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US 6,271,730 B1Granted
Voltage-controlled oscillator including current control element
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsHiroyuki Abe, Yasuyuki Shindoh, Hirofumi Watanabe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring. A first current-control element is provided between an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through the first current-control element varying by a first control signal. A second current-control element is provided between the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through the second current-control element varying by a second control signal.
Claims21
A voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal, wherein
- each first current-control element includes a resistance element and a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- each second current-control element includes a resistance element and an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- the first control signal is input to the gate of said p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of said n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
5 more elements
A The voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal, wherein
- each inverter circuit includes a first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and a first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- a connecting point of said first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and said first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is connected with a subsequent stage;
- a connecting point of the gates of said first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and said first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is connected with a preceding stage;
- each inverter circuit further includes a second p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor connected between the power-source-potential point and said first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and a second n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor connected between said first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and the ground point;
- the first control signal is supplied to the gate of said second p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is supplied to the gate of said second n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
7 more elements
A voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal, wherein
- each inverter circuit comprises a differential-amplifier-type inverter including three control-signal-inputting transistors and two oscillation-signal-inputting transistors;
- the first control signal is input to the gates of two of said three control-signal-inputting transistors;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of the other one of said three control-signal-inputting transistors.
4 more elements
A voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second signal, wherein
- each first current-control element includes a resistance element and a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- each second current-control element includes a resistance element and an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- the first control signal is input to the gate of said p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of said n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
5 more elements
A voltage-controlled oscillator, in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a rin, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal, wherein
- each inverter circuit includes a first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and a first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- a connecting point of said first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and said first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is connected with a subsequent stage;
- a connecting point of the gates of said first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and said first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor is connected with a preceding stage;
- each inverter circuit further includes a second p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor connected between the power-source-potential point and said first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and a second n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor connected between said first n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and the ground point;
- the first control signal is supplied to the gate of said second p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is supplied to the gate of said second n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
7 more elements
A voltage-controlled oscillator, in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying bv a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal, wherein
- each inverter circuit comprises a differential-amplifier-type inverter including three control-signal-inputting transistors and two oscillation-signal-inputting transistors;
- the first control signal is input to the gates of two of said three control-signal-inputting transistors;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of the other one of said three control-signal-inputting transistors.
4 more elements
A voltage-controlled oscillator, in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting a adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying bv a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying bv a second control signal, wherein transistors of each inverter circuit comprise depletion-type transistors.
A voltage-controlled oscillator, in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal;
- and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal, wherein transistors of each inverter circuit comprise depletion-type transistors.
An intermediate frequency processing circuit, comprising:
- a mixer for converting a frequency;
- a phase-locked loop circuit which provides an oscillation signal, the frequency of which is then converted by said mixer;
- an amplifier which amplifies the signal output by said mixer;
- and
- a modulating and demodulating circuit connected with said amplifier,
- wherein said phase-locked loop circuit comprises:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, said voltage-controlled oscillator comprising:
- a first current-control element provided between an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal, and
- a second current-control element provided between the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal;
- a control-voltage generating circuit which supplies the control signals to said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- a divider which lowers the frequency of the oscillation signal output from said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- and
- a phase comparator which compares the signal from said divider with a reference signal, and provides the comparison result to said control-voltage generating circuit, and
- wherein said mixer, said phase-locked loop circuit, said amplifier and said modulating and demodulating circuit are provided on one semiconductor substrate.
11 more elements
An intermediate-frequency processing circuit, comprising:
- a mixer for converting a frequency;
- a phase-locked loop circuit which provides an oscillation signal, the frequency of which is converted by said mixer;
- an amplifier which amplifies the signal output by said mixer;
- and
- a modulating and demodulating circuit connected with said amplifier,
- wherein said phase-locked loop circuit comprises:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, said voltage-controlled oscillator comprising one of:
- a first current-control element provided between an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal, and
- a second current-control element provided between the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal;
- a control-voltage generating circuit which supplies the control signals to said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- a divider which lowers the frequency of the oscillation signal output from said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- and
- a phase comparator which compares the signal from said divider with a reference signal, and provides the comparison result to said control-voltage generating circuit, and
- wherein said mixer, said phase-locked loop circuit, said amplifier and said modulating and demodulating circuit are provided on one semiconductor substrate.
11 more elements
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, said voltage-controlled oscillator comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal, and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal;
- wherein
- each first current-control element includes a resistance element and a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- each second current-control element includes a resistance element and an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- the first control signal is input to the gate of said p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of said n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- wherein said voltage-controlled oscillator and other components are provided on one semiconductor substrate.
6 more elements
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising a voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, said voltage-controlled oscillator comprising one of:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal, and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal;
- wherein
- each first current-control element includes a resistance element and a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- each second current-control element includes a resistance element and an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- the first control signal is input to the gate of said p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of said n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- wherein said voltage-controlled oscillator and other components are provided on one semiconductor substrate.
6 more elements
A phase-locked loop circuit comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, said voltage-controlled oscillator comprising:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal, and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal;
- a control-voltage generating circuit which supplies the control signal to said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- a divider which lowers the frequency of the oscillation signal output from said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- and
- a phase comparator which compares the signal from said divider with a reference signal, and provides the comparison result to said control-voltage generating circuit wherein
- each first current-control element includes a resistance element and a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- each second current-control element includes a resistance element and an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- the first control signal is input to the gate of said p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of said n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- wherein said voltage-controlled oscillator, said control-voltage generating circuit, said divider and said phase comparator are provided on one semiconductor substrate.
10 more elements
A phase-locked loop circuit comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator in which an odd number of inverter circuits are connected with each other so as to form a ring, said voltage-controlled oscillator comprising one of:
- a first current-control element connected to an oscillation signal line which is used for connecting adjacent inverter circuits and a power-source-potential point, a current flowing through said first current-control element varying by a first control signal, and
- a second current-control element connected to the oscillation signal line and a ground point, a current flowing through said second current-control element varying by a second control signal;
- a control-voltage generating circuit which supplies the control signals to said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- a divider which lowers the frequency of the oscillation signal output from said voltage-controlled oscillator;
- and
- a phase comparator which compares the signal from said divider with a reference signal, and provides the comparison result to said control-voltage generating circuit wherein
- each first current-control element includes a resistance element and a p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- each second current-control element includes a resistance element and an n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- the first control signal is input to the gate of said p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- and
- the second control signal is input to the gate of said n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor;
- wherein said voltage-controlled oscillator, said control-voltage generating circuit, said divider and said phase comparator are provided on one semiconductor substrate.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.