MUTIPHASE ELECTRONIC OSCILLATOR AND METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve noise characteristics and power consumption characteristics of a multiphase electronic oscillator so as to cause an oscillation direction to be reversible during an operation. SOLUTION: The multiphase oscillator has a plurality of delay stages connected in series in the form of a loop with a plurality of nodes. The loop is folded so as to provide two concentric delay stages having the same number of assigned nodes. A second plurality of negative resistance elements are prepared, and each element has a first output connected to a node of a first concentric ring and a second output connected to a node of a second concentric ring. Each of such outputs is switched between first and second voltage levels, and outputs a signal to which a negative resistance is connected during at least a portion of transition between the voltage levels. The output of the element is switched to the opposite voltage level. With this arrangement, a high-voltage pulse is propagated through the delay stage loop, and a low-voltage pulse is propagated later. A circuit for controlling the propagation direction of the pulse is also disclosed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT