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Design Notes
CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR EXAMPLE
This example demonstrates a nonlinear oscillator simulation. The resonant structure uses a crystal resonator, and the negative impedance generator uses the ZETEX BFS17 bipolar transistor in a Clapp configuration. This example demonstrates how the conditions required for oscillation are found using linear simulation. Then Harmonic Balance is used to determine the nonlinear characteristics of the oscillator. This example is specifically used to demonstrate that the oscillator capabilities in the AWR Design Environment work well, even when resonators have extremely high Q.
Overview
This project illustrates how to analyze a crystal oscillator using linear and nonlinear analysis. It is advisable to use linear analysis as a starting point. Nonlinear analysis can be used once the basic circuit design is understood and the approximate oscillator frequency has been determined. The first part of this example looks at the admittances of the two sections of the oscillator: the resonator, and the negative impedance generator. The oscillation frequency is predicted. The second part of the example verifies the predicted oscillation frequency, as well as calculates the output properties and phase noise of the oscillator.
Step 1: Oscillator Linear Analysis
The first step in analyzing an oscillator is to look at the negative resistance generator and the resonator network in order to determine conditions for oscillation. Since this circuit does not have an explicit feedback loop it is easy to look at each network separately. The two schematics of interest are "Feedback_network" and "Resonator". Both of them are used later in step 2 as subcircuits of "Crystal_Oscillator". The "Feedback_network" schematic is the negative impedance generator and the "Resonator" schematic is the resonator network which uses the crystal model. The approximate oscillation conditions occur when the sum of the susceptance for both networks is zero and the sum of the conductance is a negative value. The graph "Admittance" shows the individual contributions of the admittance and the graph "Total Admittance" shows the sum of these values, where the sum of the total admittances has been defined as the variable ytotal in the Output Equations. This graph shows that oscillation should occur slightly over 25 MHz.
A DC node voltage annotation has been added to the "Feedback Network" schematic to see that the circuit is biasing up correctly.
Step 2: Oscillator Nonlinear Analysis
Once the approximate oscillation conditions are known, the nonlinear oscillation conditions can be determined. The schematic "Crystal_Oscillator" uses hierarchy to hook together the two pieces of the circuit. At the node between the subcircuits, the OSCAPROBE element is attached to determine the nonlinear oscillation characteristics. The linear oscillation conditions help determine the Fstart and Fend parameters (see the help for more details) on this model. Also the OSCNOISE block is used to specify phase noise simulations settings. With these two elements, the graphs "Phase Noise", "Output Spectrum", and "Output Waveform" are possible. Notice that this oscillator is oscillating right at 25 MHz.
Crystal Model
The Crystal Model is from John Vigs Tutorial "QUARTZ CRYSTAL RESONATORS AND OSCILLATORS" pg 3-20.
The Crystal Model requires a specification of the resonant frequency Fs, motional capacitance C1, static capacitance C0, and motional resistance R1. The model will determine the motional inductance L1 from other parameters. This is a linear model and does not include the overtones that occur in crystal resonators.