Oscillator, Frequency Source & Synthesizer Design

Designing low-power, low-phase-noise, compact frequency synthesizers is not an easy task. Even with the plethora of synthesizer ICs available these days, it still takes an experienced designer to successfully produce a high performance tunable synthesizer or fixed frequency oscillator source. Here are a few good resources to help you along, and just in case you decide to let a pro do it for you, a couple advertisements from companies who know how to get the job done.

A Brief Introduction to Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillator (VCXO) Design From Spread Spectrum Scene. Agilent EEsof EDA Applications: Oscillators Applications information. A History of the Quartz Crystal Industry in the USA By Virgil E. Bottom. Analysis and Design of Negative Impedance LC Oscillators Using Bipolar Transistors Abstract by Jing-Hong Conan Zhan, Kyle Maurice, Jon Duster, and Kevin T. Kornegay. A Negative Differential Resistance Oscillator with a Negistor From JLN Labs. A New Class of Oscillators Application note by Randy Rhea. A Novel Model on Phase Noise of Ring Oscillator Based on Last Passage Time Abstract by Bosco H. Leung. Basic Crystal Oscillator Design Considerations From Caliber Electronics, Inc. Basic PIC16/17 Oscillator Design Application note by Dan Matthews, Microchip. Basic PICmicro® Oscillator Design Application note from Microchip. Bill Hewlett's Prototype Resistance-Capacity Oscillator, 1938 Article from HP. The Blocking Oscillator Composed by J. B. Calvert. Crystal Oscillator Application note from Chrontel. Crystal Oscillator Basics and Crystal Selection for rfPICTM and PICmicro® Devices Application note Steven Bible, Microchip Technology Inc. Crystal Oscillator Circuit Design Application note from MX·COM, Inc. Design Guidelines for Quartz Crystal Oscillators Technical note from Statek. Early Communication Between Systems Designers and Crystal Oscillator Manufacturers Yields Optimum Price/Performance/Time-To-Market Benefit From MPD, by Roger Burns, Fox Electronics. External 32.768 kHz Oscillator Circuits Technical note from Rabbit Semiconductor. Fast Start-Up Oscillator (FOX) Boosts Superhet Performance Abstract by Maxim Integrated Products, Dallas Semiconductor. Filters and an Oscillator Using a New Solenoid Model By Randy Rhea. FlashFlex51 Microcontroller Oscillator Circuit Design Considerations Application note from Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. General Oscillator Information From epanorama.net. Hartley Oscillators By Ian C. Purdie, VK2TIP of www.electronics-tutorials.com. HGC Microwave Gaithersburg, MD 301-977-8484 The KY3840A is a wideband Frequency Synthesizer module featuring 1 Hz tuning resolution, very low spurious, and excellent phase noise.  The unit will operate from either its internal TCXO reference or an external source.  The KY3840A incorporates both RS-232 and 4-wire serial interfaces.  A Windows application is provided for RS-232 control using a PC.  Single +15V supply. ● 29 to 3840 MHz frequency range ● 1 Hz tuning resolution, 6 ms tuning time ● +10 dBm output power ● Selectable RS-232 or 4-Wire serial control ● Programmable reference trim ● ±1.0 ppm internal reference stability ● Selectable frequency external reference input ● 10 MHz reference output ● -70 dBc non-harmonic spurious ● Internal temperature monitor ● -30°C to +70°C operating temperature ● Phase noise: -110 dBc/Hz, 10 kHz Offset at 1 GHz   -130 dBc/Hz, 10 kHz Offset at 100 MHz Consulting / Design Services Available! "How to Design RF Circuits" - Oscillators By Andrew Dearn. Internal RC Oscillator Calibration Application note by Chris Valenti, Microchip Technology Inc. Low Distortion Crystal Oscillator Data from Wenzel Associates, Inc. Low-Noise Local Oscillator Design Techniques using a DLL-based Frequency Multiplier for Wireless Applications Dissertation by by George Chien. Low Noise Oscillator Design and Performance By Michael M. Driscoll, Northrop Grumman. Making Your Oscillator Work Application note by Brett Duane, Microchip Technology Inc. MC145151-2 and MC145152-2 PLL Frequency Synthesizers (CMOS) Technical data from Freescale Semiconductor. Negative Resistance Oscillators From the School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St. Andrews. Negative Resistance Oscillator with Homemade Tunnel Diode By Nyle Steiner, K7NS. OCXOs - Oven-Controlled Crystal Oscillators Data from Wenzel Associates, Inc. On-Chip Oscillator Design Application note from Zilog Integrated Circuits. Operational Amplifier Multivibrator Oscillator Circuit Circuit and design details for a simple multivibrator oscillator using a single op amp or operational amplifier. From Radio-electronics.com. Oscilent Irvine, CA 949-252-0522 Oscilent Corporation is a manufacturer of Frequency Control products offering design and production expertise in SAW Filters, Quartz Crystals, Crystal Oscillators, Crystal Filters, and Ceramic Resonators. Our product line includes extensive custom and standard capabilities in Temperature Compensated (TCXO) and Voltage Controlled (VCXO) Oscillators, in addition to full design and development capabilities in each focus product category. Oscilent serves OEM, Design, and Contract Manufacturing customers in all major world development and manufacturing zones. Frequency Components  » Ceramic Resonators   » Crystal Oscillators    » TCXO / VCXO     » Quartz Crystals      » Crystal Filters     » SAW Filters    » IF SAW Filters   » RF Filters  » Ceramic Filters ------------------------ Through-Hole & Surface Mount Packages Available RoHS / Lead Free ISO-9002 Certification ------------------------ Do you have a custom requirement?   Use our Custom SAW Filter Worksheet

