Abstract:
A monolithically integrated switched capacitor bank using MEMS technology that is capable of handling GHz signal frequencies in both the RF and millimeter bands while maintaining precise digital selection of capacitor levels over a wide tuning range. Each MEMS switch includes a cantilever arm that is affixed to the substrate and extends over a ground line and a gapped signal line. An electrical contact is formed on the bottom of the cantilever arm positioned above and facing the gap in the signal line. A top electrode atop the cantilever arm forms a control capacitor structure above the ground line. A capacitor structure, preferably a MEMS capacitor suspended above the substrate at approximately the same height as the cantilever arm, is anchored to the substrate and connected in series with a MEMS switch. The MEMS switch is actuated by applying a voltage to the top electrode, which produces an electrostatic force that attracts the control capacitor structure toward the ground line, thereby causing the electrical contact to close the gap in the signal line and connect the MEMS capacitor structure between a pair of output terminals. The integrated MEMS switch-capacitor pairs have a large range between their on-state and off-state impedance, and thus exhibit superior isolation and insertion loss characteristics.
Abstract:
A voltage controlled push-push oscillator is provided having a variable frequency output over a range of frequencies. Usually, the range of frequencies is in the microwave range. The configuration is such that the collectors of a pair of transistors are tied together, and an inductive reactance is provided across the base and collector of each of the transistors, with the emitters of the pair of transistors being each connected to opposite phases (at the fundamental frequency) of a resonator which may comprise of one or more elements, bisected to provide an output tap at which an RF null at the fundamental frequency and an anti-null at the second harmonic exists, whereby the second harmonic output frequency of the push-push oscillator is derived. Particularly when the push-push oscillator operates at microwave frequencies, the resonator element is a microstrip line, having the output tap at the centre thereof. A source of DC voltage is connected to the commonly connected collectors, a source of variable DC tuning voltage is connected to each of the bases of the transistors, and a DC current source is connected to each emitter whereby a common current source can supply the sum of the emitter currents, whereby the RF voltage null (at the fundamental frequency) at the resonator centre is utilized to isolate the fundamental frequency signal from the current source, which is connected through a bias choke which in turn isolates the current source from the second harmonic. The output is twice the operating frequency of each transistor and is produced by each transistor to have the same phase relationship (push-push). The second harmonic is produced by the nonlinearities of the transistor pairs which oscillate at the fundamental oscillating frequency whereby the fundamental signal is opposite in phase with respect to each transistor (push-pull). Output power is derived from the transistors so as to maintain the same phasing at the second harmonic and opposite phasing at the fundamental oscillating frequency whereby the fundamental is cancelled and second harmonic added, such as when a centre tapped resonator with even symmetry about the output tap is used as the output.
Abstract:
An oscillator circuit is tunable by a tuning circuit which includes a spiral inductor disposed on a ferrite substrate. The oscillator circuit is tuned or modulated by varying a current through the spiral inductor.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a voltage-controlled oscillator with an LC resonant circuit, especially for producing integrated voltage-controlled oscillators for the lower GHz range. The aim of the invention is to provide a voltage-controlled oscillator with an LC resonant circuit with which a continuous frequency tuning across a wide range of frequencies can be achieved with only little phase noise or phase jitter. To this end, the voltage-controlled oscillator with an LC resonant circuit with at least one inductivity can be connected to a further inductivity in periodic parallel and/or in series via a switch device that is actuated by the oscillator frequency, one control input of the switch device being connected to a variable DC voltage. The ratio of the duration of the conductive state and the duration of the non-conductive state of the switch devices can be modified within an oscillation period of the oscillator depending on the value of the control voltage. Corresponding to the ratio of the duration of the conductive state and the duration of the non-conductive state of the switch devices within one oscillation period of the oscillator the time-averaged, effective inductivity can be modified depending on the value of the control voltage.
Abstract:
High-frequency, low-power CMOS oscillators (20) having electrically-tunable tank circuits (25,26,28) are disclosed. Electrically tunable inductors (25) assure highly efficient oscillator operation and can be adjusted after manufacture to assure high yields of high-precision oscillator circuits.
Abstract:
A phase locked loop circuit is provided comprising a voltage controlled oscillator (221) capable of outputting a variable oscillation frequency signal. A phase detector (222) compares the output signal of the voltage control oscillator (221) with a reference signal and outputs an error signal. An integrator (223) integrates the error signal and extracts a direct current variable component which is fed by a loop filter (224) from the integrator (223) to the voltage controlled oscillator (221) as a control signal. An alternate current coupling circuit (230) is provided for adding only an alternate current component contained in the output error signal to the control signal for feeding same to the voltage controlled oscillator (221). A compensating circuit (231) is inserted in the signal path of the alternate current coupling circuit (230), the compensating circuit (231) having a cut-off frequency exceeding the cut-off frequency of the integrator (223).
Abstract:
A phase locked loop circuit is provided comprising a voltage controlled oscillator (17) and a phase detector (15) for detecting a phase difference and outputting a corresponding error voltage. A loop filter (16) integrates the error voltage and controls the voltage controlled oscillator (17). A first frequency comparator (23) is provided for dividing the frequency of the output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator (17) according to an upper limit frequency supplied by a control section (27). The comparator (23) compares frequencies of a reference signal and the frequency-divided signal and outputs down-pulses when the frequency of the frequency-divided signal is higher than that of the reference signal. Similarly, a second frequency comparator (24) divides and compares the output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator (17) with a second reference signal and outputs an up-pulse when the frequency of the divided signal is lower than the second reference signal. Further provided is an up-down processor (25) for supplying the up-pulses and the down-pulses to the loop filter (16) to add to the error voltage from the phase detector (15).
Abstract:
To output desired high purity signals, a frequency synthesizer was made to synthesize reference signals from a first and second signal generators (11, 12) in the same frequency band as a desired frequency band. Thereby, the resolution of the frequency synthesizer becomes twice the step ΔF. Also, the frequency synthesizer can interpolate the step size of the first signal generator with half the number of steps. While, heretofore, the 100-MHz step size was interpolated with Fq = 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 MHz, Fq = 0, 20, 40 MHz interpolation is made possible. This permits the synthesis of 580 MHz to 1280 MHz. In this case, however, the minimum difference between the sum and difference frequencies from the first and second signal generators (11, 12) is 40 MHz and the lowest frequency is 20 MHz. Thus, depending on mixer isolation, the spurious measures become difficult. The frequency synthesizer of the present invention pays attention to the fact that 20 MHz step signals can be synthesized at frequencies which are integral multiples of Fq (multiples of 0 and 5 are excluded). When two-fold Fq is used, the minimum difference between the sum and difference frequencies output from a mixer (13) is 80 MHz and the lowest used frequency is 40 MHz. The spurious measures by a PLL circuit (14) becomes easy. A frequency detector (18) forces the free-running frequency of a VCO included the PLL circuit. Control Data P and Q to the first and second signal generators are supplied from a control section (27) based on data Fi set by as frequency setting section (28).