Patent US5026656A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5451912A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5451912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for a programmable frequency generator that requires no dedicated programming pins
Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1994-06-13
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Granted: 1995-09-19
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Expires: 2014-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A programmable crystal oscillator that generates a wide range of possible frequencies with high stability is disclosed. The programmable crystal clock oscillator includes an industry standard oscillator package, a programmable storage, a crystal and a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit coupled to the crystal and the programmable storage. The industry standard package does not contain any dedicated programming connections. A programmable storage, contained within the package, stores parameters representing a desired output frequency for the crystal oscillator. The crystal is enclosed within the package and provides a source frequency. The PLL circuit, also enclosed in the package, receives the source frequency, and produces the desired output frequency, within the wide range of possible frequencies, based on the parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 John Torode
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:25
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/16; H03L7/18; H03L7/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A programmable crystal clock oscillator, said oscillator being programmable to provide a wide range of possible frequencies with high stability, said oscillator comprising: a package having a plurality of connections and no dedicated programming connections; a programmable storage within said package for storing a parameter representing a desired output frequency; a crystal within said package for providing a source frequency within said package; and a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit coupled to said crystal to receive said source frequency and coupled to said programmable storage, said PLL circuit being within said package and for producing said desired output frequency within said wide range of possible frequencies, said selected frequency being produced with high stability.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A programmable crystal clock oscillator, said oscillator being programmable to provide a wide range of possible frequencies with high stability, said oscillator comprising: a package having a plurality of connections and no dedicated programming connections; a programmable storage within said package for storing a parameter representing a desired output frequency; a crystal within said package for providing a source frequency within said package; and a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit coupled to said crystal to receive said source frequency and coupled to said programmable storage, said PLL circuit being within said package and for producing said desired output frequency within said wide range of possible frequencies, said selected frequency being produced with high stability.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The programmable clock oscillator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said package comprises a four pin full size industry standard oscillator package comprising a size approximately 0.5 inches in width, 0.8 inches in length, and 0.25 inches in height.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of connections comprise four connections including an output disable pin, a supply voltage pin, a ground pin, and a frequency out pin for said desired output frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said programmable storage comprises a plurality of electrically programmable fuses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said programmable storage comprises an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said package comprises: an output disable connection for receiving said parameter representing said desired output frequency, and for disabling the output of said clock oscillator; and a shift register, coupled to said storage and said output disable connection, for receiving a parameter from an external source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 6, wherein said parameter comprises a burn bit, and said storage further comprises storage control, coupled to said shift register, for programming said storage with said parameter input from said output disable connection when specified by said burn field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a multiplexer, coupled to said shift register and said storage, for selecting said parameter from either said shift register or said storage, wherein said parameter received from said shift register provides an output frequency for evaluation prior to storing said parameter in said storage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said phase lock loop circuit comprises: a phase lock loop including p and q divider circuits for generating a voltage controlled oscillator frequency (F vco ), said p and q divider circuits being coupled to said storage to receive said parameter, for dividing said source frequency (F xtal ) in accordance with p and q variables specified by said parameter to generate said voltage controlled oscillator frequency (F vco ) in accordance with the relationship: ##EQU2## and a post divider circuit coupled to said phase lock loop and coupled to receive said parameter for dividing said voltage controlled oscillator frequency (F vco ) in accordance with said parameter to generate said selected frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The programmable crystal clock oscillator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said package comprises a four pin half size industry standard oscillator package comprising a size approximately 0.5 inches in width, 0.5 inches in length, and 0.25 inches in height.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for providing a wide range of possible frequencies with high stability, said method comprising the steps of: providing a package having a plurality of connections and no dedicated programming connections; storing a parameter representing a desired output frequency within said package; providing a crystal within said package that specifies a source frequency; generating said desired output frequency based on said parameter stored and said source frequency of said crystal, said desired output frequency being within said wide range of possible frequencies and being produced with high stability.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for providing a wide range of possible frequencies with high stability, said method comprising the steps of: providing a package having a plurality of connections and no dedicated programming connections; storing a parameter representing a desired output frequency within said package; providing a crystal within said package that specifies a source frequency; generating said desired output frequency based on said parameter stored and said source frequency of said crystal, said desired output frequency being within said wide range of possible frequencies and being produced with high stability.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said package comprises a four pin full size industry standard oscillator package comprising a size approximately 0.5 inches in width, 0.8 inches in length, and 0.25 inches in height.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said plurality of connections comprise four connections including an output disable pin, a supply voltage pin, a ground pin, and a frequency out pin for said desired output frequency.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of storing a parameter comprises the step of storing said parameter in a plurality of electrically programmable fuses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of storing a parameter comprises the step of storing said parameter in an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving said parameter from an external source representing said desired output frequency at an output disable connection on said package, said output disable connection being additionally used to disable the output of said clock oscillator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the step of programming said parameter input from said output disable connection when specified by a burn field in said parameter so as to store said parameter within said package.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the step of selecting said parameter from either said output disable connection or from within said package, wherein said parameter input from said output disable connection provides an output frequency for evaluation prior to storing said parameter in said package.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of generating said desired output frequency comprises the steps of: receiving p and q variables specified by said parameter; generating from said source frequency (F xtal ) a voltage controlled oscillator frequency (F vco ) in accordance with the relationship: ##EQU3## and dividing said voltage controlled oscillator frequency (F vco ) in accordance with said parameter to generate said selected frequency.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said package comprises a four pin half size industry standard oscillator package comprising a size approximately 0.5 inches in width, 0.8 inches in length, and 0.25 inches in height.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-18 | 1999-03-20 | 1999-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | 2003-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-18 | 2007-03-20 | 2007-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |