Injection-Locked Oscillator with Variable Strength for Clean Clock Transitions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection-locked oscillators (ILOs) face challenges in transitioning rapidly between power modes, leading to unpredictable transients and latency issues, especially when powering up or down, which is problematic for mobile devices requiring efficient power management.
Innovation Solution
A variable injection-strength ILO that adjusts its operation based on power mode information, switching between strong and weak injection modes to synchronize clock signals with input clock frequency changes, allowing for seamless transitions and reduced jitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ILO is powered up rapidly to meet power mode transition requirements, then power management efficiency is improved, but unpredictable transients and latency are introduced in the output clock signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the injection strength adjustable rather than fixed. The injection strength controller dynamically adapts the injection strength based on operating conditions, allowing the ILO to achieve fast startup when needed while maintaining stable operation during normal operation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to have both rapid response capability and signal stability through dynamic parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of injection strength to resolve the contradiction. By varying the injection strength according to different operational states (startup vs. steady-state), the system can achieve fast power mode transitions when high injection strength is applied, and maintain clean clock signals when optimized injection strength is used. This parameter adjustment eliminates unpredictable transients while preserving rapid transition capability.
2Device complexity
If the ILO uses fixed injection strength, then the circuit complexity is reduced, but the ability to rapidly transition between power modes is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed injection strength design to a dynamic adjustable injection strength design. The injection strength controller enables the system to adapt to different power mode requirements, achieving rapid transitions when needed. The added complexity is minimal and justified by the significant improvement in power mode transition capability and overall system performance.
3Reliability
If the ILO operates with strong injection strength continuously, then locking range is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using strong injection strength only during specific periods (startup and power mode transitions) when it is most needed for establishing and maintaining lock. During normal steady-state operation, the injection strength is reduced to minimize power consumption. This time-varying approach ensures reliable locking when required while optimizing power efficiency during sustained operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection strength parameter is changed based on operational requirements. The system uses high injection strength during startup and transition phases to ensure reliable locking, then reduces the injection strength during steady-state operation to lower power consumption. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining wide locking range and minimizing power usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A variable injection-strength injection-locked oscillator (ILO) is described. The variable injection-strength ILO can output an output clock signal based on an input clock signal. The variable injection-strength ILO can pause, restart, slow down, or speed up the output clock signal synchronously with respect to the input clock signal in response to receiving power mode information. Specifically, the variable injection-strength ILO can be operated under relatively strong injection when the input clock signal is paused, restarted, slowed down, or sped up.