Injection-Locked Oscillator Using Variable Load Impedance Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Injection-locked oscillators face challenges with high electrical consumption and instability under significant temperature variations, making them unsuitable for low-power applications and environments with temperature fluctuations.

Innovation Solution

An injection-locked oscillator design that achieves locking by periodically modifying the load impedance rather than injecting a current, reducing power consumption and making the locking frequency range independent of temperature and supply voltage variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current injection is used to lock the oscillator, then the oscillator can be locked to the synchronization frequency, but the electrical consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking capabilityVSAvoidelectrical consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical current injection mechanism with a mechanical switching mechanism that periodically connects and disconnects the oscillator circuit from the signal source. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for continuous current injection, thereby reducing electrical consumption while maintaining the locking capability through periodic synchronization pulses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic switching of the oscillator circuit connection to the signal source, rather than continuous current injection. By using periodic action with appropriate timing, the oscillator is locked to the synchronization frequency only when needed, reducing average electrical consumption while maintaining reliable locking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of operation

If current injection is used to lock the oscillator, then the oscillator frequency can be controlled, but the locking frequency range becomes dependent on temperature and supply voltage variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency controlVSAvoidlocking frequency range stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the temperature-sensitive current injection mechanism with a mechanical switching system that connects the oscillator to the signal source. This mechanical substitution eliminates the dependence on temperature and supply voltage variations, as the switching action is purely mechanical and does not rely on electrical parameters that fluctuate with environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter used for locking from electrical current injection to mechanical switching connection. This parameter change transforms the locking mechanism from one that is sensitive to temperature and voltage variations to one that is stable across different environmental conditions, while maintaining frequency control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If current injection is used to lock the oscillator, then the phase shift can be controlled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase shift controlVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex electrical current injection circuitry with a simpler mechanical switching mechanism. This substitution reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for complex current sources, modulation circuits, and associated control electronics, while maintaining the ability to control phase shift through the timing of the mechanical switching action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3667922B1Oscillator locked by injection with variable load impedance

Publication Date: 2021.06.23 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B

AI summary

Injection-locked oscillator (100) comprising: - a control input receiving a control signal, the value of the oscillator's natural frequency being a function of the amplitude of the control signal; - a synchronization input receiving a periodic synchronization signal, the oscillator delivering an output signal of frequency equal to that of the synchronization signal and such that a phase shift between the output signal and the synchronization signal is a function of a difference between the oscillator's natural frequency and the frequency of the synchronization signal; - a first load impedance (108) on which a load signal is applied; - a second load impedance (114); - a first coupling component (116) periodically coupling, at the synchronization frequency, the second load impedance to the first load impedance.