Monolithic oscillator utilizing frequency-locked loop feedback network

• US 5,982,241 A
• Filed: 07/31/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corporation (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brightman, Stephen Christopher, Nguyen, Cong Dinh
• Primary Examiner(s): KINKEAD, ARNOLD M
• Application Number:
  US08/903,820
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 331/177 R, 331/49, 331/111, 331/143, 331/175, 331/176, 331/1 R, 331/74, 327/159
• US Class Current: 331/49
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/04 Modifications of generator to compensate for variations in physical values, e.g. power supply, load, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 5/36 active element in amplifier being semiconductor device H03B5/323, H03B5/326 , H03B5/38 take precedence

Abstract

A monolithic oscillator having dual programmable fixed frequency outputs includes crystal-less oscillator circuitry utilizing frequency-locked feedback to generate ai signal having a select frequency, the frequency being stabilized over temperature and voltage by compensation circuitry associated with the crystal-less oscillator circuitry. A programmable prescaler is coupled to the crystal-less oscillator circuitry for varying the frequency of the signal generated by the crystal-less oscillator circuitry by a select amount. The monolithic oscillator further includes inputs for receiving an external signal, such as an external reference signal, or for connection to a crystal for providing an alternative frequency reference. A multiplexer is used to select either the external signal (or crystal) or the signal from the crystal-less oscillator circuitry to be used for the output signal. Monolithic oscillator further includes a programmable frequency divider coupled to the multiplexer to vary the frequency of the signal from the multiplexer by a select amount to one of the dual outputs. The other output being used as a reference output.

Claims

1. A monolithic oscillator comprising:

a crystal-less oscillator for generating a first signal having a select frequency;

said crystal-less oscillator including a frequency-lock feedback loop for stabilizing the frequency of said first signal, said frequency-lock feedback loop including a frequency-controlled resistor;

an input for receiving an external reference signal; and

a switching device coupled to said crystal-less oscillator for receiving said first signal and said switching device coupled to said input for receiving said reference signal, said switching device switchable to output at least one of said first signal and said reference signal.

2. The monolithic oscillator as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a frequency divider coupled between said crystal-less oscillator and said switching device, said frequency divider for modifying the frequency of said first signal by a select factor.

3. The monolithic oscillator as recited in claim 2, wherein said frequency divider is programmable.

4. The monolithic oscillator as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a frequency divider coupled to said switching device and an output, said frequency divider for modifying the frequency of the signal output by said switching device by a select factor.

5. The monolithic oscillator as recited in claim 4, wherein said frequency divider is programmable.

6. The monolithic oscillator as recited in claim 1, and further comprising temperature compensation circuitry coupled to said crystal-less oscillator.

7. The monolithic oscillator as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a power down-mode of operation, such that when in said power-down mode of operation, said crystal-less oscillator is disabled.

8. A monolithic crystal-less oscillator device comprising:

crystal-less oscillator circuitry for generating a first signal having a select frequency with an approximate maximum 1% variation over a select temperature range;

said crystal-less oscillator device including a frequency-lock feedback loop including a frequency-controlled resistor;

an input for receiving a second signal; and

a switching device coupled to said oscillator circuitry for receiving said first signal and said switching device coupled to said input for receiving said second signal, said switching device switchable to output at least one of said first signal and said second signal.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein said oscillator circuitry includes a frequency-lock feedback loop for stabilizing the frequency of said first signal.

10. The device as recited in claim 9, and further comprising a prescaler coupled between said oscillator circuitry and said switching device, said prescaler for modifying the frequency of said first signal by a select factor.

11. The device as recited in claim 10, and further comprising a programmable frequency divider coupled to switching device for modifying the frequency of the signal output by said switching device by a select factor.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein oscillator circuitry includes compensation circuitry for compensation for the temperature dependency of the oscillator circuitry.

13. A programmable oscillator device comprising:

a crystal-less oscillator for generating a first signal having selected frequency, said crystal-less oscillator including frequency-locked feedback for stabilizing the frequency of said first signal, said frequency-lock feedback loop including a frequency-controlled resistor;

a first input for receiving a second signal;

a switching device coupled to said programmable prescaler and further coupled to said first input, said switching device switchable to output one of said first signal and said second signal; and

a programmable prescaler coupled to said crystal-less oscillator varying the frequency of said first signal by a selected amount.

14. The device as recited in claim 13, wherein said switching device includes a multiplexer.

15. The device as recited in claim 13, and further comprising a frequency divider coupled to said switching device, said frequency divider for modifying the frequency of the signal received from said switching device by a selected device.

16. The device as recited in claim 15, and further comprising:

a first output coupled to said switching device for outputting the signal output by said switching device; and

a second output coupled to said frequency divider for outputting the signal modified by said frequency divider.

17. The device as recited in claim 16, and further comprising compensation circuitry coupled to said crystal-less oscillator, said compensation circuitry for providing compensation for the temperature dependency of said crystal-less oscillator over a select temperature range.