Plural Oscillators Controlled Patents (Class 331/2)
  • Patent number: 7154341
    Abstract: A communication semiconductor integrated circuit device includes an RFVCO and a TXVCO and is formed over one semiconductor substrate, and has a first operation mode (idle mode) which does not perform transmission and reception, a second operation mode (warmup mode) which performs a preparation prior to the start of transmission or reception, and a third operation mode (transmission or reception mode) which performs transmission or reception. In the first operation mode, two oscillators are deactivated, and the operation of selecting a frequency band to be used in at least the TXVCO which generates a transmit signal, is performed in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Satoru Yamamoto, Hirotaka Oosawa, Toshiya Uozumi, Noriyuki Kurakami, Jiro Shinbo
  • Patent number: 7155188
    Abstract: Dispersing directions of oscillation frequency variable ranges of all voltage controlled oscillators provided in an integrated circuit are uniformed, and not only a range covering a frequency regardless of whether a dispersion occurs or not, but also a range covering the frequency only in a case where the dispersion occurs is used as the frequency variable range of the voltage controlled oscillator, and the frequency variable ranges of the voltage controlled oscillators are set so as to be successive with respect to each other, so that a small number of voltage controlled oscillators can cover a wide frequency variable range. Thus, the integrated circuit having voltage controlled oscillators therein is miniaturized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Noboru, Hiroshi Isoda, Shinji Amano
  • Patent number: 7148763
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises a first circuit that receives a clock signal. A first temperature sensor senses a first temperature. Non-volatile memory that communicates with the first temperature sensor outputs calibration data as a function of the first temperature. A semiconductor oscillator that communicates with the non-volatile memory and the first circuit generates the clock signal having a frequency that is related to the calibration data. A select input selects the frequency of the output signal as a function of an external passive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Sehat Sutardja
  • Patent number: 7148753
    Abstract: A first phase-locked loop circuit that includes a crystal oscillator, receives a reference clock signal and supplies a first phase-locked loop output signal based on the reference clock during normal operational mode and a stored value in holdover mode. A second phase-locked loop circuit receives the first phase-locked loop output signal and utilizes the first phase-locked loop output signal when generating an output clock in holdover mode. The second phase-locked loop utilizes the first phase-locked loop output signal during operation in the holdover mode to generate the output clock and utilizes the reference clock during normal operational mode to generate the output clock. Alternatively, the second phase-locked loop utilizes the first phase-locked loop output signal both during operation in the holdover mode and during normal operational mode to generate the output clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno W. Garlepp, Gerard Pepenella
  • Patent number: 7146149
    Abstract: A local oscillator (LO) circuit is disclosed which provides improved isolation between the unselected LO source and a mixer. The LO circuit includes a first LO source to generate a first periodic signal cycling at a first frequency, a second LO source to generate a second periodic signal cycling at a second frequency different than the first frequency, a limiter, a first switching element to selectively couple the first LO source to the limiter, and a second switching element to selectively couple the second LO source to the limiter. The limiter improves the isolation of the leakage LO signal (i.e. the unselected LO signal) with respect to the selected LO signal. The improved isolation comes about because the limiter gain associated with the selected LO signal is greater than the gain associated with the leakage LO signal. A receiver and transmitter using the LO circuit are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Kathiravan Krishnamurthi
  • Patent number: 7138877
    Abstract: A PLL circuit and method provides an adjustable operating frequency range by using at least two VCOs. In an embodiment of the present invention, circuit components of a PLL are adjusted in order to obtain a selected frequency range. In particular, a gain of a charge pump and resistance of a filter is adjusted responsive to a control signal. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, a voltage regulator, including an operational amplifier, is coupled to the output of the filter and the respective inputs of two VCOs. An output multiplexer then selects a VCO output responsive to the control signal. In another embodiment of the present invention, a multiplexer is coupled to the output of the voltage regulator to select which VCO receives a buffered voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Roxanne Vu, Huy Nguyen, Benedict Lau
  • Patent number: 7138878
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit is provided in which power consumption of each functional block can be determined. The semiconductor integrated circuit comprises: first through third signal processing circuits each operating in synchronization with first through third externally supplied clock signals; first through third counters each counting first through third clock signals; a bus interface circuit outputting a plurality of count values that the first through third counters counted; a clock enable signal generating circuit to generate first through third clock enable signals each controlling the supply of the first through third clock signals to the first through third signal processing circuits; and a counter control circuit supplying a plurality of counter reset signals and a plurality of counter enable signals for resetting and operating the first through third counters, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Obinata
