Monolithic clock generator and timing/frequency reference
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a reference resonator to provide a first signal having a resonant frequency;
an amplifier coupled to the reference resonator;
a voltage isolator coupled to the reference resonator and comprising a current mirror having a cascode configuration to substantially isolate the reference resonator from a voltage variation; and
a frequency controller coupled to the reference resonator, the frequency controller to maintain the resonant frequency substantially constant at a selected first frequency of a plurality of frequencies, the frequency controller comprising;
a coefficient register to store a first plurality of coefficients; and
a first array having a plurality of capacitive modules.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In various embodiments, the invention provides a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference, with multiple operating modes, such power conservation, clock, reference, and pulsed modes. The various apparatus embodiments include a resonator adapted to provide a first signal having a resonant frequency; an amplifier; a temperature compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to temperature; and a process variation compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to fabrication process variation. In addition, the various embodiments may also include a frequency divider adapted to divide the first signal having the resonant frequency into a plurality of second signals having a corresponding plurality of frequencies substantially equal to or lower than the resonant frequency; and a frequency selector adapted to provide an output signal from the plurality of second signals. The output signal may be provided in any of various forms, such as differential or single-ended, and substantially square-wave or sinusoidal.
11 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a reference resonator to provide a first signal having a resonant frequency; an amplifier coupled to the reference resonator; a voltage isolator coupled to the reference resonator and comprising a current mirror having a cascode configuration to substantially isolate the reference resonator from a voltage variation; and a frequency controller coupled to the reference resonator, the frequency controller to maintain the resonant frequency substantially constant at a selected first frequency of a plurality of frequencies, the frequency controller comprising; a coefficient register to store a first plurality of coefficients; and a first array having a plurality of capacitive modules. - 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 reference resonator to provide a first signal having a resonant frequency; an amplifier coupled to the reference resonator; a temperature compensator coupled to the amplifier and to the reference resonator, the temperature compensator to maintain the resonant frequency of the reference resonator substantially constant in response to temperature; a process variation compensator coupled to the reference resonator, the process variation compensator to calibrate the resonant frequency; a frequency divider coupled to the reference resonator, the frequency divider to divide the first signal having the resonant frequency into a second signal having a second frequency substantially equal to or lower than the resonant frequency; and a voltage isolator coupled to the reference resonator and comprising a current mirror having a cascode configuration to substantially isolate the reference resonator from a voltage variation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of generating a reference signal, the method comprising:
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using a free-running, reference oscillator, generating a resonant signal having a resonant frequency; maintaining the resonant frequency of the reference oscillator substantially constant in response to temperature; dividing the resonant signal having the resonant frequency into a second signal having a second frequency substantially equal to or lower than the resonant frequency; isolating the reference resonator from a substantial voltage variation; and selecting an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes comprising a clock mode and a power conservation mode. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for generating a clock signal, the apparatus comprising:
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a reference LC resonator to provide a differential, substantially sinusoidal first signal having a resonant frequency, the reference LC resonator comprising an inductor and a capacitor; an amplifier coupled to the reference LC resonator; a temperature compensator coupled to the amplifier and to the reference LC resonator, the temperature compensator to modify a capacitance of the reference LC resonator in response to temperature; a process variation compensator coupled to the reference LC resonator, the process variation compensator to modify the capacitance of the LC resonator for frequency calibration; a voltage isolator coupled to the reference LC resonator and comprising a current mirror having a cascode configuration to substantially isolate the reference LC resonator from a voltage variation; and a frequency divider coupled to the reference LC resonator, the frequency divider to convert the first signal having the resonant frequency into a differential or single-ended, substantially square-wave second signal having a second frequency substantially equal to or lower than the resonant frequency and having a substantially equal high and low duty cycle.
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Specification