Low power local oscillator
AssigneesSTMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Alps) SAS
InventorsMichel Ayraud, Serge Ramet, Philippe Level
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A local oscillator device includes an oscillator module including a first inductive element and a capacitive element coupled in parallel with the inductive element. A frequency divider is coupled to the oscillator module for delivering a local oscillator signal. The local oscillator device includes an autotransformer including the first inductive element and two second inductive elements respectively coupled to the terminals of the first inductive element and to two output terminals of the autotransformer, the output terminals being further coupled to input terminals of the frequency divider.
Claims25
A local oscillator device comprising:
- an oscillator module having a first inductive element and a capacitive element coupled in parallel with the first inductive element;
- a frequency divider coupled to the oscillator module and configured to deliver a local oscillator signal;
- and
- an autotransformer comprising the first inductive element, a second inductive element, and a third inductive element, the second and third inductive elements respectively coupled to terminals of the first inductive element and respectively coupled to two output terminals of the autotransformer, the two output terminals of the autotransformer being respectively coupled to input terminals of the frequency divider.
A transceiver system comprising:
- an antenna configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals,
- a transmitting stage coupled to the antenna;
- a receiving stage coupled to the antenna;
- and
- a local oscillator device coupled to the transmitting stage and the receiving stage, the local oscillator device comprising:
- an oscillator module having a first inductive element and a capacitive element coupled in parallel with the first inductive element;
- a frequency divider coupled to the oscillator module and configured to generate a local oscillator signal;
- and,
- an autotransformer comprising the first inductive element, a second inductive element, and a third inductive element, the second and third inductive elements respectively coupled to terminals of the first inductive element and respectively coupled to two output terminals of the autotransformer, the two output terminals of the autotransformer being respectively coupled to input terminals of the frequency divider.
A method comprising:
- generating a first oscillating signal across a first inductive element, the first oscillating signal having a first amplitude, the first inductive element coupled in parallel with a capacitive element;
- generating a second oscillating signal with an autotransformer, the second oscillating signal having a second amplitude bigger than the first amplitude, wherein the autotransformer comprises the first inductive element, a second inductive element, and a third inductive element, the second and third inductive elements respectively coupled to terminals of the first inductive element and respectively coupled to two output terminals of the autotransformer, the two output terminals of the autotransformer being respectively coupled to input terminals of a frequency divider;
- and
- generating a local oscillator signal with the frequency divider, the local oscillator signal having a frequency based on the second oscillating signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.