IP Library Granted Patent US 10,361,657
Granted Patent B2
US 10,361,657 · App. 15/358,350 · Granted Jul 23, 2019

Series of coupled synchronous oscillators

Inventor: Emmanuel Chataigner (Montbonnot Saint Martin, FR)
Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
H03B5/1231H03B5/1215H03B5/1253H03B5/1296H03B2200/0076
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,361,657
App. No.
15/358,350
Granted
Jul 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit includes at least two identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits that are coupled one to one in parallel with each other at homologous oscillating nodes of the respective oscillator circuits. The coupling in parallel is made using at least one coupling track that is configured so as to not introduce any phase shift or to introduce a very small phase shift.

Claims (57)

1. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a series of at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

wherein said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits of said series are coupled one to one in parallel at homologous oscillating nodes of the respective substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits using at least one coupling track;

wherein a length of said at least one coupling track is less than or equal to one twentieth of a corresponding wavelength at a frequency of oscillation of the at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits.

2. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a series of at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

wherein said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits of said series are coupled one to one in parallel at homologous oscillating nodes of the respective substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits using at least one coupling track;

wherein an impedance of said at least one coupling track is less than one tenth of an impedance of one of said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits.

3. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one coupling track is distinct from tracks of each of said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits.

4. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein each of said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits comprises an individual output.

5. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , produced on a silicon substrate.

6. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein a structure of each of the substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits is identical and is configured so that a given number of juxtaposed oscillator circuits, forming a group, fits around a node point shared by each oscillator circuit of said group, in a mosaic with repeated patterns, and wherein each of the substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits is coupled one to one to said node point.

7. The integrated circuit according to claim 6 , further comprising at least two groups of juxtaposed oscillator circuits, wherein said homologous oscillating nodes of the oscillator circuits of each group are coupled one to one via respective metal transmission lines.

8. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a series of at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

wherein said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits in said series are coupled one to one in parallel at homologous oscillating nodes of the respective substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits using at least one coupling track;

wherein a structure of each substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits is identical and is configured so that a given number of juxtaposed oscillator circuits, forming a group, fits around a node point shared by each oscillator circuit of said group, in a mosaic with repeated patterns, and wherein the oscillator circuits are coupled one to one to said node point; and

wherein each oscillator circuit in said group has a circuit layout having an isosceles triangular shape and wherein node point is a co-located apex point of the isosceles triangular shapes.

9. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said series of at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits comprises between 2 and 32 oscillator circuits.

10. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a series of at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

wherein said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits in said series are coupled one to one in parallel at homologous oscillating nodes of the substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits using at least one coupling track;

wherein each substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuit is configured to oscillate at a frequency of between 57 GHz and 86 GHz.

11. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a first oscillator circuit including a first pair of oscillating signal nodes;

a second oscillator circuit including a second pair of oscillating signal nodes;

wherein the first and second oscillator circuit are substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

wherein each of the first and second oscillating circuits has a circuit layout having an isosceles triangular shape, each isosceles triangular shape having a pair of isometric sides, and wherein one isometric side of the first oscillating circuit is adjacent and parallel to one isometric side of the second oscillating circuit; and

a pair of coupling tracks that directly connect corresponding oscillating signal nodes of the first and second oscillator circuits such that the first and second oscillator circuits are connected in parallel with each other.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 11 , wherein the pair of coupling tracks are provided for connection of first and second oscillating circuits at co-located apex points of the isosceles triangular shapes for the first and second oscillating circuits.

13. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a first oscillator circuit including a first pair of oscillating signal nodes;

a second oscillator circuit including a second pair of oscillating signal nodes;

wherein the first and second oscillator circuits are substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

a pair of coupling tracks that directly connect corresponding oscillating signal nodes of the first and second oscillator circuits such that the first and second oscillator circuits are connected in parallel with each other; and

wherein a length of each track in said pair of coupling tracks is less than or equal to one twentieth of a corresponding wavelength at a frequency of oscillation of the first and second oscillator circuits.

14. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a first oscillator circuit including a first pair of oscillating signal nodes;

a second oscillator circuit including a second pair of oscillating signal nodes;

wherein the first and second oscillator circuits are substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

a pair of coupling tracks that directly connect corresponding oscillating signal nodes of the first and second oscillator circuits such that the first and second oscillator circuits are connected in parallel with each other; and

wherein an impedance of each track of said pair of coupling tracks is less than one tenth of an impedance of one of said first and second oscillator circuits.

15. An integrated circuit, comprising:

a first oscillator circuit including a first pair of oscillating signal nodes;

a second oscillator circuit including a second pair of oscillating signal nodes;

wherein the first and second oscillator circuits are substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits;

a pair of coupling tracks that directly connect corresponding oscillating signal nodes of the first and second oscillator circuits such that the first and second oscillator circuits are connected in parallel with each other; and

wherein each oscillating circuit of the first and second oscillating circuits has a circuit layout having an isosceles triangular shape, each isosceles triangular shape having a pair of isometric sides, and wherein the pair of coupling tracks are provided for connection of first and second oscillating circuits at co-located apex points of the isosceles triangular shapes for the first and second oscillating circuits.

16. The integrated circuit according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one coupling track is distinct from tracks of each of said at least two substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits.

17. The integrated circuit according to claim 2 , wherein each of said substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits comprises an individual output.

18. The integrated circuit according to claim 2 , produced on a silicon substrate.

19. The integrated circuit according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one coupling track is distinct from tracks of each of said substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits.

20. The integrated circuit according to claim 8 , wherein each of said substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits comprises an individual output.

21. The integrated circuit according to claim 8 , produced on a silicon substrate.

22. The integrated circuit according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one coupling track is distinct from tracks of each of said substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits.

23. The integrated circuit according to claim 10 , wherein each of said substantially identical, synchronous and independent oscillator circuits comprises an individual output.

24. The integrated circuit according to claim 10 , produced on a silicon substrate.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 23, 2024
From: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
To: STMICROELECTRONICS FRANCE
Reel/Frame 066663/0136 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2016
From: CHATAIGNER, EMMANUEL
To: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
Reel/Frame 040399/0584 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 16 54845 · May 30, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170346443A1 · Nov 30, 2017