Low-gain, range programmable, temperature compensated voltage controlled ring oscillator

A voltage controlled oscillator for generating an oscillator output signal which is independent of changes in surrounding temperature, the voltage controlled oscillator comprising:

• a plurality of inverter elements connected in series in a ring configuration such that each inverter element generates an oscillator signal in response to an oscillator signal provided by the previous inverter element in the series, each inverter element also being responsive to a first reference voltage, a delta temperature current provided from a plurality of delta temperature currents, a first bias voltage, and a second bias voltage, the frequency of the oscillator signal provided by each inverter element varying in response to a loop filter voltage provided to the inverter element;
• voltage translator means for generating the first reference voltage and a second reference voltage in response to a temperature independent bandgap voltage;
• voltage generation means for generating the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage in response to one of a plurality of range select signals, the first reference voltage, and one of the plurality of delta temperature currents;
• and
• temperature compensation means for sourcing and sinking the plurality of delta temperature currents in response to the second reference voltage.