Plural Oscillators Patents (Class 331/46)
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Patent number: 8854091Abstract: Circuitry capable of performing fractional clock multiplication by using an injection-locked oscillator is described. Some embodiments described herein perform fractional clock multiplication by periodically changing the injection location, from a set of injection locations, where the injection signal is injected and/or by periodically changing a phase, from a set of phases, of the injection signal that is injected into the ILO.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Rambus Inc.Inventors: Masum Hossain, Farshid Aryanfar, Mohammad Hekmat, Reza Navid
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Publication number: 20140292419Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes first and second oscillators arranged in a series configuration between a supply voltage node and a reference voltage node. The first and second oscillators are configured to receive a synchronizing signal for controlling synchronization in frequency and phase. An electromagnetic network provided to couple the first and the second oscillators includes a transformer with a primary circuit and a secondary circuit. The primary circuit includes a first portion coupled to the first oscillator and second portion coupled to the second oscillator. The first and second portions are connected by a circuit element for reuse of current between the first and second oscillators. The oscillator circuit is fabricated as an integrated circuit device wherein the electromagnetic network is formed in metallization layers of the device. The secondary circuit generates an output power combining power provided from the first and second portions of the primary circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.Inventors: Egidio Ragonese, Vincenzo Fiore, Nunzio Spina, Giuseppe Palmisano
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Publication number: 20140266473Abstract: A method is described for detecting a correlation between at least two ring oscillators and to a system for carrying out the method. In the method a memory field is used in which combinations of concatenations are each assigned a bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Matthew LEWIS, Eberhard BOEHL
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Patent number: 8810322Abstract: A wideband frequency generator has two or more oscillators for different frequency bands, disposed on the same die within a flip chip package. Coupling between inductors of the two oscillators is reduced by placing one inductor on the die and the other inductor on the package, separating the inductors by a solder bump diameter. The loosely coupled inductors allow manipulation of the LC tank circuit of one of the oscillators to increase the bandwidth of the other oscillator, and vice versa. Preventing undesirable mode of oscillation in one of the oscillators may be achieved by loading the LC tank circuit of the other oscillator with a large capacitance, such as the entire capacitance of the coarse tuning bank of the other oscillator. Preventing the undesirable mode may also be achieved by decreasing the quality factor of the other oscillator's LC tank and thereby increasing the losses in the tank circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Rajagopalan Rangarajan, Chinmaya Mishra, Maulin Bhagat, Zhang Jin
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Publication number: 20140225639Abstract: One feature pertains to an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a first plurality of ring oscillators configured to implement, in part, a physically unclonable function (PUF). The IC further includes a second plurality of ring oscillators configured to implement, in part, an age sensor circuit, and also a ring oscillator selection circuit that is coupled to the first plurality of ring oscillators and the second plurality of ring oscillators. The ring oscillator selection circuit is adapted to select at least two ring oscillator outputs from at least one of the first plurality of ring oscillators and/or the second plurality of ring oscillators. Notably, the ring oscillator selection circuit is commonly shared by the PUF and the age sensor circuit. Also, the IC may further include an output function circuit adapted to receive and compare the two ring oscillator outputs and generate an output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Xu GUO, Brian M. Rosenberg
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Patent number: 8797108Abstract: A voltage control oscillator includes: first and second field effect transistors, a drain of one of which is connected to a gate of the other and a drain of the other of which is connected to a gate of the one; third and fourth field effect transistors, a drain of one of which is connected to a gate of the other and a drain of the other of which is connected to a gate of the one; a first inductor connected between the drain of the first field effect transistor and the drain of the second field effect transistor; a second inductor connected between the drain of the third field effect transistor and the drain of the fourth field effect transistor; a third inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor; a fourth inductor magnetically coupled to the second inductor; a first capacitor; and a second capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kenichi Hirashiki, Shinichiro Ishizuka, Nobuyuki Itoh
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Patent number: 8797105Abstract: The present disclosure provides a tunable signal source having a plurality of oscillator cores having a coupling input, a coupling output, and a power output that is common to each of the plurality of oscillator cores. Also included is a plurality of tunable phase shifters wherein corresponding ones of the plurality of tunable phase shifters are communicatively coupled between the coupling input and the coupling output of corresponding ones of the plurality of oscillator cores, thereby forming a loop of alternating ones of the plurality of oscillator cores and alternating ones of the plurality of tunable phase shifters.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Cornell UniversityInventors: Ehsan Afshari, Yahya M. Tousi