  • Patent number: 7126429
    Abstract: A digital phase locked loop with fast locking capability includes a digitally controlled oscillator for producing an output signal phase locked to an input reference clock, a phase detector for measuring the phase difference between said input reference clock and a feedback clock, and a loop filter for producing a control signal for the digitally controlled oscillator The loop filter includes a proportional circuit for developing a first signal proportional to said phase difference, an integrator for developing a second integrated signal from said first signal, an adder for adding said first and second signals to develop said control signal, and a weighting circuit, preferably a linear multiplier, for selectively adding extra weight to the first signal at an input to the integrator to shorten the locking time of the phase locked loop in a fast locking mode and to rapidly achieve a stable frequency in holdover mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Krste Mitric
  • Patent number: 7126430
    Abstract: The frequency of a first voltage controlled oscillator is stabilized in a first PLL circuit part into which a reference frequency signal is inputted. In addition, a second PLL circuit part is formed by inputting a control voltage which is the same as the frequency control voltage of the first voltage controlled oscillator into a second voltage controlled oscillator having the same configuration as the first voltage controlled oscillator. The first PLL circuit part is provided with first and second variable frequency dividers which respectively divide the reference frequency signal and the output of the first voltage controlled oscillator. In response to an input signal into the second PLL circuit part, the free-running frequencies of the second and first voltage controlled oscillators are switched, and at the same time, the division ratio of first and second variable frequency dividers are switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yasuo Oba, Makoto Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7123891
    Abstract: A wireless communications device includes an antenna that receives a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency and converts the first and second signals into a composite signal. A first oscillator outputs a first oscillator signal at a first frequency and a second oscillator outputs a second oscillator signal at a second frequency. A demodulator receives the composite signal and the first and second oscillator signals. The oscillator signals are selected so that the demodulator generates a low frequency signal with components of the first and second signals occupying a common frequency band. The wireless communications device allows executing a “Soft Handoff” even when the first and second frequencies are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Aravind Loke
  • Patent number: 7116180
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator has a voltage-controlled oscillation circuit that oscillates at a frequency according to a control voltage and a limiter circuit that limits the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator to a predetermined level. This configuration makes it possible to maintain a constant output level irrespective of the oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsumi Hamaguchi, Masafumi Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 7116176
    Abstract: A system for generating multiple synthesized clocks having an input terminal for receiving a reference signal, a phase locked loop circuit coupled to the input signal terminal, where the phase locked loop circuit is capable of generating a plurality of output signals that are frequency locked to the reference signal and having a plurality of different phases, a phase rotator coupled to the phase locked loop circuit, where the phase rotator generates an even greater plurality of phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Siavash Fallahi, Chun Ying Chen, Mark J. Chambers
  • Patent number: 7116742
    Abstract: A method and a timing recovery system for generating a set of clock signals in a system which includes a set of subsystems. Each of the subsystems includes an analog section. The set of clock signals includes a set of sampling clock signals. Each of the analog sections operates in accordance with a corresponding one of the sampling clock signals. For each of the sampling clock signals, a phase error is generated from a corresponding phase detector. The phase errors are filtered by a set of corresponding loop filters. The filtered phase errors are provided to a set of corresponding oscillators to generate phase control signals. The phase control signals are provided to a set of corresponding phase selectors to generate the sampling clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Oscar E. Agazzi
  • Patent number: 7113046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for producing a reference frequency signal (Se) from the response of an atomic resonator (R) to a pumping signal (Fat) transmitted thereto, comprising: a first oscillator for production of a first signal (S1) of frequency (F0) as a function of the response signal (E1) from the resonator (R); a second oscillator (13) for production of a second signal (S2) at a frequency (NF0) which is equal to a whole multiple of that of the first signal (S1). According to the invention, the second oscillator is selected to produce a second signal (S2) close in frequency to the frequency of resonance for the resonator (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventors: Roland Barillet, Claude Audoin, Frederic Hamouda
