Crystal Oscillator Startup Control With Adaptive Noise Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The startup time of crystal oscillators is inefficient due to varying crystal resistance, leading to increased power consumption and longer startup times, especially in power-limited environments, as existing methods either use excessive energy or fail to account for individual crystal characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A learning block is introduced to control noise injection during startup, comprising a counter, buffer, and determinator to determine stabilization, with an adjustment block for fine-tuning based on crystal characteristics, and a negative capacitance block to cancel shunt resistance, optimizing startup time and power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If high energy is injected at startup to reduce startup time, then startup time is reduced, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the negative resistance value adjustable and time-dependent. The circuit transitions from a high negative resistance state during startup (to reduce startup time) to a low negative resistance state in steady-state operation (to minimize power consumption). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between fast startup and low power consumption by adapting the circuit parameters to different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of negative resistance value based on operational state. During startup, a higher negative resistance value is used to provide sufficient gain for oscillation buildup. Once oscillation is established, the negative resistance value is reduced to minimize power consumption. This parameter change strategy directly addresses the trade-off between startup speed and power efficiency.
2Reliability
If power is decreased to achieve optimal noise performance in steady state, then noise performance improves, but startup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic adjustment of the negative resistance value to satisfy both noise performance and startup time requirements. During startup, the higher negative resistance provides robust oscillation startup. In steady-state, the reduced negative resistance minimizes power consumption and optimizes noise performance. This time-dependent parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between fast startup and optimal noise performance.
3Productivity
If individualized control of noise injection is implemented, then startup efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using the crystal oscillator's own output signal to control the noise injection mechanism. The oscillation detector monitors the oscillator output and automatically controls the noise injection timing and duration. This self-regulating approach improves startup efficiency without requiring complex external control circuits, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
This approach allows for individualized control of noise injection, reducing startup time and power consumption by accounting for unique crystal characteristics, thereby improving efficiency and stability while minimizing energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
Their piezoelectric properties allow them to be a frequency—determining element in electronic circuits. A crystal oscillator, particularly one made of quartz crystal, works by being distorted by an electric field when voltage is applied to an electrode near or on the crystal.
Implementation Method 2
an inverter coupled in parallel with the crystal oscillator... small-signal envelope expansion due to negative resistance
Implementation Method 3
capacitors coupled to the input and output of the inverter and to ground
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments can provide individualized controlling of noise injection during startup of a crystal oscillator. In some embodiments, a simple learning block can be placed in parallel to a crystal oscillator circuit to control noise injection during the startup of the crystal oscillator. The learning block can be configured to control the noise injection during the startup of the crystal oscillator by determining whether the crystal oscillator has been stabilized. In some implementations, an adjustment block may be employed to adjust the count determined by the learning block based on one or more characteristics of the crystal oscillator during a startup of the crystal oscillator. In some embodiments, a simple block that creates a negative capacitance can be configured in parallel to the crystal oscillator.