality of data fields. The RFID device transmits a data symbol from a data field, receives an acknowledgement symbol, and compares the transmitted data symbol to the received acknowledgement symbol. The RFID device repeats these steps until data transmission is complete as long as each transmitted data symbol is equivalent to a corresponding received acknowledgement symbol; otherwise, the RFID device maintains the data field from which the last data symbol was transmitted, and temporarily suspends data transmission. When the RFID receives a request for RFID devices temporarily suspended in a given data field to resume data transmission, if the given data field in the request is equivalent to the data field that was maintained, the RFID device repeats the steps above starting with the first symbol in the data field that was maintained.

Abstract: A multiphase voltage controlled oscillator (e.g., a quadrature VCO) 100, which includes multiple voltage controllable transconductance phase drivers 102, 104, 106 and 108. The output of each voltage controllable transconductance phase driver 102, 104, 106, 108 supplies one of 4 oscillator phases and receives 2 of the 4 phases as inputs. Each of the voltage controllable transconductance phase drivers 102, 104, 106 and 108 corresponds to a pair of controllable transconductance inverting amplifiers 132, 134, 136, 138. The controllable transconductance inverting amplifiers may be a simple inverter 150 that includes N-type FET (NFET) 152 and P-type FET (PFET) 154. Transconductance is controlled in the simple inverter by raising or lowering supply voltage (Vdd) levels. A more complex controllable transconductance inverting amplifier may be used, replacing PFET 154 with series connected PFETs 164, 166. The gate of one PFET 166 is controlled by a bias control voltage VCON.

Abstract: A psuedo third order dual steered frequency synthesizer 100. The frequency synthesizer 100 includes a charge pump 102, a loop filter 104, a loop divider 106, an active and dual port VCO 110. An integrator 108 low pass filters a steering voltage to provide a low frequency path, in addition to the steering voltage, which provides a high frequency path. Both steering paths are connected to dual port VCO 110. The dual port VCO 110 is a single frequency generator which is controlled by two control signals. The dual port VCO 110, effectively provides the equivalent of a low frequency path 114 and a high frequency noise compensation path 112, both paths effectively merging 116 by superposition. The pseudo-third order dual steered frequency synthesizer includes an additional pole and zero (and thus is a fourth order synthesizer) which results from the availability of two steering voltage paths, a high frequency path and a low frequency path.

Abstract: A multiphase voltage controlled oscillator (e.g., a quadrature VCO) 100, which includes multiple voltage controllable transconductance phase drivers 102, 104, 106 and 108. The output of each voltage controllable transconductance phase driver 102, 104, 106, 108 supplies one of 4 oscillator phases and receives 2 of the 4 phases as inputs. Each of the voltage controllable transconductance phase drivers 102, 104, 106 and 108 corresponds to a pair of controllable transconductance inverting amplifiers 132, 134, 136, 138. The controllable transconductance inverting amplifiers may be a simple inverter 150 that includes N-type FET (NFET) 152 and P-type FET (PFET) 154. Transconductance is controlled in the simple inverter by raising or lowering supply voltage (Vdd) levels. A more complex controllable transconductance inverting amplifier may be used, replacing PFET 154 with series connected PFETs 164, 166. The gate of one PFET 166 is controlled by a bias control voltage VCON.