Patent · US Expired

Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with symmetrical output and logic gate for use in same

US5426384A · kind A · utility

79Cited by
3References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 27, 1993
Grant dateJun 20, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 27, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S331/03
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) (23) includes a periodic signal generator (30) such as a comparator (42)followed by a latch (43), and a logic gate such as a NAND gate (31) connected to the output of the latch (43) to adjust for asymmetries in the output signals from the latch (43). In one embodiment, the NAND gate (31) includes two pullup transistors (80, 81) receiving first and second output signals from the latch and connected between a first power supply voltage terminal and an output node (86). Two switching branches (82, 83 and 84, 85) each including two transistors are connected between the output node (86) and a second power supply voltage terminal. The order of the input signals received by the two transistors is reversed between the two switching branches (82, 83 and 84, 85) to compensate for any duty cycle asymmetries. A frequency divider (32) divides the output of the NAND gate (31) to complete the duty cycle adjustment.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.