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Patent number: 8791762Abstract: Frequency synthesizers for use with oscillators that generate an arbitrary frequency are described, as well as related devices and methods. Divider information can be generated or otherwise accessed for use in configuring a phase lock loop device that is adapted for coupling with the oscillator, where the phase lock loop device can include a plurality of integer dividers without utilizing a fractional divider, where the divider information can include frequency deviations corresponding to groups of integer divider settings for the phase lock loop device, and where each deviation of the frequency deviations can be based on a frequency differential between a standard operating frequency and an output frequency for the phase lock loop utilizing one group of integer divider settings from the groups of integer divider settings.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Sand 9, Inc.Inventors: Reimund Rebel, Klaus Juergen Schoepf
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Patent number: 8779862Abstract: An oscillator having a plurality of operatively coupled ring oscillators arranged in hyper-matrix architecture. The operatively coupled ring oscillators are either identical or non-identical and are coupled through a common inverter or tail current transistors. Due to the arrangement of the ring oscillators in a hyper-matrix structure, the ring oscillators are synchronized and resist any variation in frequency or phase thereby maintaining a consistent phase noise performance.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.Inventor: Prashant Dubey
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Publication number: 20140191813Abstract: A random number generator and method for testing the same are described. In one embodiment, the random number generator comprises one or more ring oscillator structures, each of the one or more ring oscillator structures having a ring oscillator for use in generating random numbers and having a test structure to reconfigure the ring oscillator into a testable structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Silicon Image, Inc.Inventors: Chinsong Sul, Hyukyong Kwon, Andy Ng
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Patent number: 8766730Abstract: A frequency tunable signal source (100) with first (105) and a second (115, 315) oscillators, each of which outputs a signal at a fundamental frequency (f1, f2) and at least one signal at a harmonic frequency (f1?, f2?) and a mixer (120) with first (121) and second (122) input ports and an output port (124), and a control unit (110) which controls switches (S1, S2, S3, S4), by means of which two of said signals (f1, f2, f1?, f2?) are switchably connected to the first input port. The other two signals are switchably to the other input port, with one switch (S1, S2, S3, S4) for each signal (f1, f2, f1?, f2?). There is also comprised a third oscillator (125), with an output signal connected to a third input port (123) of the mixer (120). At least one of the oscillators (105, 115, 315, 125) is a VCO, a Voltage Controlled Oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Mingquan Bao, Herbert Zirath
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Patent number: 8749313Abstract: An electronic device has two oscillators, for example a first highly accurate crystal oscillator and a second less accurate low power oscillator. In a normal mode of operation, time is counted based on an output from the crystal oscillator, but in a low power mode of operation, time is counted based on an output from the less accurate oscillator. During the low power mode of operation, a calibration process is performed repeatedly. During a first calibration time period the second oscillator is calibrated against the first oscillator to obtain a first calibration result, and a recalibration is performed during a second calibration time period to obtain a second calibration result. A correction factor is determined from the first and second calibration results, and the correction factor is applied when subsequently counting time based on the output from the second oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: ST-Ericsson SAInventor: Andrew Ellis
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Patent number: 8744073Abstract: A system for random number generation includes a digital oscillator circuit, which has a set of available configurations and is operative to generate a random number sequence in accordance with a current configuration selected from the set. The system further includes a randomization circuit, which is operative to produce a pseudo-random stream of values corresponding to the available configurations of the digital oscillator circuit, and to control the digital oscillator circuit to alternate among the available configurations in accordance with the pseudo-random stream of values.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2009Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: SanDisk IL Ltd.Inventors: Itai Dror, Leonid Minz, Boris Dolgunov, Michael Koun
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Patent number: 8704603Abstract: A tunable Injection-Locked Oscillator (ILO) having a wide locking range is used in a Local Oscillator (LO) of a wideband wireless transceiver to generate differential signals. The ILO includes a resonator with an adjustable natural oscillating frequency. In one example, the ILO is part of a quadrature divider that can lock onto a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) output signal in a wide frequency band while achieving lower power consumption and lower phase noise than a differential latch type divider. The ILO is tuned by disabling a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) from driving the ILO, adjusting the natural oscillating frequency, making a measurement indicative of the natural oscillating frequency, and determining whether the measurement is within a predetermined range. If the measurement is below the predetermined range, capacitances of resonators within the ILO are decreased, whereas if the measurement is above the predetermined range, capacitances of the resonators are increased.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Mazhareddin Taghivand, Jeongsik Yang