Oscillator Basics By Ian C. Purdie, VK2TIP of www.electronics-tutorials.com. Oscillators Electrical Engineering Training Series by Integrated Publishing. Oscillators 101: What Every Engineer Should Know about Crystal Controlled Oscillators By Louis Bradshaw, Fox Electronics. Oscillators for Communications Applications: Basic Operation and Available Types By Bruce Clark, Fox Electronics. Oscillators for Microcontrollers Application note from Intel Corporation. PICmicro Microcontroller Oscillator Design Guide Application note from Microchip. Pierce Crystal Oscillator Design From Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, by Dr. James R. Lyall. Practical PICmicro® Oscillator Analysis and Design Application note by Ruan Lourens, Microchip Technology Inc. Quartz Crystal Resonators and Oscillators For Frequency Control and Timing Applications - a tutorial by John R. Vig, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. RC Phase Shift Oscillator Experiment from Visionics. Recent Developments in Standing-Wave Oscillator Design: Review Abstract by William Andress and Donhee Ham, Harvard University. Relaxation Oscillators The 555 Timer, Op-Amp Oscillators, the UJT, the PUT, the NE-2 and TTL oscillator packages, composed by J. B. Calvert. Resonant Frequency of a Colpitts Oscillator From Circuit Exchange International. Selecting an Oscillator for Telecom By Roger Burns, Fox Electronics. Simulation and Design of RF Oscillators Abstract by L. Eichinger, F. Sischka, G. Olbrich, and R. Weigel, Agilent Technologies, Germany. Sine Wave Oscillators The Wien bridge oscillator, Pierce crystal oscillator, Hartley, Colpitts and tuned-gate oscillators, composed by J. B. Calvert. Specifying Crystal Oscillators Data from Isotemp Research Inc. Specifying Quartz Crystals Application note from Dallas Semiconductor, Maxim Integrated Products. TCXOs - Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillators Data from Wenzel Associates, Inc. Timekeeping Accuracy, Automatic and Affordable Abstract by Maxim Integrated Products, Dallas Semiconductor.  Transistor Crystal Oscillator Circuit Circuit design information and data for the circuit of a transistor crystal oscillator. From Radio-electronics.com. Tuning VFOs With A PN-Junction From QRP Homebuilder. Tutorial-4: Oscillator Design From Electrical Engineering Department (ISY), Linköpings University. UART Crystal Oscillator Design Guide Application note by Reinhardt Wagner, EXAR Corporation. Understanding Basic Terms in Crystal Oscillator Specifications Article by Jim Northcutt, Fox Electronics. Understanding VCO Concepts From Mini-Circuits. Using The 16 MHz Crystal Oscillator Application note By Connie Cheung and Michael Kjar, Freescale Semiconductor. Using LC Oscillator Circuits With Philips Microcontrollers Application note from Phillips Semiconductors by William Houghton. Van der Pol Negative Resistance Oscillator By R. Victor Jones, Harvard University. VCXOs - Voltage-Controlled Crystal Oscillators Data from Wenzel Associates, Inc. Wien Bridge Oscillator From eCircuit Center. XOs - Non-Compensated Crystal Oscillators Data from Wenzel Associates, Inc.