US5233316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital voltage controlled oscillator having a ring oscillator with selectable output taps
Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1992-05-26
•
Granted: 1993-08-03
•
Expires: 2012-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A digital VCO is disclosed which comprises a ring oscillator formed of a plurality of inverters connected in series, each inverter being capable of controlling its delay amount, a frequency controlling circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator to coincide with a reference frequency, a selector switch for selecting specified output taps from output taps, each thereof being provided for each of the plurality of inverters, to take out the outputs therefrom, and switching control means for controlling the output taps from which the outputs are taken out to be cyclically switched through the selector switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Takaaki Yamada
- 👤 Hiroshi Yamagata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:26
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/16; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/027; H03K3/03; H03K3/0315; H03L7/08; H03L7/099; H03L7/0995; H03L7/0996
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A digital VCO comprising: a ring oscillator including a plurality of inverters connected in series, each inverter having a controllable delay, and a plurality of output taps coupled to respective inverters to derive outputs therefrom; a frequency controlling circuit coupled to said ring oscillator for controlling the oscillation frequency of said ring oscillator to be in synchronization with a reference frequency; selector switch means for selecting predetermined output taps to be coupled to an output from which a ring oscillator output is derived; switching control means coupled to said selector switch means for determining particular output taps to be selected by said selector switch means and controlling said selector switch means to cyclically switch through a sequence of output taps; and a latch circuit which latches an output from said switching control means in synchronism with the output of said ring oscillator to delay said selector switch means from switching through the sequence of output taps and thereby prevent production of unwanted pulses in the output of said ring oscillator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A digital VCO comprising: a ring oscillator including a plurality of inverters connected in series, each inverter having a controllable delay, and a plurality of output taps coupled to respective inverters to derive outputs therefrom; a frequency controlling circuit coupled to said ring oscillator for controlling the oscillation frequency of said ring oscillator to be in synchronization with a reference frequency; selector switch means for selecting predetermined output taps to be coupled to an output from which a ring oscillator output is derived; switching control means coupled to said selector switch means for determining particular output taps to be selected by said selector switch means and controlling said selector switch means to cyclically switch through a sequence of output taps; and a latch circuit which latches an output from said switching control means in synchronism with the output of said ring oscillator to delay said selector switch means from switching through the sequence of output taps and thereby prevent production of unwanted pulses in the output of said ring oscillator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A digital VCO comprising: a ring oscillator formed of a plurality of inverters connected in series, each inverter being capable of controlling its delay amount; a frequency controlling circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency of said ring oscillator to coincide with a reference frequency; a selector switch for selecting specified output taps from output taps, each thereof being provided for each of said plurality of inverters, to take out the outputs therefrom; and switching control means for controlling the output taps from which the outputs are taken out to be cyclically switched through said selector switch, said switching control means comprising a rate multiplier, a frequency divider, a U/D counter, and a decoder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
A digital VCO comprising: a ring oscillator formed of a plurality of inverters connected in series, each inverter being capable of controlling its delay amount; a frequency controlling circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency of said ring oscillator to coincide with a reference frequency; a selector switch for selecting specified output taps from output taps, each thereof being provided for each of said plurality of inverters, to take out the outputs therefrom; and switching control means for controlling the output taps from which the outputs are taken out to be cyclically switched through said selector switch, said switching control means comprising a rate multiplier, a frequency divider, a U/D counter, and a decoder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
A digital VCO comprising: a ring oscillator formed of a plurality of inverters connected in series, each inverter being capable of controlling its delay amount; a frequency controlling circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency of said ring oscillator to coincide with a reference frequency; a selector switch for selecting specified output taps from output taps, each thereof being provided for each of said plurality of inverters, to take out the outputs therefrom; and switching control means for controlling the output taps from which the outputs are taken out to be cyclically switched through said selector switch; said switching control means comprising an adder, a latch circuit, and a decoder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
A digital VCO comprising: a ring oscillator formed of a plurality of inverters connected in series, each inverter being capable of controlling its delay amount; a frequency controlling circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency of said ring oscillator to coincide with a reference frequency; a selector switch for selecting specified output taps from output taps, each thereof being provided for each of said plurality of inverters, to take out the outputs therefrom; and switching control means for controlling the output taps from which the outputs are taken out to be cyclically switched through said selector switch; said switching control means comprising an adder, a latch circuit, and a decoder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4494021A
Cited
US4706040A
Cited
US4902986A
Cited
US4902986B1
Cited
US5119045A
Cited
US5068628A
Cited
US5126691A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-02 | 1997-02-01 | 1997-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-02 | 2001-02-01 | 2001-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-02 | 2005-02-01 | 2005-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |