US 10,382,015 B2 · Phase-tuning oscillators

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide oscillator configurations implementing phase rotation (rotated-phase-tuning (RPT)) are described. Embodiments of a RPT oscillator may employ phase interpolation, whereby two current vectors having different phases are superimposed to provide a resultant current vector having a tunable phase to vary a phase shift in a feedback loop of an oscillator circuit and correspondingly tune the oscillation frequency. Phase rotation provided by an RPT oscillator configuration of embodiments inserts a negative phase shift (rotation phase shift) into each of two current branches to rotate the phase shifts of a phase-tuning technique, such as for avoiding phase ambiguity with respect to tunable oscillation frequencies. RPT oscillators of embodiments are varactor-less and are particularly well suited for operation to provide output frequencies in the millimeter-wave (mmW) band.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for tuning an oscillation frequency of an oscillator, the method comprising:

rotating a phase of each of two current vectors having different phases provided by two current branches of a differential inductance and capacitance (LC) oscillator circuit in their respective current branches to provide two phase rotated current vectors;
employing phase interpolation to vary a tuning phase shift in a feedback loop of a differential inductance and capacitance (LC) oscillator circuit, wherein the phase interpolation superimposes the two phase rotated current vectors and provides a resultant current vector having the tuning phase shift;
and
controlling the oscillation frequency of the differential LC oscillator circuit by injecting the resultant current vector having the tuning phase shift into a LC tank of the differential LC oscillator circuit.

1 more element

A system for tuning an oscillation frequency of an oscillator, the system comprising:

a first current branch of a differential inductance and capacitance (LC) oscillator circuit providing a first current vector of two current vectors used in employing phase interpolation to vary a tuning phase shift in a feedback loop of the differential LC oscillator circuit, wherein the first current branch is configured to rotate a phase of the first current vector;
and
a second current branch of the differential LC oscillator circuit providing a second current vector of the two current vectors used in employing phase interpolation to vary the tuning phase shift in the feedback loop of the differential LC oscillator circuit, wherein the first phase vector and second phase vector have different phases configured to provide a phase interpolation resultant current vector having the tuning phase shift, wherein the second current branch is configured to rotate a phase of the second current vector and a phase shift of the phase rotation provided by the first and second current branches is configured to prevent oscillation frequency phase ambiguity;
and
an LC tank of the differential LC oscillator circuit into which the phase interpolation resultant current vector having the tuning phase shift is injected to control the oscillation frequency of the oscillator.

2 more elements

A system for tuning an oscillation frequency of an oscillator, the system comprising:

a first current branch of a differential inductance and capacitance (LC) oscillator circuit providing a first current vector of two current vectors used in employing phase interpolation to vary a tuning phase shift in a feedback loop of the differential LC oscillator circuit, wherein the first current branch is configured to rotate a phase of the first current vector;
and
a second current branch of the differential LC oscillator circuit providing a second current vector of the two current vectors used in employing phase interpolation to vary the tuning phase shift in the feedback loop of the differential LC oscillator circuit, wherein the first current vector and the second current vector have different phases configured to provide a phase interpolation resultant current vector having the tuning phase shift, wherein the second current branch is configured to rotate a phase of the second current vector and a phase shift of the phase rotation provided by the first and second current branches is configured to prevent oscillation frequency phase ambiguity;
a first variable current source configured to control an amplitude of the first current vector within the first current branch;
a second variable current source configured to control an amplitude of the second current vector within the second current branch, wherein the first variable current source and the second variable current source are configured to provide control of a phase of the phase interpolation resultant current vector having the tuning phase shift;
and
an LC tank of the differential LC oscillator circuit into which the phase interpolation resultant current vector having the tuning phase shift is injected to control the oscillation frequency of the oscillator.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Phase-tuning oscillators

Life of this patent

Phase-tuning oscillators

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29