An Nth-harmonic oscillator using an N-push coupled oscillator array with voltage-clamping circuits

Abstract

The push-push oscillator is commonly used for implementing a second-harmonic oscillator. By combining two out-of-phase oscillators, their fundamental frequency components are canceled and the second-harmonic components are enhanced. This structure can be extended to triple-push, quadruple-push and hence N-push harmonic oscillators. From the oscillator injection-locking phenomenon, the relative phase between coupled oscillators can be controlled by the oscillator free-running frequency. As the output phase-shifted version signals are properly shaped and combined, the desired harmonic components are constructively added and lower-order harmonic components are canceled. This structure can be viewed as the general case of push-push oscillators. Since the output power is combined in a passive circuit, it does not suffer from the power limit of the output device in the cascade structure. The desired harmonic component can be selected by tuning the relative phase of the coupled oscillators and the conductive angle of the voltage-clamping circuit. Second-harmonic, third-harmonic and fourth-harmonic oscillators are designed and verified experimentally.