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US6052036A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Crystal oscillator with AGC and on-chip tuning

Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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Filing: 1997-10-31
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Granted: 2000-04-18
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Expires: 2017-10-31
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Abstract

Abstract A highly stable single chip crystal controlled oscillator with automatic gain control. An amplitude detector monitors the output of a crystal controlled oscillator amplifier and produces a feedback signal proportional to the output signal of the amplifier to ensure oscillation is induced at startup and that the amplitude of oscillation is limited to a preselected value during operation to conserve power consumption by the amplifier. The capacitor tank circuit connected to the input of the amplifier includes a voltage variable capacitor the voltage across which is initially established at manufacture to tune the oscillation frequency to a preselected value. The voltage across the voltage variable capacitor is also adjusted to compensate for temperature variations in the circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Håkan Enstrom
  • 👤 Erik Bengtsson
  • 👤 Torbjorn Gardenfors

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 14:40
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03B; H03B5/00; H03B5/30; H03B5/32; H03B5/36; H03L; H03L5/00; H03B5/366; H03B5/368; H03L1/00; H03L1/02; H03L1/022; H03L1/023; H03L1/025

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim 146 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; means for rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; means for capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; means for low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said low pass filtering means back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; and means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to variations in absolute temperature of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 146 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; means for rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; means for capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; means for low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said low pass filtering means back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; and means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to variations in absolute temperature of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oscillator amplifier comprises a differential amplifier having a voltage input for controlling the current source within the amplifier to establish the loop gain of said amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 160 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; means for rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; means for capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; means for low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for: connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; and providing a signal to the current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup which allows maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within the amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 160 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; means for rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; means for capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; means for low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for: connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; and providing a signal to the current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup which allows maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within the amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 247 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; means for establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and means for adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the circuitry and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value, said temperature compensation voltage adding means comprises a circuit which produces a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 247 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; means for establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and means for adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the circuitry and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value, said temperature compensation voltage adding means comprises a circuit which produces a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 290 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; means for establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; means for adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the oscillator circuit and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value; and said temperature compensation voltage adding means comprises a circuit which produces a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit, said circuit for providing a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit comprises a stable reference voltage connected to a voltage divider which includes as one element a heavily doped resistor with a negative temperature coefficient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 290 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; means for establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; means for adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the oscillator circuit and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value; and said temperature compensation voltage adding means comprises a circuit which produces a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit, said circuit for providing a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit comprises a stable reference voltage connected to a voltage divider which includes as one element a heavily doped resistor with a negative temperature coefficient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 304 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; means for establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and said amplitude detector comprises, means for rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; means for capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; and means for low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a signal proportional to the amplitude of the oscillation of said oscillator amplifier; and said initial voltage value establishing means comprises, means for generating a digital number; means for converting said digital number into an analog current value proportional to the value of said digital number; means for converting said analog current value into a voltage value proportional to said current value; and means for coupling said voltage value to said voltage variable capacitor to establish the capacitance value thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 304 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; means for establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and said amplitude detector comprises, means for rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; means for capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; and means for low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a signal proportional to the amplitude of the oscillation of said oscillator amplifier; and said initial voltage value establishing means comprises, means for generating a digital number; means for converting said digital number into an analog current value proportional to the value of said digital number; means for converting said analog current value into a voltage value proportional to said current value; and means for coupling said voltage value to said voltage variable capacitor to establish the capacitance value thereof.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 150 words
A method for generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to variations in absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit; rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; and connecting said d.c. signal in a feedback loop from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 150 words
A method for generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to variations in absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit; rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; and connecting said d.c. signal in a feedback loop from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 168 words
A method for generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; connecting said d.c. signal in a feedback loop from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit by providing a signal to said current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup to allow maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within said amplifier.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 168 words
A method for generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a d.c. signal proportional to the amplitude of the output of said oscillator amplifier; connecting said d.c. signal in a feedback loop from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit by providing a signal to said current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup to allow maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within said amplifier.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 258 words
A method of generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit having a select capacitance value to the input of said oscillator amplifier to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the oscillator circuit and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value, said step of adding to said initial voltage value further includes: generating a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 258 words
A method of generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit having a select capacitance value to the input of said oscillator amplifier to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the oscillator circuit and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value, said step of adding to said initial voltage value further includes: generating a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 288 words
A method of generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit having a select capacitance value to the input of said oscillator amplifier to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the oscillator circuit and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value, said step of adding to said initial voltage value further includes: generating a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit, said step of generating further includes: providing a stable reference voltage connected to a voltage divider which includes as one element a heavily doped resistor with a negative temperature coefficient.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 288 words
