Coupled resonator phase shift oscillator

• US 4,760,352 A
• Filed: 09/04/1987
• Issued: 07/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RF Monolithics, Inc. (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Original Assignee: RF Monolithics, Inc. (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Inventors: Ash, Darrell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mis, David
• Application Number:
  US07/093,292
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 331/107 SL, 331/107 A, 331/108 B, 331/108 C, 333/150, 333/151, 333/152, 333/153, 333/154, 333/155, 333/193, 333/194, 333/195, 333/196, 333/219, 333/240, 333/247
• US Class Current: 331/107.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/326 the resonator being an acoustic wave device, e.g. SAW or BAW device

Abstract

A phase shift oscillator formed with a surface acoustic wave coupled resonator in series with an amplifier and wherein the coupled resonator has a substantially 180° phase shift occurring between the 3dB points of the frequency response curve of the coupled resonator.

Claims

1. A coupled resonator phase shift oscillator comprising:

a. an amplifier having an input and an output and a predetermined phase shift between said input and output,

b. a surface acoustic wave coupled resonator having;

i. an input and an output,

ii. a frequency response curve passing through 3 dB points; and

iii. a phase shift occurring between the 3 dB points which, when added to said amplifier phase shift, causes oscillation, and

c. means for connecting the output of said amplifier as an input to said coupled resonator and the output of said coupled resonator as the input of said amplifier to form an inductorless phase shift oscillator.

2. An oscillator as in claim 1 wherein said amplifier is formed of a transistor or integrated circuit.

3. An oscillator as in claim 2 wherein said coupled resonator is formed with single phase unidirectional transducers.

4. An oscillator as in claim 2 wherein said coupled resonator is formed of resonator structures comprising;

a. a piezo-electric substrate,

b. first and second spaced gratings of λ

/4 electrode attached to said substrate,

c. input and output spaced transducer structures having λ

/4 electrodes and which are attached to said substrate between said first and second gratings for generating standing waves in said substrate, and

d. a resonant cavity formed on said substrate between one of said gratings and one of said transducers.

5. An oscillator as in claim 1 wherein said phase shift of said coupled resonator between said 3 dB points is substantially 180°

or greater.

6. A method of forming a coupled resonator phase shift oscillator comprising the steps of:

a. forming an amplifier having an input and an output and a predetermined phase shift between said input and output,

b. forming a surface acoustic wave coupled resonator having

i. an input and an output,

ii. a frequency response curve passing through the 3 dB points, and

iii. a phase shift occurring substantially between the 3 dB points and which, when added to said amplifier phase shift, causes oscillations, and

c. connecting the output of said amplifier to the input of said coupled resonator and the output of said coupled resonator to the input of said amplifier so as to form an inductorless phase shift oscillator.

7. A method as in claim 6 further comprising the step of forming said amplifier with a transistor or integrated circuit.

8. A method as in claim 7 further comprising the step of forming said coupled resonator with single phase unidirectional transducers.

9. A method as in claim 7 wherein said coupled resonator is formed comprising the steps of:

a. attaching first and second spaced gratings of λ

/4 electrodes to a piezo-electric substrate,

b. attaching input and output spaced transducers having λ

/4 electrodes to said substrate between said first and second gratings for generating standing waves in said substrate,

c. positioning a coupler grating on said substrate between said input and output transducers,

d. forming a first resonant cavity on said substrate between said input transducer and said first grating, and

e. forming a second resonant cavity on said substrate between said coupler grating and said output transducer.

10. A method as in claim 7 further comprising the step of designing said amplifier to operate at or above 225 MHz.

11. A method as in claim 7 wherein said phase shift of said coupled resonator between said 3 dB points is substantially 180°

or greater.