Low voltage voltage-controlled oscillator topology
US6469586B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 25, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K3/354
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Recent trends have seen the desire for lower and lower supply voltages in radio frequency (RF) components as this leads to lower power consumption and, therefore, longer battery life. As well, lower voltages and less current means that mobile products can be made to require fewer battery cells leading to lighter, more compact devices. The present invention discloses a novel topology for providing a low-voltage voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The novel topology is based on the negative transconductance oscillator. However, the novel topology of the invention eliminates transistor ‘stacking’ in the oscillator circuit, thereby allowing the oscillator circuit to be operated at a supply voltage only slightly higher than the turn-on voltage for a single transistor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.