Patent · US Expired

High performance voltage controlled oscillator

US5469120A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
13References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 1994
Grant dateNov 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L7/0995
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bias voltage generator for a voltage controlled oscillator is described. In one aspect of the invention, the bias voltage generator includes a biasing circuit to generate a minimum clock output at zero operating voltage, and includes a common mode rejection circuit for the BIASN and BIASP control voltages for the differential delay stages and a IDD test current shut-down circuit. A differential delay stage is described that includes a current source controlled by the BIASN and BIASP control voltages from the bias voltage generator, a resistance linearization circuit for current controlling transistors of a BIASN circuit, and a process variation circuit for compensating for temperature and process variations. The improved characteristics of the resulting VCO permits high frequency operation with a relatively low gain, relatively constant gain throughout operating voltage range, improved noise rejection capabilities, increased speed of delay stage, and reduced output signal swing. All of which contribute to improved phase locked loop reliability especially when operating near the ends of the operating range.

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