Patent · US Active

Clock, frequency reference, and other reference signal generator with a controlled quality factor

US8093958B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
42References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 12, 2008
Grant dateJan 10, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 1, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L7/08
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a reference signal generator having a controlled quality (“Q”) factor. An exemplary apparatus to generate a harmonic reference signal includes a reference resonator, such as an LC-tank, which generates a first reference signal having a resonant frequency, and a plurality of reactance modules couplable to the reference resonator. Each reactance module comprises one or more reactance unit cells, and each reactance unit cell comprises a reactance element coupled in series to a switching element. In exemplary embodiments, the reactance element is a capacitor having a predetermined unit of capacitance, and the switching element is a transistor having a predetermined resistance when in an off state. The ratio of capacitance to resistance is substantially constant for all reactance modules of the plurality of reactance modules.

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