Patent ID: 7339439

Claim:
A free-running oscillating system externally synchronized in phase to a reference oscillation by multiple impulses, the oscillating system comprising: a plurality N of individual stages coupled together so as to produce an oscillating signal at a target frequency, at least a plurality of the stages coupled to receive in parallel a set of realignment impulses effective to cause a phase shift of the oscillating signal, the realignment impulses being applied to stages separated by equal phase distribution; wherein each of the stages presents a periodic impulse sensitivity response which, in a Fourier domain, has a magnitude of a DC coefficient that is at least twice that of an N th harmonic coefficient, and wherein the plurality of stages, for which the realignment impulses are applied in parallel with equal phase distribution, collectively present a multiphase impulse sensitivity response which, in a Fourier domain, has suppressed 1 st through (N−1) st harmonic coefficients, is by construction strictly of one sign and substantially constant over a full phase period.