Patent · US Expired

Extendible-range voltage controlled oscillator

US5477198A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
25References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 23, 1994
Grant dateDec 19, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 23, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K3/0322
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit design extending the range and linearizing the transfer characteristic of a fast voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). In addition, a multi-range VCO is described. Range extension is achieved by modifying the delay cell of a current controlled ring oscillator. The VCO transfer characteristic is linearized by piece-wise linear current control added to the delay cell. Additionally, a VCO capable of multi-range operation is provided. With the addition of multiple current sources which control booster inverter current, and by selectively enabling the additional current sources, a VCO with multiple frequency ranges can be achieved.

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