  • Patent number: 7109808
    Abstract: A polyphase numerically controlled oscillator (PNCO) is defined to include a plurality of sub-numerically controller oscillators (SNCO's). Each SNCO is capable of receiving a clock signal at a first clock rate and an assigned phase offset signal. Each SNCO is configured to generate a digital waveform for the assigned phase offset signal. The PNCO also includes a plurality of frequency multipliers for generating a frequency multiplied representation of the digital waveform generated by each SNCO. The PNCO further includes a multiplexer configured to receive output from each of the frequency multipliers according to the first clock rate. The multiplexer is further configured to receive a select signal, wherein the select signal triggers the multiplexer at a second clock rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Pelt
  • Patent number: 7109803
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement includes a first phase locked loop to generate a first oscillator frequency, a second phase locked loop to generate a second oscillator frequency, a reference frequency emitter connected to a reference frequency input of both phase locked loops, and a signal attenuator and optionally a switch connected between a master signal output of the first (master) loop and an input of the second (slave) loop. In a method, a common reference frequency is provided to both loops, the first loop generates a first oscillator frequency, and the second loop generates a second oscillator frequency that matches the first oscillator frequency in at least one operating mode and optionally differs from the first oscillator frequency in another operating mode. The frequency matching in one of the modes involves feeding an attenuated signal from the first loop operating as a master into the second loop operating as a slave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: ATMEL Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Reimund Rebel
  • Patent number: 7109816
    Abstract: A dual-port modulator comprising a first Phase Locked Loop (‘PLL’) (15) including a first Voltage Controlled Oscillator (‘VCO’) (10), a first variable frequency divider (20), a first multi-accumulator sequence generator (21) responsive to a phase modulation signal for controlling the division ratio (1/Nr) of the first variable frequency divider, a first phase detector (30) responsive to the relative phases of the reference signal and the first frequency divider signal for producing a first control signal through a first low pass filter (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Nadim Khlat
  • Patent number: 7109763
    Abstract: A Phase Locked Loop (PLL) that has a substantially constant gain over a wide frequency range. The frequency range over which the PLL operates is divided into a number of frequency sub-ranges. The circuit includes a mechanism for adjusting the loop gain profile as the PLL moves from one frequency sub-range to another. When the PLL switches to a new frequency sub-range, the loop gain profile is adjusted to a pre-established value. Changes of frequency within each sub-range are then accomplished with the loop gain varying within a pre-established range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor, Corp.
    Inventors: Nathan Moyal, Eric Mitchell, Mark Gehring
  • Patent number: 7092468
    Abstract: A method and a timing recovery system for generating a set of clock signals in a system which includes a set of subsystems. Each of the subsystems includes an analog section. The set of clock signals includes a set of sampling clock signals. Each of the analog sections operates in accordance with a corresponding one of the sampling clock signals. For each of the sampling clock signals, a phase error is generated from a corresponding phase detector. The phase errors are filtered by a set of corresponding loop filters. The filtered phase errors are provided to a set of corresponding oscillators to generate phase control signals. The phase control signals are provided to a set of corresponding phase selectors to generate the sampling clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Oscar E. Agazzi
  • Patent number: 7088197
    Abstract: A digital adaptive power supply interface has two feedback loops, each including a VCO, to automatically compensate for temperature and semiconductor process variations. A first loop compares the system input phase/frequency to a reference voltage that has been converted to a first digital frequency signal by a VCO in the first loop, and generates an analog difference signal. The second loop compares this analog difference with the power supply output voltage, and a VCO in this second loop converts result of this comparison to a second digital frequency signal. The digital frequency signals of the two loops are fed respectively to two registers and the content of the registers are subtracted, one from the other, to generate a digital error signal adjust the power supply output voltage to the input frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Brosh, Scott Willis, Kenneth Knowles, Matthew Gregory
  • Patent number: 7088973
    Abstract: A wireless communications device includes an antenna that receives a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency and converts the first and second signals into a composite signal. A first oscillator outputs a first oscillator signal at a first frequency and a second oscillator outputs a second oscillator signal at a second frequency. A demodulator receives the composite signal and the first and second oscillator signals. The oscillator signals are selected so that the demodulator generates a low frequency signal with components of the first and second signals occupying a common frequency band. The wireless communications device allows executing a “Soft Handoff” even when the first and second frequencies are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Aravind Loke
