Ring oscillator

• US 10,003,326 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2018
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Yeong-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Don
• Application Number:
  US15/863,601
• Time in Patent Office: 165 Days
• Field of Search: 326 83
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/073 Charge pumps of the Schenkel-type
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/0315 Ring oscillators

Abstract

A pre-driver includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a third inverter, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a third amplifier, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a third capacitor. The first inverter has an input terminal coupled to an output node, and an output terminal coupled to a first node. The second inverter has an input terminal coupled to the first node, and an output terminal coupled to a second node. The third inverter has an input terminal coupled to the second node, and an output terminal coupled to the output node. The output node is further coupled through the first amplifier and the first capacitor to the first node. The first node is further coupled through the second amplifier and the second capacitor to the second node. The second node is further coupled through the third amplifier and the third capacitor to the output node.

Claims

1. A ring oscillator, comprising:

a first inverter, wherein the first inverter has an input terminal for receiving an output signal, and an output terminal for outputting a first signal at a first node;

a second inverter, wherein the second inverter has an input terminal for receiving the first signal, and an output terminal for outputting a second signal at a second node;

a third inverter, wherein the third inverter has an input terminal for receiving the second signal, and an output terminal for outputting the output signal at an output node of the ring oscillator;

a first amplifier, amplifying the output signal by a gain factor so as to generate a first amplified signal;

a second amplifier, amplifying the first signal by the gain factor so as to generate a second amplified signal;

a third amplifier, amplifying the second signal by the gain factor so as to generate a third amplified signal;

a first capacitor, wherein the first capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the first node, and a second terminal for receiving the third amplified signal;

a second capacitor, wherein the second capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the second node, and a second terminal for receiving the first amplified signal; and

a third capacitor, wherein the third capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the output node, and a second terminal for receiving the second amplified signal.

2. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor is substantially equal to a total parasitic capacitance at the first node, wherein a capacitance of the second capacitor is substantially equal to a total parasitic capacitance at the second node, and wherein a capacitance of the third capacitor is substantially equal to a total parasitic capacitance at the output node.

3. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gain factor is substantially equal to 2.

4. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first amplifier, the second amplifier, and the third amplifier are supplied by a tunable supply voltage and a fixed supply voltage, and wherein the gain factor is determined according to the tunable supply voltage.

5. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the first amplifier, the second amplifier, and the third amplifier comprises:

a first N-type transistor, wherein the first N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to an amplifier input node, a first terminal coupled to a ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a third node, and wherein the amplifier input node is arranged for receiving the output signal, the first signal, or the second signal;

a first P-type transistor, wherein the first P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the third node, a first terminal coupled to the tunable supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the third node;

a second P-type transistor, wherein the second P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the third node, a first terminal coupled to the tunable supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to an amplifier output node, and wherein the amplifier output node is arranged for outputting the first amplified signal, the second amplified signal, or the third amplified signal;

a third P-type transistor, wherein the third P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the amplifier input node, a first terminal coupled to the fixed supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a fourth node;

a second N-type transistor, wherein the second N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the fourth node, a first terminal coupled to the ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the fourth node; and

a third N-type transistor, wherein the third N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the fourth node, a first terminal coupled to the ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the amplifier output node.

6. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a regulator, supplied by an independent supply voltage, wherein the regulator generates the tunable supply voltage which is determined according to a reference voltage.

7. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the regulator comprises:

a fourth P-type transistor, wherein the fourth P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to a fifth node, a first terminal coupled to the independent supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the fifth node;

a fifth P-type transistor, wherein the fifth P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the fifth node, a first terminal coupled to the independent supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a sixth node;

a sixth P-type transistor, wherein the sixth P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the sixth node, a first terminal coupled to the independent supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a regulator output node, and wherein the regulator output node is arranged for outputting the tunable supply voltage;

a fourth N-type transistor, wherein the fourth N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to a seventh node, a first terminal coupled to an eighth node, and a second terminal coupled to the fifth node;

a fifth N-type transistor, wherein the fifth N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to a regulator input node, a first terminal coupled to the eighth node, and a second terminal coupled to the sixth node, and wherein the regulator input node is arranged for receiving the reference voltage;

an independent current sink, drawing a current from the eighth node to a ground voltage;

a first resistor, wherein the first resistor has a first terminal coupled to the regulator output node, and a second terminal coupled to the seventh node; and

a second resistor, wherein the second resistor has a first terminal coupled to the seventh node, and a second terminal coupled to the ground voltage.

8. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a voltage simulator, using the fixed supply voltage and one of the first signal, the second signal, and the output signal to generate the independent supply voltage, wherein the independent supply voltage is higher than the fixed supply voltage.

9. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the voltage simulator comprises:

a frequency divider, dividing a frequency of one of the first signal, the second signal, and the output signal by a division factor so as to generate a control signal and an inverted control signal; and

a switched-capacitor voltage tripler, generating the independent supply voltage according to the fixed supply voltage and the control signal and the inverted control signal, wherein the independent supply voltage is substantially three times the fixed supply voltage.

10. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the switched-capacitor voltage tripler comprises:

a first switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the first switch element has a first terminal coupled to a tripler input node, and a second terminal coupled to a ninth node, wherein the tripler input node is arranged for receiving the fixed supply voltage;

a fourth capacitor, wherein the fourth capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the ninth node, and a second terminal coupled to a tenth node;

a second switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the second switch element has a first terminal coupled to a ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the tenth node;

a third switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the third switch element has a first terminal coupled to the tripler input node, and a second terminal coupled to an eleventh node;

a fifth capacitor, wherein the fifth capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the eleventh node, and a second terminal coupled to a twelfth node;

a fourth switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the fourth switch element has a first terminal coupled to the ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the twelfth node;

a fifth switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the inverted control signal, wherein the fifth switch element has a first terminal coupled to the ninth node, and a second terminal coupled to a tripler output node, wherein the tripler output node is arranged for outputting the independent supply voltage;

a sixth capacitor, wherein the sixth capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the tripler output node, and a second terminal coupled to the ground voltage;

a sixth switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the inverted control signal, wherein the sixth switch element has a first terminal coupled to the tenth node, and a second terminal coupled to the eleventh node; and

a seventh switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the inverted control signal, wherein the seventh switch element has a first terminal coupled to the twelfth node, and a second terminal coupled to the tripler input node.

11. A ring oscillator, comprising:

a first inverter, wherein the first inverter has an input terminal for receiving an output signal, and an output terminal for outputting a first signal at a first node;

a second inverter, wherein the second inverter has an input terminal for receiving the first signal, and an output terminal for outputting a second signal at a second node;

a third inverter, wherein the third inverter has an input terminal for receiving the second signal, and an output terminal for outputting the output signal at an output node of the ring oscillator;

a first amplifier, amplifying the output signal by a gain factor so as to generate a first amplified signal;

a second amplifier, amplifying the first signal by the gain factor so as to generate a second amplified signal;

a third amplifier, amplifying the second signal by the gain factor so as to generate a third amplified signal;

a first capacitor, wherein the first capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the first node, and a second terminal for receiving the first amplified signal;

a second capacitor, wherein the second capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the second node, and a second terminal for receiving the second amplified signal; and

a third capacitor, wherein the third capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the output node, and a second terminal for receiving the third amplified signal.

12. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 11, wherein a capacitance of the first capacitor is substantially equal to a total parasitic capacitance at the first node, wherein a capacitance of the second capacitor is substantially equal to a total parasitic capacitance at the second node, and wherein a capacitance of the third capacitor is substantially equal to a total parasitic capacitance at the output node.

13. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first inverter, the second inverter, and the third inverter are supplied by a fixed supply voltage, wherein the first amplifier, the second amplifier, and the third amplifier are supplied by a tunable supply voltage, and wherein the gain factor is determined according to the tunable supply voltage.

14. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the first amplifier, the second amplifier, and the third amplifier comprises:

a first P-type transistor, wherein the first P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to a third node, a first terminal coupled to the tunable supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to an amplifier output node, wherein the amplifier output node is arranged for outputting the first amplified signal, the second amplified signal, or the third amplified signal;

a first N-type transistor, wherein the first N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to an amplifier input node, a first terminal coupled to a ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the amplifier output node, wherein the amplifier input node is arranged for receiving the output signal, the first signal, or the second signal; and

a level shifter, coupled between the amplifier input node and the third node, such that a voltage at the third node is higher than a voltage at the amplifier input node.

15. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 14, wherein the level shifter comprises:

a second P-type transistor, wherein the second P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the fixed supply voltage, a first terminal coupled to the tunable supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the third node; and

a third P-type transistor, wherein the third P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the amplifier input node, a first terminal coupled to the third node, and a second terminal coupled to the ground voltage.

16. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

a regulator, supplied by an independent supply voltage, wherein the regulator generates the tunable supply voltage which is determined according to a reference voltage.

17. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 16, wherein the regulator comprises:

a fourth P-type transistor, wherein the fourth P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to a fifth node, a first terminal coupled to the independent supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the fifth node;

a fifth P-type transistor, wherein the fifth P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the fifth node, a first terminal coupled to the independent supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a sixth node;

a sixth P-type transistor, wherein the sixth P-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to the sixth node, a first terminal coupled to the independent supply voltage, and a second terminal coupled to a regulator output node, and wherein the regulator output node is arranged for outputting the tunable supply voltage;

a fourth N-type transistor, wherein the fourth N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to a seventh node, a first terminal coupled to an eighth node, and a second terminal coupled to the fifth node;

a fifth N-type transistor, wherein the fifth N-type transistor has a control terminal coupled to a regulator input node, a first terminal coupled to the eighth node, and a second terminal coupled to the sixth node, and wherein the regulator input node is arranged for receiving the reference voltage;

an independent current sink, drawing a current from the eighth node to a ground voltage;

a first resistor, wherein the first resistor has a first terminal coupled to the regulator output node, and a second terminal coupled to the seventh node; and

a second resistor, wherein the second resistor has a first terminal coupled to the seventh node, and a second terminal coupled to the ground voltage.

18. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a voltage simulator, using the fixed supply voltage and one of the first signal, the second signal, and the output signal to generate the independent supply voltage, wherein the independent supply voltage is higher than the fixed supply voltage.

19. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the voltage simulator comprises:

a frequency divider, dividing a frequency of one of the first signal, the second signal, and the output signal by a division factor so as to generate a control signal and an inverted control signal; and

a switched-capacitor voltage tripler, generating the independent supply voltage according to the fixed supply voltage and the control signal and the inverted control signal, wherein the independent supply voltage is substantially three times the fixed supply voltage.

20. The ring oscillator as claimed in claim 19, wherein the switched-capacitor voltage tripler comprises:

a first switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the first switch element has a first terminal coupled to a tripler input node, and a second terminal coupled to a ninth node, wherein the tripler input node is arranged for receiving the fixed supply voltage;

a fourth capacitor, wherein the fourth capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the ninth node, and a second terminal coupled to a tenth node;

a second switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the second switch element has a first terminal coupled to a ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the tenth node;

a third switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the third switch element has a first terminal coupled to the tripler input node, and a second terminal coupled to an eleventh node;

a fifth capacitor, wherein the fifth capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the eleventh node, and a second terminal coupled to a twelfth node;

a fourth switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the control signal, wherein the fourth switch element has a first terminal coupled to the ground voltage, and a second terminal coupled to the twelfth node;

a fifth switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the inverted control signal, wherein the fifth switch element has a first terminal coupled to the ninth node, and a second terminal coupled to a tripler output node, wherein the tripler output node is arranged for outputting the independent supply voltage;

a sixth capacitor, wherein the fifth capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the tripler output node, and a second terminal coupled to the ground voltage;

a sixth switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the inverted control signal, wherein the sixth switch element has a first terminal coupled to the tenth node, and a second terminal coupled to the eleventh node; and

a seventh switch element, selectively closed or opened according to the inverted control signal, wherein the seventh switch element has a first terminal coupled to the twelfth node, and a second terminal coupled to the tripler input node.