Fast startup resonant element oscillator

A startup circuit and method is provided for quickly starting up a resonator based oscillator. Tunable oscillator provides an impetus signal to oscillator through capacitor . The impetus signal has a frequency that is an estimate of the resonant frequency of resonator . The circuit measures the frequency of oscillator and the frequency of tunable oscillator . The circuit then adjusts the frequency of tunable oscillator such that the frequency of the tunable oscillator is substantially equal to the resonant frequency of the resonator and stores a data state necessary for the tunable oscillator to generate a signal with this target frequency in the future. During an ensuing startup cycle the stored data state causes the impetus signal delivered by tunable oscillator to be substantially equal to the target frequency of oscillator which improves startup performance.