Delay-line self-oscillator

A delay-line self oscillator comprising:

• an electrical, electromagnetic or magnetic delay-line arrangement;
• an oscillator control circuitry;
• and
• a frequency selection impedance having at least one of a frequency dependent magnitude or a frequency dependent phase shift, the frequency selection impedance connecting the delay-line arrangement and the oscillator control circuitry and presenting a frequency dependent impedance to the delay-line arrangement;
• wherein the oscillator control circuitry includes an amplifier, a non-linear amplitude control element (N-LACE) and a driver,
• wherein the non-linear amplitude control element (N-LACE) has an input and an output, and wherein the N-LACE is configured to:
• provide a first dynamic gain, gdSS, where an input signal received at the N-LACE input has a magnitude less than a threshold;
• and
• provide a second dynamic gain, gdLS, where the input signal has a magnitude greater than the threshold,
• wherein the first dynamic gain, gdSS is greater than the second dynamic gain gdLS,
• wherein the delay-line self-oscillator is configured to initiate oscillations from noise within the system.