Low-gain, low-jitter voltage controlled oscillator circuit

• US 5,952,892 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Szajda, Kenneth S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIS, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US08/939,586
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 331/34, 331/57, 331/177 R, 331/179, 331/185, 331/186, 375/376, 455/260
• US Class Current: 331/57
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/0231 Astable circuits H03K3/0315 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/087 using at least two phase detectors or a frequency and phase detector in the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/0891 the up-down pulses controlling source and sink current generators, e.g. a charge pump
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/0995 the oscillator comprising a ring oscillator
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/14 for assuring constant frequency when supply or correction voltages fail or are interrupted
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/033 using the transitions of the received signal to control the phase of the synchronising-signal-generating means, e.g. using a phase-locked loop

Abstract

A low-gain, low-jitter VCO circuit implemented in CMOS provides center frequency adjustment to overcome process variations. Further, noise immunity is improved by using a separate feedback loop to provide the nominal current biasing for the oscillator chain. This feedback loop coarsely sets the center frequency. The actual control of the oscillation frequency is achieved by a second current source, whose output is added to the nominal bias current to provide a total bias to the oscillator. This second current source "fine tunes" the oscillator frequency responsive to a control signal. Because two separate current sources are used, the circuit can realize a high oscillation frequency with a low VCO gain. Another feature provides for adjusting the center frequency in response to a digital input word provided via external pins, or from internal logic or memory. The center frequency thus can be calibrated by measurement at the time of manufacture, or changes later by the end user or by other circuitry.

Claims

1. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit comprising:

a ring-oscillator comprising a serial chain of inverter circuits to provide an oscillating output signal having a desired frequency;

a first adjustable current source coupled to the ring oscillator inverter circuits to provide biasing current so as to establish oscillation of the output signal at approximately a selected center frequency, wherein the first adjustable current source is disposed within a bias feedback loop; and

a second adjustable current source also coupled to the ring oscillator inverter circuits to adjust the biasing current for tuning the output signal frequency in response to a control input signal.

2. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 1 and further comprising a digitally programmable current sink connected to the output of the first adjustable current source so as to provide a programmable load for selecting the center frequency in response to a digital input word provided to the programmable current sink.

3. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 2 wherein the digitally programmable current sink comprises a plurality of stages all coupled to a common output node (IOUT), each stage including an individual current sink selectable in response to a corresponding bit of the digital input word for sinking a respective current from the common output node.

4. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 2 wherein the bias feedback loop has a gain greater than the VCO gain.

5. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit comprising:

a ring-oscillator comprising a serial chain of inverter circuits to provide an oscillating output signal having a desired frequency;

means having a selected loop gain for biasing the inverter circuits so as to establish a nominal center frequency of the output signal; and

control means for varying the biasing applied to the inverter circuits so as to tune the frequency of the output signal in response to a control input signal.

6. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 5 wherein the control means for tuning the output signal has a VCO gain lower than the biasing means loop gain.

7. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 6 wherein the bias loop gain is on the order of approximately 10 to 100 times the VCO gain.

8. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 6 wherein the VCO gain is less than approximately 10 MHz per volt and the center frequency is greater than about 30 MHz, thereby implementing a low-gain, high frequency VCO.

9. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 5 further comprising means for adjusting the bias voltage applied to the ring oscillator and thereby adjusting the center frequency in response to an external input.

10. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 9 wherein the means for adjusting the bias voltage applied to the ring oscillator is responsive to a digital input word.

11. A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit according to claim 9 wherein the means for adjusting the bias voltage applied to the ring oscillator includes a digitally programmable current source.

12. A method of controlling an output signal frequency of a ring oscillator comprising the steps of:

establishing a predetermined nominal center frequency of oscillation of the ring oscillator by providing a bias feedback loop current to the ring oscillator using a first current source; and

controllably tuning the output signal frequency by providing a control current to the ring oscillator using a second current source, wherein the second current source but not the first current source is variable in response to a frequency control signal.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said providing a bias current to the ring oscillator includes providing a bias feedback loop circuit arranged for controlling the first current source to maintain the bias current at a selected value.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said providing a bias current to the ring oscillator includes selecting a bias feedback loop circuit loop gain of approximately on the order of 10 to 100.

15. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of adjusting a center frequency of the ring oscillator by controllably loading the first current source so as to controllably vary the bias current independently of the frequency control signal.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said controllably loading the first current source includes providing a digitally programmable current source coupled to the first current source and loading the first current source responsive to a digital input word applied to the programmable current source.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the digitally programmable current source comprises a plurality of individual current sources each operable in response to a corresponding bit of the digital input word.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said adjusting the center frequency includes measuring a center frequency of the ring oscillator;

determining an adjustment load current necessary for changing the center frequency to a desired center frequency; and

then applying to the programmable current source a selected digital input word corresponding to the adjustment load current;

whereby a desired center frequency is attained while overcoming fabrication process variations.

19. A method according to claim 18 and further comprising storing the selected digital input word so as to provide for continuous operation of the ring oscillator at the desired center frequency.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said storing the selected digital input word includes storing the input word on board an integrated circuit together with the digitally programmable current source.

21. A method according to claim 19 further comprising providing a non-volatile memory on board the integrated circuit and wherein said storing the selected digital input word includes storing the input word in the non-volatile memory whereby said steps of measuring the center frequency and determining an adjustment load current necessary for changing the center frequency to the desired center frequency need not be repeated.