  • Patent number: 7084712
    Abstract: A frequency-divided reference frequency clock is provided as a reference input to a phase comparator. An oscillation frequency signal of a controllable oscillator, having a frequency associated with another reference frequency clock, is frequency divided by a frequency division factor switching type comparison-input frequency division circuit. The resultant frequency-divided clock is provided as a comparison input to the phase comparator. The frequency division factor of the comparison-input frequency division circuit is switched from one to another based on a frequency division factor control signal to generate an oscillation frequency signal having a predetermined frequency ratio relative to another reference frequency clock. Thus, three reference frequency clocks of 27 MHz, 33.8688 MHz, and 36.864 MHz in accord with the MPEG format are obtained with a sufficient S/N ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7058528
    Abstract: Disclosed is method of controlling an asymmetric waveform generator including the steps of providing a reference timer signal, and generating an asymmetric waveform as a combination of a first sinusoidal wave having a first frequency and a second sinusoidal wave having a second frequency approximately twice the first frequency. The generated asymmetric waveform is sampled to obtain a set of data points, which set of data points is indicative of the generated asymmetric waveform. The method includes analyzing the set of data points in terms of at least a first function relating to an ideal sinusoidal wave of the first frequency, to determine a first set of resultant values relating to the first sinusoidal wave, and analyzing the set of data points in terms of at least a second function relating to an ideal sinusoidal wave of the second frequency, to determine a second set of resultant values relating to the second sinusoidal wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ionalytics Corporation
    Inventor: Iain McCracken
  • Patent number: 7023283
    Abstract: In a phase locked loop type frequency synthesizer including a phase/frequency comparator for receiving an input signal, a charge pump circuit, a loop filter for generating a control voltage, a voltage control oscillator block including a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators controlled by the control voltage, and a frequency divider formed by a fixed frequency divider and a programmable frequency divider, a selecting circuit selects and activates only one of the voltage controlled oscillators, and counts a number of output pulses of the first frequency divider within a predetermined number of output pulses of the input signal while applying a bias voltage to the loop filter. Thus, the one of the voltage controlled oscillators being selected so that the number of the output pulses of the first frequency divider is brought close to an optimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Compound Semiconductor Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Kawasumi, Akira Kuwano, Yoshitaka Murata
  • Patent number: 7023287
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator has a voltage-controlled oscillation circuit that oscillates at a frequency according to a control voltage and a limiter circuit that limits the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator to a predetermined level. This configuration makes it possible to maintain a constant output level irrespective of the oscillation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mutsumi Hamaguchi, Masafumi Yamanoue
  • Patent number: 7015765
    Abstract: A circuit for distributing a clock signal in an integrated circuit includes a capacitive clock distribution circuit having at least conductor therein. At least one inductor is formed in a metal layer of the integrated circuit and is coupled to the clock distribution circuit. The inductor, generally in the form of a number of spiral inductors distributed throughout the integrated circuit, provides an inductance value selected to resonate with the capacitive clock distribution circuit. By operating the clock distribution circuit at resonance, power dissipation is reduced while skew and jitter performance can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia in the City of New York
    Inventors: Kenneth Shepard, Steven Chan
  • Patent number: 7010077
    Abstract: A gated clock recovery circuit is disclosed that receives an input data stream and generates a frequency and phase aligned clock output. The gated clock recovery circuit substantially instantaneously adjusts the generated clock signal to phase changes in the incoming data stream. In addition, the gated clock recovery circuit generates the clock output signal using only transmitted non-predetermined data. The gated clock recovery circuit includes two PLL circuits. The first PLL (PLL1) adjusts to the frequency of the transmitter, and provides a bias voltage, CAP1, to the second PLL (PLL2) to indirectly initially tune the second PLL. The bias voltage, CAP1, is applied to the second PLL through a transmission gate (or switch) that is initially in a closed (short) position. Thus, the first PLL drives the bias voltage, CAP2, of the second PLL, to align the frequency with the transmitter, until received data opens the transmission gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Earl Dunlop, Wilhelm Carl Fischer
  • Patent number: 7010714
    Abstract: A prescaler generally comprising a first circuit, a multiplexer, and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to present a plurality of control signals in response to a first clock signal having a first frequency. The multiplexer may be configured to multiplex a plurality of data signals in response to the control signals to present a second clock signal having a second frequency that is a non-integer fraction of the first frequency. The second circuit may be configured to present the data signals in response to the second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Tester