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Patent number: 8698565Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for voltage-controlled oscillator selection in a multi-mode system having multiple voltage-controlled oscillators. Part of oscillator selection is a calibration operation that utilizes maximum and minimum capacitance limits for a voltage-controlled oscillator, which translates to a frequency range, to calculate overlap regions. Overlap regions comprise frequency ranges that overlap such that the overlap region may be generated by two voltage-controlled oscillators with adjacent frequency ranges. One voltage-controlled oscillator selection routine comprises a real time voltage-controlled oscillator calibration and selection routine that executes every time the system requests a new frequency. Another selection routine comprises a start-up routine that executes only at power up or periodically.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Obkircher, Bipul Agarwal, Georgi Taskov
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Patent number: 8692626Abstract: An oscillation device for reducing memory capacity includes a frequency difference detecting unit and a compensation value obtaining unit. When oscillation frequencies of the first and second oscillation circuits are respectively f1 and f2, and oscillation frequencies of the first and second oscillation circuits at a reference temperature are respectively f1r and f2r, the frequency difference detecting unit determines a difference corresponding value x corresponding to a difference value between a value corresponding to a difference between f1 and f1r, and a value corresponding to a difference between f2 and f2r. The compensation value obtaining unit obtains a frequency compensation value of f1 resulting from ambient temperature different from reference temperature based on the difference corresponding value x, and calculates the frequency compensation value of f1 by calculating nth-order polynomial for X being a value corresponding to x/k, where k is a divide coefficient specific to a device.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kaoru Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8686804Abstract: An orthogonally referenced integrated ensemble for navigation and timing includes a dual-polyhedral oscillator array, including an outer sensing array of oscillators and an inner clock array of oscillators situated inside the outer sensing array. The outer sensing array includes a first pair of sensing oscillators situated along a first axis of the outer sensing array, a second pair of sensing oscillators situated along a second axis of the outer sensing array, and a third pair of sensing oscillators situated along a third axis of the outer sensing array. The inner clock array of oscillators includes a first pair of clock oscillators situated along a first axis of the inner clock array, a second pair of clock oscillators situated along a second axis of the inner clock array, and a third pair of clock oscillators situated along a third axis of the inner clock array.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: Stephen Fulton Smith, James Anthony Moore
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Patent number: 8670736Abstract: A circuit includes, in part, a receiver, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), and an oscillator. The receiver receives an incoming signal and an oscillating signal. The RSSI is responsive to the receiver and generates an output signal representative of the strength of the incoming signal. The oscillator receives different biasing conditions in response to different outputs of the RSSI. The oscillator generates the oscillating signal received by the receiver. The oscillator receives a first biasing condition when the incoming signal is detected as having a strength lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold value and a second biasing condition when the incoming signal is detected as having a strength higher than the predetermined threshold value. The first biasing condition may be defined by a first current, and the second biasing condition may be defined by a sum of the first current and a second current.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.Inventor: Sheng Ye
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Publication number: 20140062606Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for testing of multiple ring oscillators. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one ring oscillator structure having a ring oscillator having an inverter chain with an odd number of inverters connected back-to-back and operable to produce an oscillatory output, and a test structure coupled to provide either an observability chain input or a test input to the ring oscillator and to receive the oscillatory output as a feedback from the ring oscillator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Inventors: Chinsong Sul, Hyukyong Kwon, Andy Ng
