Oscillator and method for operating an oscillator
First Claim
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1. An oscillator, comprising:
- an output;
a ring oscillator core configured to generate an output clock signal on the output;
a control circuit coupled between the output and the ring oscillator core; and
a timer that disables the control circuit until oscillation of the ring oscillator core begins;
wherein the timer is released by a reset signal; and
wherein after a release of the timer by the reset signal, the timer expires and activates the control circuit after a startup time of the ring oscillator core.
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Abstract
Embodiments of an oscillator and a method of operating an oscillator are disclosed. In an embodiment, an oscillator can include a ring oscillator core, a control circuit, and a timer that coordinates timing of the control circuit to avoid a current resulting from a voltage level associated with an output of the ring oscillator core during a startup and to allow the ring oscillator core to operate with a low startup current and a low operational power.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An oscillator, comprising:
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an output; a ring oscillator core configured to generate an output clock signal on the output; a control circuit coupled between the output and the ring oscillator core; and a timer that disables the control circuit until oscillation of the ring oscillator core begins; wherein the timer is released by a reset signal; and wherein after a release of the timer by the reset signal, the timer expires and activates the control circuit after a startup time of the ring oscillator core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating an oscillator, comprising:
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coordinating a control circuit with a timer to avoid a current resulting from a voltage level associated with an output of a ring oscillator core during a startup phase and to allow the ring oscillator core to operate with a low startup current and a low operational power; and releasing the timer by a reset signal; wherein after the reset signal releases the timer, the timer expires and activates the control circuit after a startup time of the ring oscillator core. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An oscillator, comprising:
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an output; a current-controlled oscillator core configured to generate an output clock signal on the output; a level shifter coupled between the output and the current-controlled oscillator core; and a timer that disables the level shifter until oscillation of the current-controlled oscillator core begins; wherein the timer is released by a reset signal; and wherein after a release of the timer by the reset signal, the timer expires and activates the level shifter after a startup time of the current-controlled oscillator core. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An oscillator, comprising:
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a ring oscillator core; a control circuit; a timer that coordinates timing of the control circuit, to avoid a current resulting from a voltage level associated with an output of the ring oscillator core during a startup; and to allow the ring oscillator core to operate with a low startup current and a low operational power; wherein the timer is released by a reset signal; and wherein after a release of the timer by the reset signal, the timer expires and activates the control circuit after a startup time of the ring oscillator core.
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Specification