VCO Bias Startup Circuit for Fast Steady-State Oscillation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems are power inefficient, particularly when idle, leading to reduced battery life in portable devices and potential data loss, communication delays, and downtime, as they consume power continuously even when not transmitting or receiving signals.
Innovation Solution
A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) apparatus with a boost bias circuit and quiescent bias circuit is used to generate oscillating signals, reducing the time to reach a steady-state condition, especially in low duty cycle pulse modulation applications, by providing an initial higher current for rapid startup and a lower current for sustained operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous power is supplied to transmitters and receivers, then they can maintain ready state for immediate communication, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic power cycling of the transmitter and receiver components, turning them on only when communication is needed and turning them off during idle periods. This periodic operation allows the system to maintain communication capability while dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If transmitter and receiver are powered on only during pulse duration, then power consumption decreases, but the oscillating signal may not reach steady-state condition within the pulse width
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging capacitor circuits before the actual communication pulse arrives. This pre-charging process prepares the oscillating circuits to reach steady-state condition quickly during the pulse duration, ensuring signal stability is achieved within the limited pulse width while maintaining low power consumption during idle periods.
3Use of energy by moving object
If pulse width is reduced for low duty cycle operation, then power consumption decreases, but the time required for oscillating signal to reach steady-state condition becomes a larger portion of the pulse width
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action through pre-charging circuits that prepare the oscillating components before the communication pulse begins. This pre-preparation significantly reduces the time needed for the oscillating signal to reach steady-state condition during the actual pulse, making low duty cycle operation viable even with very narrow pulse widths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters of the oscillating circuits by adjusting capacitance and resistance values to optimize the startup time constant. By carefully selecting component values, the circuits are designed to reach steady-state condition as quickly as possible during the pulse duration, minimizing the proportion of time lost to stabilization while maintaining low power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for generating an oscillating signal that includes a circuit to accelerate the time in which an oscillating signal reaches a defined steady-state condition from a cold start. The apparatus includes an oscillating circuit to generate an oscillating signal; a first circuit to supply a first current to the oscillating circuit; and a second circuit to supply a second current to the oscillating circuit, wherein the first and second currents are adapted to reduce the time duration for the oscillating signal to reach a defined steady-state condition. The apparatus may be useful in communication systems that use low duty cycle pulse modulation to establish one or more communications channels, whereby the apparatus begins generating an oscillating signal at approximately the beginning of the pulse and terminates the oscillating signal at approximately the end of the pulse.