US3924202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic oscillator
Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
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Filing: 1974-08-21
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An oscillator suitable for construction in monolithic integrated circuit form includes a differential current steering circuit for controlling the charging and discharging of a capacitor. A single controlled current supply circuit is coupled to the differential current steering circuit, one half of which provides a current sink (source) for discharging (charging) the capacitor while the other half is coupled to the capacitor by means of a current mirror or inverter circuit to provide a current source (sink) for charging (discharging) the capacitor. An electronic switching circuit is also provided and includes a pair of transistors connected in differential fashion and responsive to the attainment of a predetermined charge on the capacitor relative to a reference potential to switch between charging and discharging the capacitor. One of the transistors of the pair is coupled to a current mirror for providing rapid turn-on/turn-off of the switching circuit. In a preferred embodiment, equal capacitor charge and discharge rates are provided to yield a symmetrical sawtooth wave and/or a square wave output. Means for altering the frequency of oscillation is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Craft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:11
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/023; H03K3/0231; H03K4/00; H03K4/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An oscillator circuit comprising: a current source; current steering means coupled to said current source and responsive thereto for providing first and second current paths; a charge storage device coupled to one of said current paths; current repeater means coupled to the other of said current paths and to said charge storage device, said current repeater means and said current steering means providing alternate charge and discharge paths for said charge storage device; and regenerative switching means coupled to said charge storage device and responsive to the charge condition thereof for providing rapid transition of said current steering means from conduction in said one path to said other path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An oscillator circuit comprising: a current source; current steering means coupled to said current source and responsive thereto for providing first and second current paths; a charge storage device coupled to one of said current paths; current repeater means coupled to the other of said current paths and to said charge storage device, said current repeater means and said current steering means providing alternate charge and discharge paths for said charge storage device; and regenerative switching means coupled to said charge storage device and responsive to the charge condition thereof for providing rapid transition of said current steering means from conduction in said one path to said other path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 1 wherein said current repeater means and said current steering means provide substantially equal currents in said charge and discharge paths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 2 wherein said current source is arranged to provide a substantially constant current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 3 wherein said regenerative switching means provides repetitive alternate energization of said current paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 4 wherein said current steering means comprises first and second transistors connected in differential fashion having respective emitter electrodes coupled to each other and to said current source, respective collector electrodes coupled to said current repeater means and said charge storage device respectively, and respective base electrodes coupled to said regenerative switching means and a source of bias respectively, for providing alternate periods of conduction and nonconduction in said first and second transistors thereby effecting charge and discharge of said charge storage device respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 1 wherein said regenerative switching means comprises first and second transistors connected in differential fashion and a second current repeater means coupled to said second transistor, said transistors having respective emitter electrodes coupled to each other, respective collector electrodes coupled to said source of operating potential and said second current repeater means respectively, and base electrodes coupled to said charge storage device and said current steering means respectively, for providing selective energization of said current paths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 6 wherein said repetitive alternate energization of said first and second current paths is arranged to produce a substantially sawtooth voltage across said charge storage device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 7 wherein said regenerative switching means is arranged to include an output terminal at which is produced a substantially square wave voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An oscillator circuit according to claim 8 wherein the square wave and sawtooth voltages are in substantially quadrature phase relationship.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
92 words
An oscillator circuit as described in claim 1 wherein said current steering means comprises first and second transistors connected in differential fashion having respective emitter electrodes coupled to each other and to said current source, respective collector electrodes coupled to said current repeater means and said charge storage device respectively, and respective base electrodes coupled to said current steering control means and a source of bias respectively, for providing alternate periods of conduction and nonconduction in said first and second transistors thereby effecting charge and discharge of said charge storage device respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
An oscillator circuit comprising: a current source; a source of operating potential; current steering means coupled to said current source and responsive thereto for providing first and second current paths; a charge storage device coupled to one of said current paths; current repeater means coupled to the other of said current paths and to said charge storage device, said current repeater means and said current steering means providing alternate charge and discharge paths for said charge storage device; and regenerative switching means responsive to a charge condition of said charge storage device for biasing said current steering means and thereby providing rapid transition of said current steering means from conduction in said one path to said other path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
An oscillator circuit comprising: a current source; a source of operating potential; current steering means coupled to said current source and responsive thereto for providing first and second current paths; a charge storage device coupled to one of said current paths; current repeater means coupled to the other of said current paths and to said charge storage device, said current repeater means and said current steering means providing alternate charge and discharge paths for said charge storage device; and regenerative switching means responsive to a charge condition of said charge storage device for biasing said current steering means and thereby providing rapid transition of said current steering means from conduction in said one path to said other path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
An oscillator circUit as described in claim 11 wherein said switching means comprises first and second transistors connected in differential fashion and a second current repeater means coupled to said second transistor, said transistors having respective emitter electrodes coupled to each other, respective collector electrodes coupled to said source of operating potential and said second current repeater means respectively and base electrodes coupled to said charge storage device and said current steering means respectively for providing selective energization of said current paths.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
An oscillator circuit as described in claim 12 wherein said second current repeater means comprises at least a transistor and a diode having respective emitter and anode electrodes coupled to said source of operating potential, respective base and cathode electrodes coupled to each other and to the collector electrode of said second transistor of said switching means and the collector electrode of said transistor coupled to the base electrode of said transistor of said switching means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |