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US4873497A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Wide band voltage controlled R-C oscillator for use with MMIC technology

Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1988-10-03
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Granted: 1989-10-10
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Expires: 2008-10-03
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Abstract

Abstract A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits. The oscillator does not use varactors or inductors for oscillation, but uses a voltage variable resistor coupled to a first MESFET supplying a capacitance, and to an amplifying element to create an RC oscillator. The voltage variable resistor is a second MESFET coupled to a variable voltage source. The oscillator takes advantage of the gate capacitance of the first MESFET, as well as the gain available from using an active element within the feedback loop.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald F. Kielmeyer, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 19:54
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03B; H03B5/00; H03B5/20; H03B5/24; H03B5/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits comprising: feedback loop means for providing a feedback signal for oscillation, said feedback loop means comprising: transistor capacitance means for supplying gain and phase shift for oscillation, said transistor capacitance means including an input and an output; variable resistor means for supplying a voltage variable resistance, said variable resistor means having a first input and an output coupled to said input of said transistor capacitance means; and amplifier means for providing an amplification to said feedback signal, said amplifier means including an input coupled to said output of said transistor capacitance means, and an output coupled to said first input of said variable resistor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 116 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits comprising: feedback loop means for providing a feedback signal for oscillation, said feedback loop means comprising: transistor capacitance means for supplying gain and phase shift for oscillation, said transistor capacitance means including an input and an output; variable resistor means for supplying a voltage variable resistance, said variable resistor means having a first input and an output coupled to said input of said transistor capacitance means; and amplifier means for providing an amplification to said feedback signal, said amplifier means including an input coupled to said output of said transistor capacitance means, and an output coupled to said first input of said variable resistor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 70 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 1 wherein said amplifier means comprises: a first transistor having an input gate coupled to said output of said transistor capacitance means and an output drain; and a second transistor including an input source coupled to said output drain of said first transistor, and an output drain coupled to said input of said variable resistor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 61 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 2 wherein said variable resistor means comprises a metal-semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET) having an input source coupled to said drain output of said second transistor, an output drain coupled to said input of said transistor capacitance means, and a gate coupled to a variable voltage source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 3 wherein said MESFET is a gallium arsenide (GaAs) MESFET.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 48 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 1 wherein said transistor capacitance means comprises a MESFET having an input gate coupled to said output of said variable resistor means and an output source coupled to said input of said amplifier means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 5 wherein said MESFET includes a GaAs MESFET.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 5 wherein said MESFET includes a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 3 wherein said MESFET includes a HEMT.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 81 words
A method for making a variable resistance RC type microwave oscillator for use in a monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprising the steps of: supplying a first transistor having a gate capacitance; coupling an input of said first transistor to an output of a second transistor operating as a voltage variable resistor; coupling an output of said first transistor to an input of an amplifing element; and coupling an output of said amplifing element to a first input of said second transistor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 81 words
A method for making a variable resistance RC type microwave oscillator for use in a monolithic microwave integrated circuit comprising the steps of: supplying a first transistor having a gate capacitance; coupling an input of said first transistor to an output of a second transistor operating as a voltage variable resistor; coupling an output of said first transistor to an input of an amplifing element; and coupling an output of said amplifing element to a first input of said second transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 41 words
A method for making a variable resistance RC type microwave oscillator for use in a monolithic microwave integrated circuit according to claim 9 wherein said method further comprises coupling a second input of said second transistor to a variable voltage source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 137 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits comprising: feedback loop means for providing a feedback signal for oscillation, said feedback loop means comprising: transistor capacitance means for supplying gain and phase shift for oscillation, said transistor capacitance means including an input and an output; variable resistor means for supplying a voltage variable resistance, said variable resistor means having a first input and an output coupled to said input of said transistor capacitance means; first transistor means having an input coupled to said output of said transistor capacitance means and an output; second transistor means including an input coupled to said output of said first transistor means, and an output coupled to said input of said variable resistor means; and said first and second transistor means for providing an amplification to said feedback signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 137 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits comprising: feedback loop means for providing a feedback signal for oscillation, said feedback loop means comprising: transistor capacitance means for supplying gain and phase shift for oscillation, said transistor capacitance means including an input and an output; variable resistor means for supplying a voltage variable resistance, said variable resistor means having a first input and an output coupled to said input of said transistor capacitance means; first transistor means having an input coupled to said output of said transistor capacitance means and an output; second transistor means including an input coupled to said output of said first transistor means, and an output coupled to said input of said variable resistor means; and said first and second transistor means for providing an amplification to said feedback signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 55 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 11 wherein said variable resistor means comprises a metal-semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET) having a first input coupled to said output of said second transistor means, an output coupled to said input of said transistor capacitance means, and a second input.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 32 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 12 wherein said second input of said variable resistor means MESFET is coupled to a variable voltage source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 12 wherein said MESFET includes a gallium arsenide (GaAs) MESFET.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 47 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 11 wherein said transistor capacitance means comprises a MESFET having an input coupled to said output of said variable resistor means and an output coupled to said input of said first transistor means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 22 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 15 wherein said MESFET includes a GaAs MESFET.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 25 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 15 wherein said MESFET includes a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
A wide band tunable microwave oscillator for monolithic microwave integrated circuits according to claim 12 wherein said MESFET includes a HEMT.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3130377A Cited
US3345582A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-10-09 1993-04-10 1993-10-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-10-09 1997-04-10 1997-10-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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