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Patent number: 8659364Abstract: A value corresponding to a difference value between a value corresponding to a difference between f1 and f1r and a value corresponding to a difference between f2 and f2r is treated as an instantaneous temperature, where f1 and f2 denote oscillation outputs of the first and second oscillation circuits, respectively, and f1r and f2r denote oscillation frequencies of the first and second oscillation circuits, respectively, at a reference temperature. A first correction value is obtained using an approximation formula of the frequency correction value of f1 based on the value corresponding to the difference value, and a second correction value for canceling a correction residual error is obtained from the correction residual error which is a difference between the first correction value and the frequency correction value actually measured. The frequency correction value is obtained from a sum of the first and second correction values.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kaoru Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8659472Abstract: An apparatus includes a stable local oscillator, which includes a first control loop. The first control loop includes a first voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a first output signal and a first phase-locked loop. The apparatus also includes a frequency up-converter configured to increase a frequency of the first output signal. The apparatus further includes a second control loop configured to receive the up-converted first output signal. The second control loop includes a second voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a second output signal and a second phase-locked loop. The second control loop may further include a mixer having a first input coupled to the frequency up-converter, a second input coupled to the second voltage-controlled oscillator, and an output coupled to the second phase-locked loop. A reference frequency source may be configured to generate a signal identifying a reference frequency and to provide that signal to the phase-locked loops.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2009Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Enraf B.V.Inventors: Bin Sai, Ronald C. Sehrier
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Publication number: 20140043104Abstract: Herein is presented, a low power on-die 60 GHz distribution network for a beamforming system that can be scaled as the number of transmitters increases. The transmission line based power splitters and quadrature hybrids whose size would be proportional to a quarter wavelength (˜600 ?m) if formed using transmission lines are instead constructed by inductors/capacitors and reduce the area by more than 80%. An input in-phase I clock and an input quadrature Q clock are combined into a single composite clock waveform locking the phase relation between the in-phase I clock and quadrature Q clock. The composite clock is transferred over a single transmission line formed using a Co-planar Waveguide (CPW) coupling the source and destination locations over the surface of a die. Once the individuals the in-phase I and quadrature Q clocks are required, they can be generated at the destination from the composite clock waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: Tensorcom, Inc.Inventor: Jiashu Chen
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Patent number: 8643440Abstract: An electric circuit includes: a reference signal generation circuit that generates a reference signal based on a first oscillation signal that is an oscillation signal of a first oscillation circuit that vibrates a first vibrator; and a counter circuit that counts a second oscillation signal that is an oscillation signal of a second oscillation circuit that vibrates a second vibrator based on the reference signal, and outputs a count signal, wherein the count signal is a change of the count value in the second oscillation signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takayuki Kondo, Masayoshi Todorokihara, Yoshihiko Nimura, Takeo Kawase
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Patent number: 8624680Abstract: In one embodiment, there is a method that can include utilizing a ring oscillator module to determine a process corner of an integrated circuit as fabricated that includes the ring oscillator module. The impedance of an output driver of the integrated circuit can be altered based on the process corner of the integrated circuit as fabricated.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventors: Steven T. Stoiber, Stuart Siu
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Patent number: 8598956Abstract: A device is provided having a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate a first signal comprising at least one of timing information, frequency information, phase information and combinations thereof. The device also has a LO error corrector comprising an input, the input configured to receive a second signal comprising at least one of timing information, frequency information, phase information and combinations thereof. The second signal is used for disciplining the LO. The LO error corrector is capable of disciplining the LO using a source that is less accurate than a preferred second signal, if the preferred second signal is unavailable to discipline the LO.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Russell Smiley
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Patent number: 8598957Abstract: Oscillators and methods of manufacturing and operating an oscillator are provided, the oscillators include a base free layer having a variable magnetization direction, and at least one oscillation unit on the base free layer. The oscillation unit may include a free layer element contacting the base free layer and having a width less than a width of the base free layer, a pinned layer element separated from the free layer element, and a separation layer element between the free layer element and the pinned layer element. A plurality of oscillation units may be arranged on the base free layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sung-chul Lee, Ung-hwan Pi, Kee-won Kim, Kwang-seok Kim
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Publication number: 20130307632Abstract: A time base management system facilitates early analysis, detection, and status messages (e.g., early warnings) concerning the operation of time bases in a device. In addition, the time base management system may adapt the time bases in the device according to the anticipated, selected, or actual operating conditions of the device. As one example, if the time base management system knows that a cell phone will switch to a high data rate (e.g., 4G or LTE) operation mode, the time base management system may configure a time base in the cell phone to operate with increased precision or accuracy, or otherwise meet any applicable time base operational profile for high data rate operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Wael Diab, John S. Walley
