Programmable highly temperature and supply independent oscillator

• US 6,157,270 A
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exar Corporation (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Exar Corporation (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tso, Vincent Wing Sing
• Primary Examiner(s): MIS, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US09/221,758
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 331/111, 331/143, 331/176
• US Class Current: 331/176
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/011 Modifications of generator to compensate for variations in physical values, e.g. voltage, temperature to maintain energy constant H03K3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/0231 Astable circuits H03K3/0315 takes precedence

Abstract

An oscillator circuit generates an output frequency that is substantially independent of power supply and temperature variations. The oscillator circuit can be implemented using conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. The oscillator circuit is suitable for use as an internal oscillator for generating a stable reference frequency in telecommunication receiver modules.

Claims

1. An oscillator circuit comprising:

a relaxation oscillator having a current input adapted to receive a charge current, a voltage input adapted to receive a threshold voltage, and a frequency output;

a current generating circuit having an output coupled to the current input of the relaxation oscillator; and

a voltage generating circuit having an output coupled to the voltage input of the relaxation oscillator,

wherein, the current generating circuit and the voltage generating circuit are configured to generate a charge current and a threshold voltage such that their temperature dependent parameters substantially cancel to yield a substantially temperature in dependent output frequency.

2. The oscillator circuit of claim 1 further comprising a band-gap reference circuit having a reference current output coupled to the current generating circuit, and a reference voltage output coupled to the voltage generating circuit.

3. The oscillator circuit of claim 2 wherein the current generating circuit comprises a field effect transistor (FET) biased to operate in linear mode.

4. The oscillator circuit of claim 3 wherein the current generating circuit further comprises:

a first resistor coupled to the reference current output, and configured to generate a first voltage; and

a second resistor coupled to the reference current output, and configured to generate a second voltage,

wherein, the first voltage is coupled to a drain terminal of the FET, and the second voltage is coupled to a gate terminal of the FET.

5. The oscillator circuit of claim 4 wherein the current generating circuit further comprises:

a buffer coupled between the first voltage and the drain terminal of the FET; and

a current mirror circuit coupled to the FET, and configured to mirror a drain current of the FET into the current input of the relaxation oscillator.

6. The oscillator of claim 5 wherein the voltage generating circuit comprises:

an amplifier having an input coupled to the reference voltage output, and an output, wherein the amplifier is configured to generate a third voltage at its output;

a third resistor coupled to receive the third voltage; and

a current source coupled to the third resistor.

7. The oscillator circuit of claim 6 wherein the voltage generating circuit further comprises a diode-connected FET coupled in series with the third resistor and the current source, and

wherein, the voltage input of the relaxation oscillator couples to the third resistor.

8. The oscillator circuit of claim 7 wherein the first and second resistors, and the current source are configured to respectively draw a current having substantially equal magnitude.

9. The oscillator circuit of claim 8 wherein the third resistor has a resistance value that is substantially equal to one half of a resistance value of the first resistor.

10. The oscillator circuit of claim 9 wherein the circuit is fabricated using conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology.

11. The oscillator circuit of claim 3 wherein the FET comprises one fixed FET and one programmable FET coupled in parallel to the fixed FET via a switch.

12. An oscillator circuit comprising:

a relaxation oscillator having a current input, a voltage input and a frequency output;

a band-gap reference circuit having a temperature dependent reference current output and a substantially temperature independent reference voltage output;

a current generating circuit coupled to the reference current output of the band-gap circuit, and having a field effect transistor (FET) biased in linear mode of operation, and a current output coupled to the current input of the relaxation oscillator; and

a voltage generating circuit coupled to the reference voltage output of the band-gap circuit,

wherein, the current generating circuit supplies to the current input of the relaxation oscillator, a charge current having a magnitude substantially proportional to a drain current of the FET operating in linear region.

13. The oscillator circuit of claim 12 wherein the current generating circuit further comprises:

a first resistor coupled to the reference current output and configured to generate a first voltage; and

a second resistor coupled to the reference current output and configured to generate a second voltage,

wherein, the first voltage couples to a drain terminal of the FET and the second voltage couples to a gate terminal of the FET.

14. The oscillator circuit of claim 13 wherein the voltage generating circuit comprises:

an amplifier having an input coupled to the reference voltage output, and an output;

a diode-connected FET coupled to the output of the amplifier;

a resistor coupled to the diode-connected FET; and

a current source coupled to the resistor.

15. A method of generating a reference frequency comprising the steps of:

biasing a field effect transistor into a linear mode of operation to generate a drain current defined by a first set of temperature dependent parameters;

from a band-gap reference signal, generating a stable threshold voltage defined by a second set of temperature dependent parameters;

supplying a current having a magnitude defined by the drain current, to a current input of a relaxation oscillator;

supplying a voltage having a level defined by the stable threshold voltage, to a threshold voltage input of the relaxation oscillator; and

adjusting a level of the stable voltage so that to the second set of temperature dependent parameters substantially equal the first set of temperature dependent parameters, whereby a substantially temperature independent frequency is generated by the relaxation oscillator.