Methods and apparatus for generating a high swing in an oscillator
First Claim
1. An oscillator comprising:
- a tank having an enable input, a tank output, and first and second nodes, the tank configured to generate an oscillating output signal at the tank output responsive to an enable signal at the enable input, the oscillating output signal corresponding to a voltage differential between a first node voltage at the first node and a second node voltage at the second node;
a feedback generator including;
a first feedback loop coupled to the first node, the first feedback loop, configured to provide a first charge at the first node to maintain the oscillating output signal, the first feedback loop including;
a sine-to-square wave converter having a converter input and a converter output, the converter input coupled to the first node, and the sine-to-square wave converter configured to amplify and convert an oscillating voltage at the first node to a square wave at the converter output; and
a logic gate having first and second logic gate inputs and a logic gate output, the first logic gate input coupled to the converter output, the second logic gate input coupled to the enable input, the logic gate output coupled to the first node, and the logic gate configured to provide an output voltage at the logic gate output when the enable signal and the square wave are above a threshold; and
a second feedback loop coupled to the second node, the second feedback loop configured to provide a second charge at the second node to maintain the oscillating output signal, in which a voltage swing of the oscillating output signal is greater than ±
Vb, and Vb is a breakdown voltage of the active components; and
an attenuator, coupled between the first node and the feedback generator, and coupled between the second node and the feedback generator, the attenuator configured to isolate the tank from the active components.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to generate an oscillating output signal having a voltage swing greater than a voltage swing across nodes of active devices. An example oscillator includes a tank to generate an oscillating output signal in response receiving an edge of an enable signal; a feedback generator including a first gain stage forming a first feedback loop with the tank, the first feedback loop providing a first charge to maintain the oscillating output signal and a second gain stage forming a second feedback loop with the tank, the second feedback loop providing a second charge to maintain the oscillating output signal, the first and second charges combining with the oscillating output signal to generate a high voltage swing; and an attenuator connected between the tank and the feedback generator to isolate the tank from active components of the feedback generator.
5 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An oscillator comprising:
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a tank having an enable input, a tank output, and first and second nodes, the tank configured to generate an oscillating output signal at the tank output responsive to an enable signal at the enable input, the oscillating output signal corresponding to a voltage differential between a first node voltage at the first node and a second node voltage at the second node; a feedback generator including; a first feedback loop coupled to the first node, the first feedback loop, configured to provide a first charge at the first node to maintain the oscillating output signal, the first feedback loop including;
a sine-to-square wave converter having a converter input and a converter output, the converter input coupled to the first node, and the sine-to-square wave converter configured to amplify and convert an oscillating voltage at the first node to a square wave at the converter output; and
a logic gate having first and second logic gate inputs and a logic gate output, the first logic gate input coupled to the converter output, the second logic gate input coupled to the enable input, the logic gate output coupled to the first node, and the logic gate configured to provide an output voltage at the logic gate output when the enable signal and the square wave are above a threshold; anda second feedback loop coupled to the second node, the second feedback loop configured to provide a second charge at the second node to maintain the oscillating output signal, in which a voltage swing of the oscillating output signal is greater than ±
Vb, and Vb is a breakdown voltage of the active components; andan attenuator, coupled between the first node and the feedback generator, and coupled between the second node and the feedback generator, the attenuator configured to isolate the tank from the active components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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11. An oscillator comprising:
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a tank having an enable input, a tank output, and first and second nodes, the tank configured to generate an oscillating output signal at the tank output responsive to an enable signal at the enable input, the oscillating output signal corresponding to a voltage differential between a first node voltage at the first node and a second node voltage at the second node; a feedback generator including active components, the feedback generator including; a first feedback loop coupled to the first node, the first feedback loop, configured to provide a first charge at the first node to maintain the oscillating output signal; and
a second feedback loop coupled to the second node, the second feedback loop;configured to provide a second charge at the second node to maintain the oscillating output signal, in which a voltage swing of the oscillating output signal is greater than ±
Vb, and Vb is a breakdown voltage of the active components, and the second feedback loop includes;
a sine-to-square wave converter having a converter input and a converter output, the converter input coupled to the second node, and the sine-to-square wave converter configured to amplify and convert an oscillating voltage at the second node to a square wave at the converter output; and
a logic gate having first and second logic gate inputs and a logic gate output, the first logic gate input coupled to the converter output, the second logic gate input coupled to the enable input, the logic gate output coupled to the second node, and the logic gate configured to provide an output voltage at the logic gate output when the enable signal and the square wave are below a threshold; andan attenuator, coupled between the first node and the feedback generator, and coupled between the second node and the feedback generator, the attenuator configured to isolate the tank from the active components. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification