Programmable/Stoppable Oscillator Based on Self-Timed Rings

Abstract

In this paper a Programmable/Stoppable oscillator is designed based on a Self-Timed Ring. A new model is proposed to calculate the oscillation frequency of the ring. Different solutions for introducing programmability to self timed rings are designed and implemented. Using different techniques, the implemented oscillator achieves a frequency range of 3 GHz down to 400 MHz with a smallest step of 100 MHz.