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Patent number: 8576014Abstract: A device is provided having a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate a first signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The device also includes a prioritizer comprising at least two inputs, each input configured to receive a respective second signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The prioritizer is configured to determine an accuracy of at least one second signal of the at least two second signals in relation to a second signal assigned to be a most accurate of the at least two second signals. The prioritizer is also configured to order the at least two second signals from most accurate to least accurate. The LO is disciplined to correct an offset error of the LO relative to a most accurate second signal that is available to the device, based on the order of the at least two second signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Russell Smiley, Charles Nicholls
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Patent number: 8576018Abstract: An electronic high frequency induction heater driver, for a variable spray fuel injection system, uses a scalable array of zero-voltage switching oscillators that utilize full and half-bridge topology wherein the semiconductor switches are synchronous within each bridge for function, and each bridge is synchronized for function along the entire array. The induction heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, multiplies a supply voltage through a self-oscillating series resonance, wherein one component of each tank resonator circuit comprises an induction heater coil magnetically coupled to an appropriate loss component so that fuel inside a fuel component is heated to a desired temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Perry Czimmek, Mike Hornby
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Patent number: 8576019Abstract: An electronic high frequency induction heater driver, for a variable spray fuel injection system, uses a scalable array of zero-voltage switching oscillators that utilize full and half-bridge topology with inductors between semiconductor switches wherein the semiconductor switches are synchronous within each bridge for function, and each bridge is synchronized for function along the entire array. The induction heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, multiplies a supply voltage through a self-oscillating series resonance, wherein one component of each tank resonator circuit comprises an induction heater coil magnetically coupled to an appropriate loss component so that fuel inside a fuel component is heated to a desired temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, IncInventors: Perry Czimmek, Mike Hornby
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Patent number: 8564375Abstract: In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a reference oscillator counter circuit configured to produce a reference oscillator count value based on a reference oscillator signal, and a target oscillator counter circuit configured to produce a target oscillator count value based on a target oscillator signal where the target oscillator signal has a frequency targeted for calibration against a frequency of the reference oscillator signal. The apparatus can include a difference circuit configured to calculate a difference between the reference oscillator counter value and the target oscillator counter value, and a summation circuit configured to define a trim code based on only a portion of bit values from the difference.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor CorporationInventors: John R. Turner, Tyler Daigle
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Patent number: 8558625Abstract: A technique for enhancing the frequency tuning range for monolithic RF source generation using fully-integrated coupled Voltage-Controlled-Oscillator (VCO) arrays that contain an odd number of VCOs. Fully-monolithic SiGe VCO arrays using on-chip inductor and varactor with on-chip bias current sources have been carefully designed and simulated in IBM 7HP 0.18 ?m BiCMOS technology and taped out for fabrication. The SPICE simulated frequency and phase tuning of the 1-D VCO×5 array is dependent on the edge VCOs termination impedance, the tuning voltages, and the VCO coupling strength. The simulated data suggests that the enhanced tuning range and beam steering can be accomplished using coupled-VCO arrays without needing complex and bulky phase shifters. This design technique imposes no apparent phase noise penalty but can provide simulated RF frequency tuning range of ˜40% and also ˜+/?25° beam steering for active antennas applications.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Yu-Chun Donald Lie, Brian Meadows, Joseph Neff, John Cothern, Jerry Lopez
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Patent number: 8558623Abstract: An oscillator including two groups of elementary junctions having giant magnetoresistance effect traversed by electric currents, the junctions of each of the two groups being in series and energized by respective main currents and the voltages across the terminals of the groups being added together to provide a voltage on an output of the oscillating circuit. The voltage across the terminals of one or more junctions of a first group is applied to a first input of a phase comparator and the voltage across the terminals of one or more junctions of the other group is applied to another input of the phase comparator, the phase comparator providing on two outputs secondary currents of the same amplitude and of opposite signs, which are dependent on the mean phase difference between the voltages applied to the inputs, the secondary currents each being added to a respective main current.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies AlternativesInventors: Mykhailo Zarudniev, Eric Colinet, Patrick Villard