  • Patent number: 7005926
    Abstract: A cluster of processing systems is provided wherein each processing system is set to operate at a unique operating frequency. Each unique frequency is set to differ from each other by at least a predetermined frequency differential or bandwidth. When clustered, the radiated emissions will not add. Rather, the RF energy is distributed over the predetermined frequency bandwidth and in so doing achieve a reduction of measured RF energy at any singular frequency. By using RF energy dispersal in systems consisting of aggregated processing elements as subsystems, the need for special or additional RF shielding is precluded. Current design and manufacturing techniques can continue to be used. Thus, reducing the overall cost of implementing aggregated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Edward Hughes, George Courtney Long, Jr., Rudolf Eugene Rehquate
  • Patent number: 7005925
    Abstract: A low noise sinusoidal signal at a desired output frequency is synchronised using a first variable frequency oscillator (1) and providing a feedback control loop around the first oscillator (1) to generate a feedback control signal in successive frequ comparison steps using second and third frequency reference signals (44, 42). Each of the second and third frequency reference signals are derived from a first frequency reference signal, the second frequency reference signal (44) being compared with the output frequency of the first oscillator (1) to generate a frequency difference signal (43), and said frequency difference signal ( being compared in frequency with the third frequency reference signal (42) to generate said feedback control signal for the first oscillator (1), the frequency of the third frequency reference signal (42) being equal to the difference of the frequency of the se frequency reference signal (44) and the desired output frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Aeroflex International Limited
    Inventors: David Paul Owen, Adrian Mark Jones
  • Patent number: 6995619
    Abstract: Provided is a quadrature voltage controlled oscillator capable of varying a phase difference between an in-phase output signal and a quadrature output signal. The quadrature voltage controlled oscillator comprises a first voltage controlled oscillator, a second voltage controlled oscillator, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a third amplifier, and a fourth amplifier. The first voltage controlled oscillator generates a first output and a second output. The second voltage controlled oscillator generates a third output and a fourth output. The first output is a positive in-phase signal, and the second output is a negative in-phase signal. The third output is a positive quadrature signal, and the fourth output is a negative quadrature signal. The first amplifier is controlled by a first current and drives the first output and the second output in response to the third output and the fourth output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Je-kwang Cho
  • Patent number: 6992531
    Abstract: A signal synthesizer includes a high frequency offset stage having a high frequency offset source and frequency translation element in the feedback path of a dual-oscillator offset loop synthesizer. The signal synthesizer achieves low phase noise via noise cancellation when used to provide the first local oscillator of a spectrum analyzer and when the second local oscillator of the spectrum analyzer provides the high frequency offset source to the signal synthesizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Wing J. Mar
  • Patent number: 6975176
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system including a varactor and a voltage generator. The varactor includes a set of substantially equal voltage-tunable capacitor cells, each having a capacitive range that varies with a first plurality of operating parameters and each providing a capacitance within the range based on a voltage level of a reference voltage. The voltage generator is configured to provide the reference voltage, wherein the voltage level of the reference voltage corresponds to a desired capacitance within the capacitive range and varies based on a second plurality of operating parameters which are substantially the same as the first plurality of operating parameters, and wherein the voltage level of the reference voltage causes each capacitor cell to provide the desired capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alvin Leng Sun Loke, Robert Keith Barnes
  • Patent number: 6970045
    Abstract: A redundant clock module provides a highly reliable fixed clock reference output. This clock reference output is based on at least two internal reference oscillators that are monitored and eliminated from use if they are not operating or within tolerance requirements. The redundant clock module comprises at least two oscillators, detection circuitry, switching circuitry and control circuitry. If a primary oscillator fails or is out of tolerance, the redundant clock module will detect the failure or out of tolerance condition and switch to a secondary working and in tolerance oscillator to take over primary timing functions of an end user application. The redundant clock module provides a slow and seamless transition between oscillator switching to assure no significant phase shift or runt pulses will affect the end user application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nel Frequency Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry A. Lichter, David T. Jones
  • Patent number: 6958951
