Transformer based voltage controlled oscillator circuitry for phase-locked loop circuitry includes upper band circuitry and lower band circuitry. The upper band circuitry operates in a first frequency range and includes a first capacitor array having a variable capacitance. The lower band circuitry operates in a second frequency range and includes a second capacitor array having a variable capacitance. The first frequency range higher than the second frequency range. In a first operating mode, the first capacitor array has a first capacitance value and the second capacitor array has a second capacitance value. In a second operating mode, the second capacitor array has a third capacitance value different than the second capacitance value.

A voltage-controlled oscillator includes a first transistor, a second transistor, an inductive impedance element, a first variable capacitive impedance element, and a second variable capacitive impedance element. The first transistor has a source coupled to a first power source, a drain coupled to a first node, and a gate coupled to a second node. The second transistor has a source coupled to the first power source, a drain coupled to the second node, and a gate coupled to the first node. The inductive impedance element has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to the second node. The first variable capacitive impedance element has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to a third node. The second variable capacitive impedance element has a first terminal coupled to the second node and a second terminal coupled to the third node.

A voltage-controlled oscillator includes a first transistor, a second transistor, an inductive impedance element, a first variable capacitive impedance element, and a second variable capacitive impedance element. The first transistor has a source coupled to a first power source, a drain coupled to a first node, and a gate coupled to a second node. The second transistor has a source coupled to the first power source, a drain coupled to the second node, and a gate coupled to the first node. The inductive impedance element has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to the second node. The first variable capacitive impedance element has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to a third node. The second variable capacitive impedance element has a first terminal coupled to the second node and a second terminal coupled to the third node.

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 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.

A wireless communication apparatus includes an oscillator circuit configured to generate an oscillation signal corresponding to an oscillation frequency determined by an antenna, and a bias generator circuit configured to reconfigure an operation region mode of a transistor included in the oscillator circuit by adjusting a bias signal in response to an enable signal.

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 device includes an oscillator including at least one inductor and at least one capacitor and configured to generate, based on a positive supply voltage, an output signal oscillating in a resonance frequency of the at least one inductor and the at least one capacitor. The device further includes an oscillation detector configured to determine whether the output signal oscillates based on a clock signal and increase a loop gain of the oscillator until the output signal oscillates.

A wireless communication apparatus includes an oscillator circuit configured to generate an oscillation signal corresponding to an oscillation frequency determined by an antenna, and a bias generator circuit configured to reconfigure an operation region mode of a transistor included in the oscillator circuit by adjusting a bias signal in response to an enable signal.

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.