Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for compensating a variable oscillator for process, voltage, and temperature variations using a replica oscillator

US7355482B2 · kind B2 · utility

37Cited by
14References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 17, 2006
Grant dateApr 8, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 9, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L2207/06
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Circuits and methods for compensating a variable oscillator for process and/or operational variations. The circuit generally comprises (a) a replica oscillator, (b) a counter configured to count pulses of the replica oscillator and to produce a count signal, and (c) a compensation circuit configured to provide an adjustment signal to the variable oscillator in accordance with the count signal. The method generally comprises the steps of (a) counting the number of pulses of a replica oscillator signal, and (b) providing an adjustment signal to the variable oscillator in accordance with the number of pulses counted. The present invention advantageously provides a largely digital method to compensate a variable oscillator for process, voltage, and temperature variations.

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