    Abstract: In an ensemble oscillator system including multiple free-running oscillators, a voltage controlled oscillator having a frequency responsive to a control signal, and a differencer unit that measures time differences between the oscillators, an adaptive Kalman Filter Processor (AKFP) generates the control signal responsive to the time differences. The AKFP uses oscillator noise models to model noise/errors of the ensemble system oscillators, including random noise parameters, and adaptively estimates the errors and the random noise parameters to derive the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventor: Dennis J. Duven
  • Patent number: 6954109
    Abstract: The invention relates to a phase-locked loop structure providing local oscillator signals. In order to enable an improved supply of local oscillator signals, the phase-locked loop structure comprises a first phase-locked loop including a first voltage controlled oscillator and a second phase-locked loop including a second voltage controlled oscillator. A first local oscillator output provides a first local oscillator signal, wherein a signal output by the first voltage controlled oscillator is forwarded to the first local oscillator output. A second local oscillator output provides a second local oscillator signal. A selection component forwards a signal output by the first voltage controlled oscillator or a signal output by the second voltage controlled oscillator to the second local oscillator output. The invention relates equally to a corresponding communication unit and to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jarmo Heinonen, Markus Pettersson, Sami Vilhonen
  • Patent number: 6940355
    Abstract: An integrated voltage controlled oscillator is provided. The integrated voltage controlled oscillator includes a first slab inductor having two ends and a second slab inductor having two ends. A first oscillator core is connected to a first end of the first slab inductor and a second end of the second slab inductor, and a second oscillator core is connected to a second end of the first slab inductor and a first end of the second slab inductor. In this manner, the low-loss slab inductors provide the oscillator tank inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Seyed-Ali Hajimiri, Roberto Aparicio Joo
  • Patent number: 6933791
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizing circuit is provided. The frequency synthesizing circuit includes a frequency multiplying circuit and a phase-locked loop, wherein the frequency multiplying circuit can converts a reference signal having a low frequency into a high frequency signal for being a reference signal of the phase-locked loop, so that the loop bandwidth of the phase-locked loop can be increased to reduce jitter of the output signal. The present invention utilizes the delay-locked loop to generate multiphase output signals that equivalently divide a cycle of the reference signal for achieving a frequency multiplying through cooperating with a phase synthesizer. Through double frequency multiplying functions of the delay loop and the phase locked loop, a phase error accumulation caused by the single frequency multiplying of the conventional phase-locked loop with narrow loop bandwidth can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventor: Wei-Zen Chen
  • Patent number: 6933789
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for calibrating voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs). Multiple VCOs may be disposed on a chip with the VCOs having different frequency ranges. The VCOs may be selected and tested to determine a desired VCO to use to tune to a selected channel frequency. Each of the VCOs has multiple possible varactor configurations. The varactor configurations of the desired VCO determined to be used to tune to the selected channel frequency can be selected and tested to determine a desired varactor configuration for the desired VCO. The desired VCO with the desired varactor configuration will preferably be able to produce a full range of desired frequencies corresponding to all channel frequencies desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyosha C. Molnar, Rahul Magoon, Madhukar Reddy, Jackie Cheng
  • Patent number: 6922110
    Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer generates a high frequency signal by generating an output signal from a voltage controlled oscillator of a primary phase locked loop (PLL) circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator output is programmably divided with a reference signal output at a divide ratio such that the outputs are equal to a common phase comparison frequency. An external reference signal used for the primary phase locked loop circuit is isolated by generating a voltage controlled, clean reference signal and filtering and synchronizing the clean reference signal with the external reference signal within a secondary phase locked loop circuit to produce the reference signal output to the primary phase locked loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Xytrans, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny F. Ammar, Ronald D. Graham
  • Patent number: 6922109
    Abstract: A system for generating multiple synthesized clocks having an input terminal for receiving a reference signal, a phase locked loop circuit coupled to the input signal terminal, where the phase locked loop circuit is capable of generating a plurality of output signals that are frequency locked to the reference signal and having a plurality of different phases, a phase rotator coupled to the phase locked loop circuit, where the phase rotator generates an even greater plurality of phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Siavash Fallahi, Chun Ying Chen, Mark J. Chambers
  • Patent number: 6900699
    Abstract: A phase synchronous multiple LC tank oscillator includes a plurality of oscillator stages configured to oscillate synchronously. The phase of each of the plurality of oscillator stages is substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Berkana Wireless, Inc.
