Integrated clock generator and timing/frequency reference
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:
- a resonator comprising an inductor and a capacitor, the resonator adapted to provide a first reference signal having a first frequency;
a voltage controller adapted to provide a plurality of voltage control signals;
a plurality of switchable, controlled reactance modules coupled to the resonator and to the voltage controller, each reactance module of the plurality of reactance modules adapted to provide a selected reactance in response to a corresponding voltage control signal of the plurality of voltage control signals to modify the first frequency; and
a processor operatively coupled to the resonator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In various embodiments, the invention provides a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference using an LC-oscillator topology, having a frequency controller to control and provide a stable resonant frequency, which is integrated with other, second circuitry such as a processor or controller. Frequency stability is provided over variations in a selected parameter such as temperature and fabrication process variations. The various apparatus embodiments include a sensor adapted to provide a signal in response to at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters; and a frequency controller adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to the second signal. In exemplary embodiments, the sensor is implemented as a current source responsive to temperature fluctuations, and the frequency controller is implemented as a plurality of controlled reactance modules which are selectively couplable to the resonator or to one or more control voltages. The controlled reactance modules may include fixed or variable capacitances or inductances, and may be binary weighted. Arrays of resistive modules are also provided, to generate one or more control voltages.
44 Citations
52 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:
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a resonator comprising an inductor and a capacitor, the resonator adapted to provide a first reference signal having a first frequency; a voltage controller adapted to provide a plurality of voltage control signals; a plurality of switchable, controlled reactance modules coupled to the resonator and to the voltage controller, each reactance module of the plurality of reactance modules adapted to provide a selected reactance in response to a corresponding voltage control signal of the plurality of voltage control signals to modify the first frequency; and a processor operatively coupled to the resonator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a harmonic oscillator comprising an inductor and a capacitor, the harmonic oscillator adapted to provide a first reference signal having a first frequency; a plurality of resistive modules adapted to generate a plurality of voltage control signals; a plurality of controlled reactance modules coupled to the harmonic oscillator and to the plurality of resistive modules, each reactance module of the plurality of reactance modules adapted to provide a selected reactance in response to a corresponding voltage control signal of the plurality of voltage control signals to modify the first frequency; a first coefficient register coupled to the plurality of switches, the first coefficient register adapted to store a first plurality of switching coefficients; a first plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of resistive modules and to the plurality of controlled reactance modules, each switch of the first plurality of switches responsive to a corresponding switching coefficient of the first plurality of switching coefficients to couple a selected control voltage of the plurality of control voltages to a corresponding controlled reactance module; and a processor operatively coupled to the harmonic oscillator to receive the first reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a resonator comprising an inductor and a capacitor, the resonator adapted to provide a first reference signal having a first frequency; a sensor adapted to provide a second signal in response to operating temperature or fabrication process variation; a voltage controller adapted to provide a plurality of voltage control signals; a plurality of switchable, controlled reactance modules coupled to the resonator and to the voltage controller, each reactance module of the plurality of reactance modules adapted to provide a selected reactance in response to a corresponding voltage control signal of the plurality of voltage control signals to modify the first frequency; a plurality of dividers operatively coupled to the resonator, the plurality of dividers adapted to provide a corresponding plurality of second reference signals having a plurality of corresponding frequencies; and a processor adapted to receive a selected, second reference signal of the plurality of second reference signals. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification