A frequency variable oscillator generates a clock having a frequency according to a control signal. A reference current source generates a reference current. A path selector distributes the reference current to a first path and a second path in a time-sharing manner in synchronization with the clock. An F/V conversion circuit includes a capacitor connected to the first path, and charges or discharges the capacitor with the reference current and generates a detection voltage. The reference voltage source includes a resistor connected to the second path, and outputs a reference voltage according to a voltage across the resistor. A feedback circuit adjusts a control signal so that the detection voltage approaches the reference voltage.

Disclosed is a radar. The radar comprises a transmitter configured to radiate an output signal to an outside. The transmitter includes the phase shifter including a first oscillator configured to generate a first signal, based on a first external signal and a second oscillator configured to generate a second signal, based on a second external signal having a phase different from that of the first external signal, and wherein the first oscillator further receives the second signal to generate the first signal and the second oscillator further receives the first signal to generate the second signal, and configured to generate an oscillation signal of which phase is shifted based on the first signal and the second signal, and the signal amplifier configured to amplify the phase-shifted oscillation signal to generate the output signal.

In an example, a system includes an oscillator circuit on a chip. The oscillator circuit includes a charging current generator including a current mirror, an amplifier, and an on-chip resistor, where the on-chip resistor is coupled to a pin on the chip. The oscillator circuit also includes oscillator circuitry coupled to the charging current generator, where the oscillator circuitry includes a comparator, a phase generator, a first capacitor coupled to a first resistor, and a second capacitor coupled to a second resistor. The system also includes an external resistor coupled to the pin, where the external resistor is external to the chip. The system includes an external capacitor coupled to the pin, where the external capacitor is external to the chip.

A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a method of designing a voltage controlled oscillator, and a design structure comprising a semiconductor substrate including a voltage controlled oscillator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the VCO comprises an LC tank circuit for generating an oscillator output at an oscillator frequency, and an oscillator core including cross-coupled semiconductor devices to provide feedback to the tank circuit. The VCO further comprises a supply node, a tail node, and a noise by-pass circuit connected to the supply and tail nodes, in parallel with the tank circuit and the oscillator core. The by-pass circuit forms a low-impedance path at a frequency approximately twice the oscillator frequency to at least partially immunize the oscillator core from external noise and to reduce noise contribution from the cross-coupled semiconductor devices.

A key based technique that targets obfuscation of critical circuit parameters of an analog circuit block by masking physical characteristics of a transistor (width and length) and the circuit parameters reliant upon these physical characteristics (i.e. circuit biasing conditions, phase noise profile, bandwidth, gain, noise figure, operating frequency, etc.). The proposed key based obfuscation technique targets the physical dimensions of the transistors used to set the optimal biasing conditions. The widths and/or lengths of a transistor are obfuscated and, based on an applied key sequence, provides a range of potential biasing points. Only when the correct key sequence is applied and certain transistor(s) are active, are the correct biasing conditions at the target node set.

A starting circuit capable of further reducing an influence of a variation in the threshold voltage of a transistor is proposed. The starting circuit includes an N-type first MOS transistor whose threshold voltage is near 0 V, a resistor interposed between a source terminal of the first MOS transistor and a ground, and a control circuit controlling a gate voltage of the first MOS transistor. An amount of first current transmitted to a device to be driven and starting the device is controlled according to the control of the gate voltage.

An LC oscillator has a tank driver connected to cause a matched-resistance LC tank to oscillate. The LC tank has an inductor leg in parallel with a capacitor leg. The inductor leg has an explicit inductor having an implicit resistance level R.sub.L. The capacitor leg has an explicit capacitor having an implicit resistance level R.sub.C connected in series with an explicit resistor having an explicit resistance level R.sub.R, where R.sub.M=(R.sub.C+R.sub.R) is substantially equal to R.sub.L. The LC oscillator may have a non-trimmable LC tank and be part of a temperature-compensated frequency reference generator having standalone frequency adjustment circuitry that offers better than 0.1% frequency accuracy (after single trim and batch calibration) over process, voltage, and temperature variations, and lifetime, which can serve as a low-cost replacement for a crystal oscillator for many applications.

A crystal oscillator circuit that can be controlled for fast start-up and for efficient operation is disclosed. The control includes adjusting a voltage applied to a body terminal of a transistor in order to control the amplification of the crystal oscillator. The amplification can be increased, relative to a motional resistance of the crystal oscillator, at start-up to reduce a start-up time necessary for oscillation. The amplification can also be decreased in order to maintain oscillation after start-up more efficiently. In some implementations, the transistor for control is a fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) transistor that accommodates a wide range of body bias voltages.

An oscillator circuit is provided and includes first and second terminals; an amplification circuit with an input end and an out end coupled to a first end and a second end of a crystal circuit through the first terminal and the second terminal, respectively; a gain control circuit coupled to the amplification circuit and including a differential amplifier, a first current source, a feedback path and a current mirror, wherein: the differential amplifier includes first and second transistors, sources of the first and second transistors are coupled to the first current source; a gate of the first transistor is coupled to a first direct current voltage and coupled to the input end or the output end through the feedback path; a gate of the second transistor is coupled to a second direct current voltage; the current mirror mirrors a current flowing through the second transistor to the amplification circuit.

A digital isolator comprising a set of bipolar transistors and an inductor capacitor (LC) oscillator coupled to the set of bipolar transistors in series, wherein the LC oscillator is configured to be turned on and off based on the current applied to the set of bipolar transistors or the LC oscillator and generate a set of differential signals based on the current flowing through the set of bipolar transistors and mimicking the operational characteristics of an optocoupler.