    Inventor: Beomsup Kim
  • Patent number: 6876263
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (“VCO”) structure includes a plurality of VCO circuits, each having a different nominal operating frequency range. Power consumption of the VCO structure is regulated by selective activation/deactivation of the individual VCO circuits. In a preferred embodiment, only one of the VCO circuits is active at any given time. The active VCO can be selected to satisfy the requirements of the particular application and/or to compensate for semiconductor manufacturing process variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Li, Thomas Clark Bryan, Harry Huy Dang, Mehmet Mustafa Eker
  • Patent number: 6870432
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, unilateral coupling is provided for a quadrature voltage controlled oscillator. For example, a first voltage controlled oscillator may be provided with a 0 degree phase node and a 180 degree phase node A second voltage controlled oscillator may be provided with a 90 degree phase node and a 270 degree phase node. In addition, the first and second voltage controlled oscillators may be mutually coupled with substantially unilateral cascaded common-source common-gate amplifier coupling devices to create a quadrature voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shenggao Li, Issy Kipnis
  • Patent number: 6870428
    Abstract: A mobile radio communications device has a first crystal oscillator for providing a first master clock frequency for the timebase of a first communications system, a second crystal oscillator for providing a second master clock frequency for the timebase of a second communications system, and a phase locked loop connected between the first and second crystal oscillators and arranged to lock the first and second crystal oscillators together so that the two timebases cannot drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Ormson, Nicholas Craig Bowdler, Anthony Paul Banks, Martin Hennelly
  • Patent number: 6870431
    Abstract: An oscillator having multi-phase complementary outputs comprises a first plurality of single ended amplifiers connected in series to form an input and an output and a second plurality of single ended amplifiers connected in series to form an input and an output. The first and second plurality have the same odd number of amplifiers, A first feedback path connects the output to the input of the first plurality of amplifiers to establish oscillations in the first plurality of amplifiers at a frequency dependent upon the delay time from the input to the output of the first plurality. A second feedback path connects the output to the input of the second plurality of amplifiers to establish oscillations in the second plurality of amplifiers at a frequency dependent upon the delay time from the input to the output of the second plurality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Morteza Cyrus Afghahi
  • Patent number: 6859079
    Abstract: An operation control signal for an oscillator producing an internal clock signal phase-locked with a basic clock signal is applied to a second internal clock generating circuit. In the second internal clock generating circuit, with reference to the applied operation control signal, a control signal adjusting a phase and/or frequency difference between a synchronization target signal and a second internal clock signal is produced to adjust a phase and/or frequency of the second internal clock signal. A plurality of internal clock signals different in phase and/or frequency can be generated accurately and stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Haraguchi, Kiyoshi Adachi, Takashi Utsumi, Danichi Komatsu, Hiroyuki Kosaka
  • Patent number: 6847264
    Abstract: According to the invention, a frequency demultiplication circuit serves to generate wander or wander sequences having frequencies of less than 10 Hz and, in particular, less than 1 Hz. Said frequency demultiplication circuit receives, on the input side, pulse signals of a relatively high frequency and has two counter arrays (C11, C12; C21, C22) and a phase comparator circuit (COMg) that is connected to the outputs of said counter arrays. The counting cycle of one counter array (C22) is modified with regard to the counting cycle of the other counter array (C12) within a period of the respective wander to be generated or of the respective wander sequence to be generated according to a desired progression of the wander or of the wander sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dietmar Juerschik
  • Patent number: 6845462
    Abstract: A computer of the present invention contains: a CPU; plural peripheral devices controlled by the CPU; a data transmission bus between the CPU and the peripheral devices and between the peripheral devices; and a clock signal source for supplying clock signals for CPU operation and data transmission. The clock signal source contains a PLL synthesizer, and two clock signals (one for the CPU and the other for the bus) are outputted from the PLL synthesizer to stop unnecessary signals (other than the clock signals) from being produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Senichiro Yatsuda, Yasuhiro Ikarashi, Yoshitaka Hirose
  • Patent number: 6842077
    Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillation device includes a voltage controlled oscillator, fixed-frequency oscillator, frequency mixer, and frequency selector. The voltage controlled oscillator changes the output signal frequency in the microwave band in accordance with the input voltage of a frequency control signal. The fixed-frequency oscillator has a fixed oscillation frequency higher than that of the voltage controlled oscillator. The frequency mixer mixes the output signal from the fixed-frequency oscillator and the output signal from the voltage controlled oscillator and outputs the sum frequency and difference frequency between the two signals. The frequency selector selects and outputs one of the sum frequency and difference frequency contained in the output signal from the frequency mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Oga