System and method for generating a multi-phase signal with a ring oscillator

An oscillator, comprising:

• a plurality of bridges, each bridge comprising a plurality of negative differential resistance devices and having a clock terminal and an inverted clock terminal;
• the plurality of bridges comprises an initial bridge, at least one intermediate bridge, and a final bridge;
• a clock circuit;
• a first transmission line interconnecting the clock circuit to the clock terminal and the inverted clock terminal of the initial bridge;
• a second transmission line for interconnecting the clock terminal of the initial bridge to the clock terminal of the adjacent intermediate bridge and the inverted clock terminal of the initial bridge to the inverted clock terminal of the adjacent intermediate bridge;
• a third transmission line for interconnecting the clock terminal of the final bridge to the inverted clock terminal of the initial bridge and the inverted clock terminal of the final bridge to the clock terminal of the initial bridge;
• and
• at least one additional transmission line for interconnecting the clock terminal of each intermediate bridge to the clock terminal of the adjacent bridge and the inverted clock terminal of each intermediate bridge to the inverted clock terminal of the adjacent bridge.

An oscillator, comprising:

• a plurality of bridges, each bridge comprising a plurality of negative differential resistance devices;
• the plurality of bridges includes an initial bridge and a final bridge;
• a plurality of transmission lines, each transmission line interconnecting two adjacent bridges, wherein one of the transmission lines couples the final bridge to the initial bridge such that the plurality of bridges forms a ring;
• and
• a clock circuit coupled to at least one of the bridges.

An oscillator, comprising:

• a first continuous negative differential resistance device;
• a second continuous negative differential resistance device interconnected to the first continuous negative differential resistance device;
• a third continuous negative differential resistance device interconnected to the second continuous negative differential resistance device and the first continuous negative differential resistance device such that the continuous negative differential resistance devices forms a ring;
• a first output terminal coupled to the first continuous negative differential resistance device;
• a second output terminal coupled to the second continuous negative differential resistance device;
• and
• a third output terminal coupled to the third continuous negative differential resistance device.

An oscillator producing a multi-phase signal, comprising:

• a first plurality of bridges, each bridge comprising a plurality of negative differential resistance devices;
• a first plurality of transmission lines, each transmission line interconnecting two adjacent bridges of the first plurality of bridges;
• a second plurality of bridges, each bridge comprising a plurality of negative differential resistance devices;
• a second plurality of transmission lines, each transmission line interconnecting two adjacent bridges of the second plurality of bridges;
• the second plurality of bridges interconnected to the first plurality of bridges;
• a third plurality of bridges, each bridge comprising a plurality of negative differential resistance devices;
• a third plurality of transmission lines, each transmission line interconnecting two adjacent bridges of the third plurality of bridges;
• and
• the third plurality of bridges interconnected to the first plurality of bridges such that the first, second, and third plurality of bridges forms a ring.