Patent ID: 7545225
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: H03B

Abstract:
1. An oscillator comprising: one or more segments, each segment being a length of two-conductor transmission line having a controlled impedance; an odd number of connection means for connecting the lengths of the segments together to form a closed loop of segments and connection means, wherein each connection means is energy continuous and the oscillator has a frequency determined by two transits of a wave traveling about the closed loop; a plurality of current switches, each having a pair of nodes connected to the conductors of the segments and another node connected to a first reference voltage, and each current switch having a state and sinking current from one or the other of the conductors of the closed loop to the first reference voltage depending on the state of the switch; and at least one conductive element, connected between a conductor of one of the segments and a second reference voltage to provide a current path between the second reference voltage and the conductor of the signal path to conduct current to or from the loop, said conductive element(s) having an impedance at the frequency of the oscillator that is higher than the impedance of the transmission line; wherein the plurality of current switches induces and maintains the traveling wave on the loop, the wave including a voltage wave with ont of two polarities, and wherein each of the connection means is operative to reverse the polarity of the voltage wave, such that any position on a segment, there is an oscillating waveform between the conductors.