Systems, methods, and circuitries are provided for generating timing signals with a resonator-based open-loop oscillator circuitry. In one example, a system that generates a timing signal based on a target signal includes a plurality of oscillator units configured to generate a respective plurality of oscillator signals. Each oscillator unit includes a resonator that operates in an open-loop mode to generate a resonator signal having a resonator frequency. The resonator signal is used by core circuitry to generate a respective oscillator signal having a respective oscillator frequency. The resonator frequencies of the resonators in the plurality of oscillator units are different from one another. The system also includes a selector circuitry configured to select one of the plurality of oscillator units based on the target signal and provide a selected oscillator signal generated by the selected oscillator unit as the timing signal.

Systems, methods, and circuitries are provided for generating timing signals with a resonator-based open-loop oscillator circuitry. In one example, a system that generates a timing signal based on a target signal includes a plurality of oscillator units configured to generate a respective plurality of oscillator signals. Each oscillator unit includes a resonator that operates in an open-loop mode to generate a resonator signal having a resonator frequency. The resonator signal is used by core circuitry to generate a respective oscillator signal having a respective oscillator frequency. The resonator frequencies of the resonators in the plurality of oscillator units are different from one another. The system also includes a selector circuitry configured to select one of the plurality of oscillator units based on the target signal and provide a selected oscillator signal generated by the selected oscillator unit as the timing signal.

A method for determining phase noise in a periodically modulated signal is described. The modulated signal is processed to generate a processed signal from the modulated signal. At least an approximate period of a modulation of the modulated signal is determined from the processed signal. The type of modulation of the modulated signal is determined from the processed signal. The modulated signal is demodulated based on the determined period and the determined type of modulation to generate a demodulated signal, and the phase noise is determined from the demodulated signal. Moreover, a measurement device is described.

A technique for tuning a ladder-shaped inductor that achieves a finer tuning resolution by severing one or more shorts, skipping the severing of one or more shorts, and severing one or more subsequent shorts within the ladder-shaped inductor. This technique can be applied to a voltage-controlled oscillator using a differential or single-ended ladder-shaped inductor as part of the resonant circuit. Within an oscillator, such a technique provides for a more precise modulation of the effective inductance of the ladder-shaped inductor, which enables an improved tuning resolution of the operating frequency of the oscillator.

A technique for tuning a ladder-shaped inductor that achieves a finer tuning resolution by severing one or more shorts, skipping the severing of one or more shorts, and severing one or more subsequent shorts within the ladder-shaped inductor. This technique can be applied to a voltage-controlled oscillator using a differential or single-ended ladder-shaped inductor as part of the resonant circuit. Within an oscillator, such a technique provides for a more precise modulation of the effective inductance of the ladder-shaped inductor, which enables an improved tuning resolution of the operating frequency of the oscillator.

An oscillator includes a resonator and a first loop circuit. The first loop circuit includes an amplifier and a first coupler. That first loop circuit is electrically coupled to the resonator. The oscillator is configured to produce negative feedback for the amplifier in a cavity mode relative to short circuit terminations or open circuit terminations of a cavity modelling the oscillator at frequencies offset from a carrier frequency. The oscillator has a loss of less than 4.00 dB for a bidirectional trip through the cavity at the frequencies offset from the carrier frequency.

Apparatus and methods for rotary traveling wave oscillators (RTWOs) are provided herein. In certain configurations, an RTWO includes a differential transmission line connected in a ring and a plurality of segments distributed around the ring. The segments include metal stubs extending from the RTWO's differential transmission line. The metal stubs aid in providing access to additional layout resources for tuning capacitors and other circuitry of the RTWO's segments, while permitting the length of RTWO's ring to be relative short. Thus, the metal stubs do not inhibit the RTWO from operating with relatively high oscillation frequency, while providing connectivity to tuning capacitors that tune the RTWO's oscillation frequency over a wide tuning range and/or provide fine frequency step size.

An oscillator includes a first output node and a second output node. There is a tank circuit coupled between the first output node and the second output node. There is a first transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to a current source, and a control node coupled to the second output node. There is a second transistor having a first node, a second node coupled to the current source, and a control node coupled to the first output node. There is a first inductor coupled in series between the first node of the first transistor and the first output node. There is a second inductor coupled in series between the first node of the second transistor and the second output node.

An oscillator arrangement having an oscillator configured to generate an oscillation signal having two half-cycles, an input configured to receive a synchronization signal including synchronization triggers, a synchronizer configured to reject a synchronization trigger received during a first part of a half-cycle and to synchronize the oscillator to a synchronization trigger received during a second part of the half-cycle, and a controller configured to prolong the second part of the half-cycle in response to receiving a synchronization trigger during the first part of the half-cycle.

An oscillator arrangement having an oscillator configured to generate an oscillation signal having two half-cycles, an input configured to receive a synchronization signal including synchronization triggers, a synchronizer configured to reject a synchronization trigger received during a first part of a half-cycle and to synchronize the oscillator to a synchronization trigger received during a second part of the half-cycle, and a controller configured to prolong the second part of the half-cycle in response to receiving a synchronization trigger during the first part of the half-cycle.