Circuit, counter and frequency synthesizer with adjustable bias current

An electronic circuit having adjustable bias current, comprising:

• a load stage having a plurality of field-effect transistors, the load stage having an adjustment terminal responsive to an adjustment voltage for controlling the load resistance of the field-effect transistors;
• a bias current generator having a bias adjustment terminal responsive to a bias current adjustment voltage for generating the bias current supplied to the electronic circuit;
• and
• a current steering means for controlling the amount of bias current supplied to each of the plurality of field-effect transistors.

A counter assembly having minimum power dissipation, comprising:

• a counter, comprising:
• an electronic circuit having adjustable bias current, including:
• a load stage comprising a load device;
• a current steering means coupled to the load stage for controlling the amount of bias current to be supplied to the load device;
• and
• a bias current generator coupled to the current steering means for controlling the amount of bias current supplied to the electronic circuit;
• and
• a delay estimator coupled to the counter for estimating the propagation delay of the counter and providing a reference output signal which has a value corresponding to the propagation delay of the counter, the bias current generator adjusts the amount of bias current supplied to the electronic circuit in response to the reference output signal.

A synthesizer, comprising:

• a reference oscillator;
• a phase detector coupled to the reference oscillator;
• and
• a divider circuit coupled to the phase detector, the divider circuit comprising an electronic circuit having adjustable bias current, comprising:
• a load stage having a field-effect transistor, the load stage having an adjustment terminal responsive to an adjustment voltage for controlling the load resistance of the field-effect transistor;
• a bias current generator having a bias adjustment terminal responsive to a bias current adjustment voltage for generating the bias current supplied to the electronic circuit;
• and
• a current steering means for controlling the amount of bias current supplied to the field-effect transistor.

A synthesizer, comprising:

• a reference oscillator;
• a phase detector coupled to the reference oscillator;
• and
• a counter coupled to the phase detector, the counter comprising:
• an electronic circuit having adjustable bias current, including:
• a load stage comprising a load device;
• a current steering means coupled to the load stage for controlling the amount of bias current to be supplied to the load device;
• and
• a bias current generator coupled to the current steering means for controlling the amount of bias current supplied to the electronic circuit;
• and
• a delay estimator circuit coupled to the counter for estimating the propagation delay of the counter and providing a reference output signal which has a value corresponding to the propagation delay of the counter, the bias current generator adjusts the amount of bias current supplied to the electronic circuit in response to the reference output signal.

A radio, comprising:

• a receiver;
• and
• an electronic circuit having adjustable bias current coupled to the receiver, comprising:
• a load stage comprising a field-effect transistor, the load stage having an adjustment terminal responsive to an adjustment voltage for controlling the load resistance of the field-effect transistor;
• a current steering means coupled to the load stage for controlling the amount of bias current to be supplied to the field-effect transistor;
• and
• a bias current generator means coupled to the current steering means for controlling the amount of bias current supplied to the electronic circuit.