An oscillator apparatus includes an oscillator core circuit. The oscillator core circuit includes an inverting transconductance amplifier, at least one first capacitor, at least one second capacitor, and a resonator. The at least one first capacitor is connected between an input of the inverting transconductance amplifier and a ground level. The at least one second capacitor is connected between an output of the inverting transconductance amplifier and the ground level. The resonator has a first port connected to the input of the inverting transconductance amplifier and a second port connected to the output of the inverting transconductance amplifier. The first port is decoupled from the second port.

An oscillator apparatus includes an oscillator core circuit. The oscillator core circuit includes an inverting transconductance amplifier, at least one first capacitor, at least one second capacitor, and a resonator. The at least one first capacitor is connected between an input of the inverting transconductance amplifier and a ground level. The at least one second capacitor is connected between an output of the inverting transconductance amplifier and the ground level. The resonator has a first port connected to the input of the inverting transconductance amplifier and a second port connected to the output of the inverting transconductance amplifier. The first port is decoupled from the second port.

A technique for reducing series resistance of an inductor system, which may increase the quality factor of the inductor system, has been disclosed. An apparatus includes a conductive loop formed from a first conductive layer. The conductive loop comprises a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal includes at least one first conductive finger in the first conductive layer. The second terminal includes at least one second conductive finger in the first conductive layer. The at least one second conductive finger is interdigitated with the at least one first conductive finger without directly contacting the at least one first conductive finger. The apparatus may include a serpentine gap in the first conductive layer. The apparatus may include at least one first conductive via coupled to a second conductive layer and coupled the at least one first conductive fingers, respectively.

A technique for reducing series resistance of an inductor system, which may increase the quality factor of the inductor system, has been disclosed. An apparatus includes a conductive loop formed from a first conductive layer. The conductive loop comprises a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal includes at least one first conductive finger in the first conductive layer. The second terminal includes at least one second conductive finger in the first conductive layer. The at least one second conductive finger is interdigitated with the at least one first conductive finger without directly contacting the at least one first conductive finger. The apparatus may include a serpentine gap in the first conductive layer. The apparatus may include at least one first conductive via coupled to a second conductive layer and coupled the at least one first conductive fingers, respectively.

Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for open-loop voltage regulation and drift compensation for a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). In embodiments, a communication circuit may include a DCO, an open-loop voltage regulator, and a calibration circuit. The open-loop voltage regulator may receive a calibration voltage and may generate a regulated voltage. The regulated voltage may be passed to the DCO. During a calibration mode, the calibration circuit may compare the regulated voltage to a reference voltage and adjust the calibration voltage based on the comparison to provide the regulated voltage with a target value. During a monitoring mode, the calibration circuit may receive a tuning code that is used to tune the DCO and further adjust the calibration voltage based on a value of the tuning code.

Embodiments include apparatuses, methods, and systems for open-loop voltage regulation and drift compensation for a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). In embodiments, a communication circuit may include a DCO, an open-loop voltage regulator, and a calibration circuit. The open-loop voltage regulator may receive a calibration voltage and may generate a regulated voltage. The regulated voltage may be passed to the DCO. During a calibration mode, the calibration circuit may compare the regulated voltage to a reference voltage and adjust the calibration voltage based on the comparison to provide the regulated voltage with a target value. During a monitoring mode, the calibration circuit may receive a tuning code that is used to tune the DCO and further adjust the calibration voltage based on a value of the tuning code.

A charge pump method and apparatus is described having various aspects. Noise injection from a charge pump to other circuits may be reduced by limiting both positive and negative clock transition rates, as well as by limiting drive currents within clock generator driver circuits, and also by increasing a control node AC impedance of certain transfer capacitor coupling switches. A single-phase clock may be used to control as many as all active switches within a charge pump, and capacitive coupling may simplify biasing and timing for clock signals controlling transfer capacitor coupling switches. Any combination of such aspects of the method or apparatus may be employed to quiet and/or simplify charge pump designs over a wide range of charge pump architectures.

An apparatus includes a spin torque oscillator, a sensor, and a processing unit. The spin torque oscillator is configured to receive a current and to generate a microwave output signal. The sensor is configured to detect the microwave output signal and to detect changes to frequency of the detected microwave output signal responsive to changes in an external magnetic field. The processing unit is configured to receive a sensed signal from the sensor. The processing unit is further configured to process the sensed signal and the changes to the frequency to determine magnitude and direction associated with the external magnetic field.

An apparatus includes a spin torque oscillator, a sensor, and a processing unit. The spin torque oscillator is configured to receive a current and to generate a microwave output signal. The sensor is configured to detect the microwave output signal and to detect changes to frequency of the detected microwave output signal responsive to changes in an external magnetic field. The processing unit is configured to receive a sensed signal from the sensor. The processing unit is further configured to process the sensed signal and the changes to the frequency to determine magnitude and direction associated with the external magnetic field.

A circuit may comprise a first node, a ring oscillator, a regulator, and a Kvcc compensation circuit. The first node may be a supply node to provide a supply voltage for the circuit. The ring oscillator may be formed from inverters. The regulator may use a single transistor between the first node and a second node for powering the oscillator. The K compensation circuit may be used to provide to the oscillator a variable capacitive load that is dependent on the supply at the first supply node, and it may drag oscillator frequency down when the first node supply goes up.