Process for reducing the decay and transient times of oscillating circuits

• US 6,593,824 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hanselmann, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/842,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 331/117.R, 331/74, 331/14, 331/55, 331/167
• US Class Current: 331/117.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 11/10 interrupter being semiconductor device
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 3/00 Starting of generators

Abstract

A process for reducing the decay and build-up transient times of an intermittently operating oscillating circuit increases the data transmission rate of a transmission unit using such an oscillating circuit. In this process, the current and/or the voltage are held at their maximum values when the excitation voltage for the oscillating circuit is interrupted. This eliminates the decay of the oscillating circuit amplitudes. When the excitation voltage is switched on again, the oscillating circuit continues oscillating at its maximum amplitude without delay. The data transmission rate is increased because the decay or starting times are eliminated.

Claims

1. Process for reducing the decay and transient times in oscillating circuits working in intermittent operation, which have at least one capacitor (C) and at least one coil (L), with a control unit (ST) which excites the oscillating circuit, with at least one electrical switching element (K1) and a current source (SI),

wherein

the coil current is held at its maximum value by the control unit (ST) connecting the current source (SI) to the coil (L) by means of the electrical switching element (K1) when the excitation of the oscillating circuit is interrupted, and

the control unit (ST) separates the current source (SI) from the coil (L) by means of the electrical switching element (K1) when the excitation of the oscillating circuit is switched on.

2. Process according to claim 1 wherein transistors are preferably used as switching elements (K1, K2, K3).

3. Process according to claim 2 wherein MOS transistors are preferably used as switching elements (K1, K2, K3).

4. The process according to claim 3, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal in a wireless manner.

5. The process according to claim 3, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal via a transmission wire.

6. The process according to claim 3, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a transmission unit and a receiving unit, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

7. The process according to claim 3, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a base unit and a transponder, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

8. The process according to claim 1, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal in a wireless manner.

9. The process according to claim 1, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal via a transmission wire.

10. The process according to claim 1, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a transmission unit and a receiving unit, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

11. The process according to claim 1, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a base unit and a transponder, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

12. A process for reducing at least a start-up transient time in an intermittently operating oscillating circuit including a capacitor and a coil, in a circuit arrangement further including a current source that is selectively connected to and disconnected from the oscillating circuit through a switch element, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

a) exciting the oscillating circuit to oscillate, while disconnecting the current source from the oscillating circuit by means of the switch element;

b) ceasing the exciting of the oscillating circuit, and connecting the current source to the oscillating circuit by means of the switch element to drive a current from the current source through the coil; and

c) repeating the steps a) and b).

13. Process for reducing the decay and transient times in oscillating circuits working in intermittent operation, which have at least one capacitor (C) and at least one coil (L), with a control unit (ST) which excites the oscillating circuit, with at least one electrical switching element (K1, K2) and a voltage source (SP),

wherein

the control unit (ST) separates the link between the coil (L) and the capacitor (C) by means of a first electrical switching element (K2) when the excitation of the oscillating circuit is interrupted, and

links the voltage source (SP) to the capacitor (C) by means of a second switching element (K1) in order to hold the voltage at the capacitor (C) at the maximum value, and

the control unit (ST) links the coil (L) and the capacitor (C) by means of the first electrical switching element (K2) when the excitation is switched on, and

separates the voltage source (SP) from the capacitor (C) by means of the second switching element (K1).

14. Process according to claim 13 wherein transistors are preferably used as switching elements (K1, K2, K3).

15. Process according to claim 14 wherein MOS transistors are preferably used as switching elements (K1, K2, K3).

16. The process according to claim 15, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal in a wireless manner.

17. The process according to claim 15, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal via a transmission wire.

18. The process according to claim 15, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a transmission unit and a receiving unit, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

19. The process according to claim 15, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a base unit and a transponder, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

20. The process according to claim 13, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal in a wireless manner.

21. The process according to claim 13, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal via a transmission wire.

22. The process according to claim 13, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a transmission unit and a receiving unit, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

23. The process according to claim 13, further comprising exciting the oscillating circuit to provide an oscillating signal that carries modulated data, and transmitting the oscillating signal at a data transmission rate between a base unit and a transponder, wherein the data transmission rate is increased through the process by reducing the decay and transient times of the oscillating circuit.

24. A process for reducing at least a start-up transient time in an intermittently operating oscillating circuit including a capacitor and a coil, in a circuit arrangement further including a voltage source that is selectively connected to and disconnected from the capacitor through a first switch element, and a second switch element that selectively connects and disconnects the coil and the capacitor relative to each other, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

a) exciting the oscillating circuit to oscillate, while disconnecting the voltage source from the capacitor by means of the first switch element and connecting the coil to the capacitor by means of the second switch element;

b) ceasing the exciting of the oscillating circuit, and connecting the voltage source to the capacitor by means of the first switch element and disconnecting the coil from the capacitor and from the voltage source by means of the second switch element, to apply a voltage from the voltage source to the capacitor; and

repeating the steps a) and b).