Self-start circuits for low-power clock oscillators

A system comprising:

• an oscillator capable of biasing itself into a relatively low-power state;
• a kick-start circuit providing an excitation to said oscillator, said excitation enabling said oscillator to start its oscillation;
• and
• a start circuit adapted to start said oscillator before the system boots up.

A circuit for a system comprising:

• an oscillator having a bias network, a current load inverter controlled by said bias network, and a quartz resonator enabling oscillation, said oscillator capable of biasing itself into a relatively low-power state;
• a kick-start circuit exciting said oscillator into oscillation;
• and
• an inhibit circuit adapted to inhibit kick-start if said oscillator reaches a particular operating level capable of sustaining oscillation without excitation or if said oscillator is already operating.

An electronic device, comprising:

• processor;
• a memory device adapted to store data;
• input/output devices operating to provide input and/or output to said electronic device;
• a bus coupled to said processor and said I/O device, said bus adapted to transport data to and from said processor and said I/O device;
• and
• a clock circuit providing time and system state during periods when rest of the electronic device is power down or powered off, said clock circuit having an oscillator capable of biasing itself into a relatively low-power state in the electronic device, said clock circuit operating to selectively inhibit kick-start.