Discretely variable capacitor for voltage controlled oscillator tuning
US6836193B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03J2200/10
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for generating a variable frequency output. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is used. The VCO comprises a plurality of aggregate capacitor circuits, wherein each of the aggregate capacitor circuits has a collective capacitance, at least two of the collective capacitances have different values, and each of the aggregate capacitor circuits includes one or more individual capacitors wherein each of the individual capacitors are substantially the same size. The VCO further comprises a plurality of switches configured to select one or more aggregate capacitor circuits from among the plurality of aggregate capacitor circuits to form a discretely variable capacitor network having a discretely variable capacitance, wherein the discretely variable capacitor network is configured to cause an oscillator to generate a variable frequency as a result of the discretely variable capacitance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.