Timing oscillators and related methods

Abstract

Timing oscillators as well as related methods and devices are described. A timing oscillator may include a mechanical resonating structure with major elements and minor elements coupled to the major element. The timing oscillator can generate stable signals with low phase noise at very high frequencies which allows a timing oscillator to be used effectively in a number of devices including computers and mobile phones for time and data synchronization purposes. The signal generated by the timing oscillator can be tuned using a driver circuit and a compensation circuit.

1 . A timing oscillator comprising:
 a mechanical resonator configured to oscillate in response to receiving a drive signal;   a drive circuit coupled to the mechanical resonator via a first bidirectional link and configured to produce the drive signal and provide the drive signal to the mechanical resonator;   a compensation circuit distinct from and coupled to the drive circuit via a second bidirectional link and configured to apply a compensation signal to the drive circuit;   a synthesizer distinct from and coupled to the compensation circuit via a third bidirectional link and configured to receive a compensation circuit output signal, the synthesizer further distinct from and coupled to the drive circuit and configured to receive a drive circuit output signal from the drive circuit,   wherein the synthesizer is configured to produce a timing oscillator output signal having a frequency less than a frequency of the drive signal.   
     
     
         2 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein the compensation circuit includes a calibration table. 
     
     
         3 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein the synthesizer comprises a phase-locked loop (PLL). 
     
     
         4 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein the compensation circuit adjusts the timing oscillator output signal to account for thermal variations. 
     
     
         5 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein the compensation circuit adjusts the timing oscillator output signal to account for process variations. 
     
     
         6 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein the compensation circuit adjusts the timing oscillator output signal to account for jitter. 
     
     
         7 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein the timing oscillator output signal has a frequency of at least 100 MHz. 
     
     
         8 . The timing oscillator of  claim 7 , wherein the timing oscillator output signal has a frequency between 100 MHz and 1 GHz. 
     
     
         9 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein comprising a bank of mechanical resonators, wherein the mechanical resonator is a first mechanical resonator of the bank of mechanical resonators. 
     
     
         10 . The timing oscillator of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical resonator has a large dimension of less than approximately 100 microns. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 producing an initial drive signal using a drive circuit;   applying the initial drive signal to a mechanical resonator to cause oscillation of the mechanical resonator;   generating a mechanical resonator output signal from the mechanical resonator based on the oscillation of the mechanical resonator;   providing the mechanical resonator output signal to the drive circuit;   measuring a temperature of operation of the mechanical resonator;   providing a compensation signal to the drive circuit;   adjusting a frequency of the drive signal using the drive circuit in response to receipt of the compensation signal to produce an altered drive signal;   applying the altered drive signal to the mechanical resonator.