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Patent number: 8559276Abstract: The system for timing a sports competition includes a main timing device having a first time base, and a secondary timing device having a second time base (5). The two timing devices are capable of operating in parallel when the timing system is enabled. The two timing devices are arranged such that the second time base (5) is synchronized by using a reference timer signal (CLKref) generated by the first time base. The second time base (5) includes a phase lock loop (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17) for adapting the frequency of the second timer signal (CLK_T2) according to the frequency of the reference timer signal (CLKref).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Swiss TimingInventor: Fabien Blondeau
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Patent number: 8552804Abstract: An apparatus includes an adjustable oscillator circuit configured to generate an output signal having a frequency that varies responsive to a frequency control signal and a frequency reference generator circuit configured to produce a frequency reference signal. The apparatus further includes a calibration circuit configured to determine a relationship of the output signal to the frequency reference signal and to enable and disable the frequency reference generator circuit based on the determined relationship.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Inc.Inventors: Chenxiao Ren, Tao Jing
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Patent number: 8547178Abstract: A ring oscillator is disclosed. The ring oscillator includes a first tri-path inverter, a second tri-path inverter and a third tri-path inverter. The second tri-path inverter is connected to the first tri-path inverter. The third tri-path inverter is connected to the first and second tri-path inverters to provide feedback for oscillations.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventors: Neil E. Wood, Patrick Fleming, Andrew T. Kelly, Bin Li, Daniel M. Pirkl
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Patent number: 8536953Abstract: A quartz oscillator module includes a first quartz oscillator, a second quartz oscillator, a first electronic switch, and a second electronic switch. The first and second quartz oscillators provide two different clock signals. When the first electronic switch is turned on, the first quartz oscillator is activated. When the second electronic switch is turned on, the second quartz oscillator is activated.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Meng-Che Yu
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Patent number: 8525604Abstract: The present invention relates to an oscillator arrangement, arranged for providing an oscillator output and phase noise detection and/or control of said oscillator output, the arrangement comprising a mixer (1) connected to a low-pass filter (2). The oscillator arrangement comprises a first oscillator (7) and a second oscillator (8), where the oscillators (7, 8) are inter-injection locked to each other by means of at least one coupling element (Q) in such a way that the oscillator output is acquired in quadrature automatically. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)Inventors: Harald Jacobsson, Mikael Andreasson, Kjell Larsson
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Patent number: 8513957Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing dynamic voltage sensing and a trigger circuit, and a design structure on which the subject circuits resides are provided. The voltage sensing circuit includes a first quiet oscillator generating a reference clock, and a second noisy oscillator generating a noisy clock. A digital control loop coupled to the first quiet oscillator and the second noisy oscillator matches frequency of the first quiet oscillator and the second noisy oscillator. The reference clock drives a first predefined-bit shift register and the noisy clock drives a second predefined-bit shift register, where the second predefined-bit shift register is greater than the first predefined-bit shift register. When the first predefined-bit shift register overflows, the contents of the second predefined-bit shift register are evaluated. The contents of the second predefined-bit shift register are compared with a noise threshold select value to identify a noise event and trigger a noise detector control output.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kennedy K. Cheruiyot, Joel T. Ficke, David M. Friend, Grant P. Kesselring, James D. Strom
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Patent number: 8508304Abstract: Reducing a gain of a VCO, which may be used in a serdes system, includes using an oscillator replicating the VCO. The oscillator frequency varies according to PVT conditions of circuit elements of the oscillator, which affect a speed of the circuit elements. A first circuit receives an output of the oscillator to produce a current that varies inversely proportionally to the oscillator frequency. A second circuit injects the current into a power supply line of the VCO. Thus, high VCO frequencies can be attained. By reducing the gain of the VCO, thermal noise contribution of the loop resistor and the loop capacitor required for desired loop bandwidth are reduced. During fast corner conditions, minimal current is injected into the VCO. During slow corner conditions, high current is injected into the VCO. These help keep VCTRL of the PLL loop close to a mid-rail operating region.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Vishnu Ravinuthula
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Patent number: 8502610Abstract: A representative integrated circuit comprises a clock signal generator that generates a clock signal, a code pattern generator that generates digital pattern data based on the clock signal, and multiple traversal local oscillator synthesizers that are coupled in a cascaded configuration. Each traversal local oscillator synthesizer includes a transversal digital-to-analog conversion (T-DAC) unit that includes a plurality of registers and a unary modulator (Umod) array. The T-DAC provides frequency selection ranges covering wide operational bands based on the digital pattern data and the clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Leopold E. Pellon, William G. Trueheart, Jr.
