Relax oscillation circuits have at least one comparison circuit that is structured with a flipped gate transistor and a normal MOS transistor wherein the two transistors having different threshold voltages. The relaxation oscillators are configured for charging and discharging capacitances between the threshold voltages of the flipped gate transistor and the normal MOS transistor by toggling the state of a latching circuit to control the charging and discharging of the capacitances.

A method and a circuit for exciting a crystal oscillation circuit are disclosed herein. The crystal oscillation circuit comprising: charging, with a charging circuit, a voltage-controlled oscillator; providing, with the voltage-controlled oscillator, an exciting signal; blocking, with a direct current blocking capacitor, direct current from the voltage-controlled oscillator to the crystal oscillation circuit; and exciting, with the exciting signal, the crystal oscillation circuit. The circuit for exciting a crystal oscillation circuit, comprising: a charging circuit; a voltage-controlled oscillator coupled to the charging circuit and configured to provide an exciting signal to the crystal oscillation circuit; and a direct current blocking capacitor connected between the voltage-controlled oscillator and the crystal oscillation circuit and configured to block direct current from the voltage-controlled oscillator.

Relax oscillation circuits have at least one comparison circuit that is structured with a flipped gate transistor and a normal MOS transistor wherein the two transistors having different threshold voltages. The relaxation oscillators are configured for charging and discharging capacitances between the threshold voltages of the flipped gate transistor and the normal MOS transistor by toggling the state of a latching circuit to control the charging and discharging of the capacitances.

A method and a circuit for exciting a crystal oscillation circuit are disclosed herein. The crystal oscillation circuit comprising: charging, with a charging circuit, a voltage-controlled oscillator; providing, with the voltage-controlled oscillator, an exciting signal; blocking, with a direct current blocking capacitor, direct current from the voltage-controlled oscillator to the crystal oscillation circuit; and exciting, with the exciting signal, the crystal oscillation circuit. The circuit for exciting a crystal oscillation circuit, comprising: a charging circuit; a voltage-controlled oscillator coupled to the charging circuit and configured to provide an exciting signal to the crystal oscillation circuit; and a direct current blocking capacitor connected between the voltage-controlled oscillator and the crystal oscillation circuit and configured to block direct current from the voltage-controlled oscillator.

A nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) oscillator can include an insulating substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode, a metal local gate electrode, and a micron-sized, atomically thin graphene resonator. The source electrode and drain electrode can be disposed on the insulating substrate. The metal local gate electrode can be disposed on the insulating substrate. The graphene resonator can be suspended over the metal local gate electrode and define a vacuum gap between the graphene resonator and the metal local gate electrode.

An example current generator may include a low dropout regulator (LDO) coupled to receive a reference voltage and provide a reference current in response, where the LDO adjusts a current level of the current reference in response to a calibration signal. A current controlled oscillator coupled to receive a reference current copy from the LDO and generate an oscillating signal in response, where a period of the oscillating signal is based at least in part on a level of the reference current copy. A pulse generator coupled to provide an adjustable pulse signal. A counter coupled to determine a number of periods of the oscillating signal occurring during a duration of the pulse signal, and provide a control signal indicative of such, and a digital calibration circuit coupled to receive the control signal and provide the calibration signal to the LDO in response.

A nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) oscillator can include an insulating substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrode, a metal local gate electrode, and a micron-sized, atomically thin graphene resonator. The source electrode and drain electrode can be disposed on the insulating substrate. The metal local gate electrode can be disposed on the insulating substrate. The graphene resonator can be suspended over the metal local gate electrode and define a vacuum gap between the graphene resonator and the metal local gate electrode.