Crystal Oscillator Frequency Control for Faster Resonance Startup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Crystal oscillators have a long natural en-oscillation cycle, resulting in low en-oscillation speed, as they typically require over 10,000 cycles to reach resonance, limiting their efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A crystal oscillator and method that includes a first oscillator circuit and a frequency control circuit to determine and adjust the oscillation frequency based on the features of the electrical signal flowing through the crystal, allowing for quicker alignment with the resonant frequency, thereby shortening the en-oscillation cycle and increasing speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the crystal oscillator operates with natural en-oscillation, then the oscillation frequency stabilizes at the resonant frequency, but the en-oscillation cycle becomes excessively long (over 10,000 cycles)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoscillation frequency stabilityVSAvoiden-oscillation cycle duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency control circuit performs preliminary frequency adjustment before the crystal oscillator enters natural en-oscillation. By detecting the electrical signal features and adjusting the oscillation frequency in advance to approach the resonant frequency, the system reduces the number of cycles needed for stabilization from over 10,000 to a much shorter duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The frequency control circuit continuously detects the electrical signal flowing through the crystal and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the oscillation frequency. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time frequency optimization, allowing the system to quickly converge to the resonant frequency while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the oscillation frequency is adjusted to match the resonant frequency quickly, then the en-oscillation speed increases, but additional circuit complexity is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveen-oscillation speedVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency control circuit performs multiple functions using a unified structure: it detects electrical signal features, determines frequency control amounts, and adjusts the oscillation frequency. This multi-functional design achieves fast en-oscillation speed while minimizing the increase in device complexity by avoiding separate dedicated circuits for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The frequency control circuit automatically detects the crystal's electrical signal characteristics and self-adjusts the oscillation frequency without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. This self-service capability enables rapid frequency alignment while keeping the overall system simple and autonomous.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables the crystal oscillator to quickly en-oscillate by adjusting the oscillation frequency to match the resonant frequency, significantly reducing the natural en-oscillation cycle and enhancing the en-oscillation speed.

Implementation Method 1

Crystal oscillators are also called as quartz resonators, which are fabricated from quartz crystal sheets having a piezoelectric effect. Such quartz crystal sheets may generate mechanical vibrations under the effect of an externally applied alternative electric field.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

When a frequency of the alternative electrical field is the same as an inherited frequency of the quartz crystal, the vibrations are severe, which is a reflection of a crystal resonance feature.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystal resonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3567719B1Crystal oscillator, and oscillation frequency adjustment method
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP3567719B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3567719B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3567719B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present application provide a crystal oscillator and a method for adjusting an oscillation frequency. The crystal oscillator includes: a first oscillator circuit, a frequency control circuit and a crystal; where the first oscillator circuit is configured to output a first drive signal having a first oscillation frequency to drive the crystal, and the frequency control circuit is configured to determine a frequency control amount according to a feature of an electrical signal flowing through the crystal under driving of the first drive signal, and adjust the first oscillation frequency according to the frequency control amount. When the technical solutions are applied to scenarios where the crystal oscillator is enabled to quickly en-oscillate, a natural en-oscillation cycle of the crystal oscillator may be shortened, and the en-oscillation speed is increased.