Patent ID: 8154307
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. An electronic circuit comprising: a first oscillating and/or resonant device configured to produce a first signal at a first oscillation frequency; a second oscillating and/or resonant device configured to produce a second signal at a second oscillation frequency, wherein one of the first and second signals is used as a reference measurement; and a measuring device configured to measure a phase noise of one of the first and second devices, said measuring device being integrated on an integrated circuit chip on which said one of the first and second devices whose phase noise is to be measured is also integrated, wherein the measuring device comprises: an input path receiving said first signal; an output path delivering an output signal; a splitter circuit to split said first signal into two identical signals; a first measuring pathway and a second measuring pathway in parallel, each pathway having an input connected to receive the identical signal from an output of the splitter circuit, and each pathway having an output connected to an input of a mixer circuit, the first measuring pathway including in series connection the second oscillating and/or resonant device, and the second measuring pathway comprising a phase-shifter circuit such that said output from the second measuring pathway to the mixer circuit is phase-shifted relative to said output from the first measuring pathway to the mixer circuit; and a low-noise amplifier coupled to an output of the mixer circuit; wherein the second measuring pathway comprises a third oscillating and/or resonant device in a series connection with the phase-shifter circuit.