A method of generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit having a select capacitance value to the input of said oscillator amplifier to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; and adding to said initial voltage value a temperature compensation voltage value to also adjust the capacitance value of said voltage variable capacitor in response to temperature variations in the oscillator circuit and retain said oscillation frequency at said preselected value, said step of adding to said initial voltage value further includes: generating a voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of the oscillator circuit, said step of generating further includes: providing a stable reference voltage connected to a voltage divider which includes as one element a heavily doped resistor with a negative temperature coefficient.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 309 words
A method of generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit having a select capacitance value to the input of said oscillator amplifier to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; said step of connecting an amplitude detector further includes: rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; and low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a signal proportional to the amplitude of the oscillation of said oscillator amplifier; and said step of establishing an initial voltage value further comprises: generating a digital number; converting said digital number into an analog current value proportional to the value of said digital number; converting said analog current value into a voltage value proportional to said current value; and coupling said voltage value to said voltage variable capacitor to establish the capacitance value thereof.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 309 words
A method of generating an oscillator output signal while controlling the power consumption of the oscillator, said method comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit having a select capacitance value to the input of said oscillator amplifier to tune the oscillation frequency of said amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; establishing an initial voltage value across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation; said step of connecting an amplitude detector further includes: rectifying the output signal from said oscillator amplifier; capacitively coupling the output of said oscillator amplifier to said rectifying means; and low pass filtering the output signal from said rectifying means to produce a signal proportional to the amplitude of the oscillation of said oscillator amplifier; and said step of establishing an initial voltage value further comprises: generating a digital number; converting said digital number into an analog current value proportional to the value of said digital number; converting said analog current value into a voltage value proportional to said current value; and coupling said voltage value to said voltage variable capacitor to establish the capacitance value thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 222 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said oscillator amplifier to a preselected value, said resonator tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; and means for establishing an initial voltage value to be applied across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation which comprises: means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit; and means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 222 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said oscillator amplifier to a preselected value, said resonator tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; and means for establishing an initial voltage value to be applied across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation which comprises: means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit; and means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 145 words
The crystal controlled oscillator circuit of claim 12, wherein: said means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit further includes: means for generating a digital number; means for converting said digital number into an analog current value proportional to a said digital number; and means for converting said analog current value into a production compensation voltage value which is proportional to said analog current value; said means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit further includes: means for generating a temperature compensation voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of said oscillator circuit; means for summing the temperature compensation voltage value and the production compensation voltage value to establish the initial voltage value; and means for connecting the initial voltage value to said resonator tank capacitor circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 227 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit constructed on a single substrate comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said oscillator amplifier to a preselected value, said resonator tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; and means for establishing an initial voltage value to be applied across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation which comprises: means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit; and means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 227 words
A crystal controlled oscillator circuit constructed on a single substrate comprising: an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; an amplitude detector connected to the output of said oscillator amplifier for detecting the amplitude level of the oscillator output and producing a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator amplifier; a feedback loop for connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; a resonator tank capacitor circuit connected to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said oscillator amplifier to a preselected value, said resonator tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; and means for establishing an initial voltage value to be applied across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation which comprises: means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit; and means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 145 words
The crystal controlled oscillator circuit of claim 14, wherein: said means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit further includes: means for generating a digital number; means for converting said digital number into an analog current value proportional to a said digital number; and means for converting said analog current value into a production compensation voltage value which is proportional to said analog current value; said means for tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit further includes: means for generating a temperature compensation voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of said oscillator circuit; means for summing the temperature compensation voltage value and the production compensation voltage value to establish the initial voltage value; and means for connecting the initial voltage value to said resonator tank capacitor circuit.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 222 words
A method for generating an oscillator signal, comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator amplifier; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said oscillator amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; and establishing an initial voltage value to be applied across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation in accordance with the following steps: tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit; and tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 222 words
A method for generating an oscillator signal, comprising: providing an oscillator amplifier having an input and an output, said input being connected to a crystal resonator for establishing oscillation in a preselected frequency range; connecting an amplitude detector to the output of said oscillator amplifier to detect the amplitude level of the oscillator output and produce a d.c. signal proportional to the output amplitude level of said oscillator amplifier; connecting said d.c. signal from said amplitude detector in a feedback loop back to a current source of said oscillator amplifier to regulate the amplitude level of the oscillator amplifier output to a preselected value and limit power consumption of said oscillator circuit; connecting a resonator tank capacitor circuit to the input of said oscillator amplifier and having a select capacitance value to tune the oscillation frequency of said oscillator amplifier to a preselected value, said tank capacitor circuit including at least one voltage variable capacitor; and establishing an initial voltage value to be applied across said voltage variable capacitor to tune said resonator tank capacitor circuit, and therefore said oscillator amplifier, to a preselected frequency of oscillation in accordance with the following steps: tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit; and tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 130 words
The method of claim 16, wherein: said step of tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to production variations while manufacturing said oscillator circuit further includes: generating a digital number; converting said digital number into analog current value proportional to a said digital number; and converting said analog current value into a production compensation voltage value which is proportional to said analog current value; said step of tuning said oscillator amplifier in response to temperature variations while operating said oscillator circuit further includes: generating a temperature compensation voltage value which is proportional to the absolute temperature of said oscillator circuit; and summing the temperature compensation voltage value and the production compensation voltage value to establish the initial voltage value; and connecting the initial voltage value to said resonator tank capacitor circuit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 48 words
The crystal controlled oscillator circuit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said feedback loop provides a signal to the current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup which allows maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within the amplifier.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 52 words
The method of generating an oscillator output signal as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a signal to the current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup which allows maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within the amplifier.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 48 words
The crystal controlled oscillator circuit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said feedback loop provides a signal to the current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup which allows maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within the amplifier.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 48 words
The crystal controlled oscillator circuit as set forth in claim 14 wherein said feedback loop provides a signal to the current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup which allows maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within the amplifier.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing a signal to the current source of said oscillator amplifier at startup which allows maximum current within said amplifier to produce a very high loop gain and induce oscillation within the amplifier.

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