Multiphase output oscillator

摘要

In a multiphase output oscillator a number of serially coupled oscillator circuits is organized in a loop. Each particular oscillator circuit is coupled to its serial successor in the loop, to provide adjustment of the phase of an oscillation signal of the successor oscillator circuit dependent upon a difference between the phase of the oscillation signal in the successor and the phase of an oscillation signal in the particular oscillator circuit. None of the oscillator circuits will oscillate freely: as each oscillator will adjust its successor all the way around the loop. Indirectly, each oscillator circuit thus influences all of the other oscillator circuits and ultimately over itself. The multiphase output oscillator as a whole will oscillate in a collective mode of oscillation wherein all oscillator circuits oscillate at the same frequency. Successive oscillator circuits along the loop will oscillate at respective fractions of the full oscillation period delayed from each other. These fractions will add up to an integer multiple of periods. The frequency of oscillation is substantially independent of the fractions and may be nearly the maximum attainable frequency of the individual oscillator circuits.