Oscillator circuit having a temperature dependence
View Patent ↗An oscillator circuit includes a current source for generating a current depending on the ambient temperature, a plurality of oscillators for oscillating at respective periods depending on the current from the current source and based on different relations between the ambient temperature and the periods, and a frequency demultiplication unit for receiving an output signal from one of the oscillators selected by a period selecting circuit 103 . The frequency dividing ratio of the frequency demultiplication circuit is set so that a higher ambient temperature provides a smaller frequency dividing ratio.
1. An oscillator circuit comprising an oscillation unit generating an output signal, said output signal oscillates at a period depending on an ambient temperature, said period shorter at a higher ambient temperature; a temperature sensor that detects said ambient temperature; and, a frequency demultiplication circuit that divides a frequency of said output signal from said oscillation unit by a frequency dividing ratio selected from a plurality of frequency dividing ratios;
wherein said frequency demultiplication circuit selects a smaller one of said frequency dividing ratios for the higher ambient temperature being detected by said temperature sensor.
2. The oscillator circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said oscillation unit comprises a current source for generating a current that increases upon a rise of said ambient temperature.
3. An oscillator circuit comprising an oscillation unit generating an output signal, said output signal oscillates at a period depending on an ambient temperature; a temperature sensor that detects said ambient temperature; and, a frequency demultiplication circuit that divides a frequency of said output signal from said oscillation unit by a frequency dividing ratio selected from a plurality of frequency dividing ratios;
wherein said frequency demultiplication circuit selects a smaller one of said frequency dividing ratios for a higher ambient temperature being detected by said temperature sensor; and,
wherein said oscillation unit includes a current source for generating a current that increases upon a rise of said ambient temperature, a plurality of oscillators for oscillating at respective periods, which depend on a current generated by said current source, and based on different relations between said ambient temperature and said oscillation periods, and an oscillator selection unit that selects one of said plurality of oscillators depending on a detected ambient temperature detected by said temperature sensor.
4. The oscillator circuit according to claim 3 further comprising a temperature range detection unit for detecting a temperature range among a plurality of temperature ranges based on said detected ambient temperature, wherein said selection of said frequency dividing ratio by said frequency demultiplication circuit and said selection of said oscillator by said oscillator selection unit are controlled depending on a temperature range detected by said temperature range detection unit.
5. The oscillator circuit according to claim 4 , wherein, assuming that a change ratio of said output period of said oscillation unit within one of said temperature ranges is N, said frequency dividing ratio within said one of said temperature ranges corresponds to 1/N times said frequency dividing ratio within an adjacent lower temperature range.
6. An oscillator circuit comprising an oscillation unit generating an output signal, said output signal oscillates at a period depending on an ambient temnerature; a temperature sensor that detects said ambient temperature; and, a frequency demultiplication circuit that divides a frequency of said output signal from said oscillation unit by a frequency dividing ratio selected from a plurality of frequency dividing ratios;
wherein said frequency demultiplication circuit selects a smaller one of said frequency dividing ratios for a higher ambient temperature being detected by said temperature sensor; and,
wherein said oscillation unit includes a plurality of current sources for generating currents, which increase upon a rise of said ambient temperature, based on different relations between said ambient temperature and values of said currents, a current source selection unit that selects one of said plurality of current sources depending on a detected ambient temperature detected by said temperature sensor, and an oscillator that oscillates at a period depending on a current of said one of said current sources selected by said current source selection unit.
7. The oscillator circuit according to claim 6 , further comprising a level detection unit for detecting a temperature level among a plurality of temperature levels based on said detected ambient temperature, wherein said selection of said frequency dividing ratio by said frequency demultiplication circuit and said selection of said current source by said current source selection unit are controlled depending on a temperature range detected by said temperature range detection unit.
8. The oscillator circuit according to claim 7 , wherein, assuming that a change ratio of said output period of said oscillation unit within one of said temperature ranges is N, said frequency dividing ratio within said one of said temperature, ranges corresponds to 1/N times said frequency dividing ratio within an adjacent lower temperature range.