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Patent number: 8497740Abstract: A rubidium oscillator or a cesium oscillator is used as a high stability oscillator, and an OCXO being a metastable oscillator which is inferior in a long-term frequency stability compared with the above oscillators but has a high short-term frequency stability is used as a backup. There is prepared a table in which an elapsed time since an occurrence of an abnormality in the high stability oscillator and weighting (use ratio) of use of the both oscillators is corresponded, and by using this table, after the high stability oscillator recovers, an oscillation frequency of the metastable oscillator is used by 100% initially, but thereafter the weighting (use ratio) of use of the metastable oscillator is made smaller and the use ratio of the high stability oscillator is made larger in stages.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naoki Onishi
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Patent number: 8493058Abstract: A device and a method for frequency analysis. The frequency of an output signal is divided, and an auxiliary signal with a known frequency is subtracted from the low-frequency signal to define a low-frequency differential signal. The output frequency is determined on the basis of the frequency of the low-frequency differential signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbHInventors: Frank Gruson, Paul Schnebli
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Patent number: 8473771Abstract: A clock source generates a first clock signal for clocking a first clocked module and a rate adapting module produces an operation dependent clock signal from the first clock signal for clocking a second clocked module that is rate dependent. The first clock signal has a rate such that frequency dependent noise components associated with the first clock signal are outside a given frequency range that causes adverse performance in the first clocked module.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Ahmadreza Rofougaran
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Patent number: 8466752Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, an oscillator circuit comprises, a first pad associated with a first terminal of an oscillator and a second pad associated with a second terminal of the oscillator. The oscillator is configured to generate an oscillating signal and communicate the oscillating signal from the second terminal to a clock distributor coupled to the second pad. The oscillator circuit further comprises an oscillator gain element comprising an output node coupled to the first pad and an input node coupled to the second pad. The oscillator circuit also comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to the first pad. The oscillator circuit additionally comprises a switching circuit coupled to the gain element. The switching circuit is configured to enable the gain element when the oscillator comprises a resonator and disable the gain element when the oscillator comprises a voltage controlled oscillating module.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2011Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor LimitedInventors: Kristopher Kevin Kaufman, John Wayne Simmons
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Patent number: 8461934Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.Inventors: Ovidiu Carnu, Xiaoyue Wang, Shafiq M. Jamal
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Publication number: 20130141172Abstract: An orthogonally referenced integrated ensemble for navigation and timing includes a dual-polyhedral oscillator array, including an outer sensing array of oscillators and an inner clock array of oscillators situated inside the outer sensing array. The outer sensing array includes a first pair of sensing oscillators situated along a first axis of the outer sensing array, a second pair of sensing oscillators situated along a second axis of the outer sensing array, and a third pair of sensing oscillators situated along a third axis of the outer sensing array. The inner clock array of oscillators includes a first pair of clock oscillators situated along a first axis of the inner clock array, a second pair of clock oscillators situated along a second axis of the inner clock array, and a third pair of clock oscillators situated along a third axis of the inner clock array.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2013Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: UT-Battelle, LLCInventor: UT-Battelle, LLC
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Patent number: 8456243Abstract: A failsafe oscillator monitor and alarm circuit receives clock pulses from an external oscillator that if a failure thereto occurs, the failsafe oscillator monitor and alarm circuit will notify a digital processor of the external oscillator failure. The failsafe oscillator monitor and alarm circuit is a very low current usage circuit that charges a storage capacitor with clock pulses from the external oscillator when functioning normally and discharges the storage capacitor with a constant current sink if the external oscillator stops functioning. When the voltage charge on the storage capacitor becomes less than a reference voltage an alarm signal is sent to the digital processor for exception or error handling of the failed external oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Microchip Technology IncorporatedInventors: Enrique Aleman, Jonathan Dillon, Vivien Delport, Joseph Julicher
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Patent number: 8427249Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Paul D. Swanson, Richard L. Waters
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Patent number: 8417983Abstract: Adjusting a clock source of a device clock to reduce wireless communication (e.g., radio frequency (RF)) interference within a device. The device clock may be derived from an input clock to a serial interface, e.g., coupled to a display, and may be initially driven by a first clock. Later, it may be determined that the serial interface clock is or will interfere with wireless communication. Accordingly, temporary clock signals may be provided to the device clock while the first clock is modified. Once modified, the modified clock signals may be provided to the device clock to reduce wireless communication interference.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Erik P. Machnicki, Timothy J. Millet, Stephan Vincent Schell