US 10,771,012 Hybrid RC/crystal oscillator
3 defendants · 3 suits · updated October 6, 2026
Also cited as U.S. Patent No. 10,771,012 · US10771012B2 · US 10,771,012 B2 · 10771012 · the '012 patent
Crestone IP Management, LLC has filed 3 patent-infringement suits on US 10,771,012, "Hybrid RC/crystal oscillator" since July 16, 2026, 2 of them in the E.D. Tex., against 3 distinct defendants including Apple Inc., HP Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The patent was granted September 8, 2020 on a priority date of April 20, 2016. Its abstract opens: "An oscillator includes a tunable oscillator, a phase detector circuit communicatively coupled with an output of the tunable oscillator and an input to the oscillator, and an oscillator controller circuit configured to adjust frequency of the tunable…" The examiner cited 1 reference during prosecution.
- Assignee
- Crestone Ip Management LLC
- Priority date
- April 20, 2016
- Granted
- September 8, 2020
- Expires
- April 20, 2036
- Status
- Active
- Claims
- 20 (5 independent)
- Inventors
- Jason Sachs
- Full text
- Google Patents
The suits
3 cases · E.D. Tex. (2) · W.D. Tex. (1)
| Filed | Defendant | Plaintiff | Court | Docket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-16 | Apple Inc. | Crestone IP Management, LLC | W.D. Tex. | 1:26-cv-01976 |
| 2026-07-16 | HP Inc. | Crestone IP Management, LLC | E.D. Tex. | 2:26-cv-00586 |
| 2026-07-16 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Crestone IP Management, LLC | E.D. Tex. | 2:26-cv-00584 |
Docket links open the public record on CourtListener. Filing dates are the complaint's.
Independent claims
What is actually asserted, verbatim.
1. An oscillator, comprising: a tunable oscillator communicatively coupled with a first pin, the tunable oscillator configured to drive an output signal through the first pin to an external resonant element; a phase detector circuit communicatively coupled with an output of the tunable oscillator and an input to the oscillator; and an oscillator controller circuit configured to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator based upon phase detection between output of the tunable oscillator and an output of the external resonant element received at the input to the oscillator, wherein the oscillator controller circuit is configured to use the output of the external resonant element to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator during the entire operation of the tunable oscillator.
10. A microcontroller, comprising: a processor; one or more peripheral circuits; and an oscillator, comprising: a tunable oscillator communicatively coupled with a first pin, the tunable oscillator configured to drive an output signal through the first pin to an external resonant element and to one or more of the peripheral circuits; a phase detector circuit communicatively coupled with an output of the tunable oscillator and an input to the oscillator; and an oscillator controller circuit configured to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator based upon phase detection between output of the tunable oscillator and output of the external resonant element received at the input to the oscillator, wherein the oscillator controller circuit is configured to use the output of the external resonant element to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator during the entire operation of the tunable oscillator.
12. The phase detector circuit is configured to receive input to the oscillator through the first pin.
19. A system, comprising: a semiconductor device, comprising a first external pin and an internal oscillator; and an external resonant element coupled to the semiconductor device at least through the first external pin; wherein the internal oscillator comprises: a tunable oscillator communicatively coupled with the first pin and configured to provide an oscillation signal to a portion of the semiconductor device; a phase detector circuit communicatively coupled with an output of the tunable oscillator and an input to the internal oscillator; and an oscillator controller circuit configured to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator based upon phase detection between output of the tunable oscillator and output of the external resonant element received at the input to the internal oscillator, wherein the oscillator controller circuit is configured to use the output of the external resonant element to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator during the entire operation of the tunable oscillator.
20. A method, comprising: with a tunable oscillator communicatively coupled with a first pin of an oscillator, driving an output signal through the first pin to an external resonant element; detecting phases with a phase detector circuit communicatively coupled with an output of the tunable oscillator and an input to the internal oscillator; and with an oscillator controller circuit, adjusting frequency of the tunable oscillator based upon phase detection between output of the tunable oscillator and output of the external resonant element received at the input to the internal oscillator, including using the output of the external resonant element to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator md during the entire operation of the tunable oscillator.
Art before the examiner
6 references of record, 1 cited by the examiner.
Everything listed here was before the Office and is what a challenge must go beyond. Art the examiner never saw is where an invalidity search starts.
Examiner-cited
- US6674332B1 — Robust clock circuit architecture (Cypress Semiconductor, Corp.)
Applicant-cited and other (5)
- US3555446A — Frequency synthesizer
- EP0355466A2 — Integrated circuit with clock generator circuit
- US20070069829A1 — Reducing the settling time of a crystal oscillator
- EP2884658A1 — Oscillator circuit
- US20150188543A1 — Level shifter circuit
Classification
- H03B5/32primary — Generation of oscillations using amplifier with regenerative feedback from output to input with frequency-determining element being electromechanical resonator being a piezoelectric resonator
- H03L7/14primary — Details of the phase-locked loop for assuring constant frequency when supply or correction voltages fail
- H03B2201/02 — Varying the frequency of the oscillations by electronic means
- H03B5/20 — Generation of oscillations using amplifier with regenerative feedback from output to input with frequency-determining element comprising resistance and either capacitance or inductance, e.g. phase-shift oscillator
Family
- US10771012B2 — B2 (2020)
- US20200036329A1 — A1 (2020)
- US10439556B2 — B2 (2019)
- US20170310278A1 — A1 (2017)
- 8 foreign family members: CN108476022B, TW201739168A, WO2017184849A1, EP3446404A1, JP2019517161A, EP3446404B1, KR20180129760A, CN108476022A
Abstract
An oscillator includes a tunable oscillator, a phase detector circuit communicatively coupled with an output of the tunable oscillator and an input to the oscillator, and an oscillator controller circuit configured to adjust frequency of the tunable oscillator based upon phase detection between output of the tunable oscillator and output of an external resonant element received at the input to the oscillator.
Also asserted by Crestone IP Management, LLC
- US 7,599,231 — Adaptive regulator for idle state in a charge pump circuit of a memory device (3 defendants)
- US 8,261,072 — Method and system for secure external TPM password generation and use (3 defendants)
- US 9,228,534 — Variable contour nacelle assembly for a gas turbine engine (3 defendants)
- US 9,288,534 — Systems and methods for operating media devices (3 defendants)
Named in one of these suits? A prior-art search is commissioned once and serves every defendant who shares it. The examiner's own search record is free on the tools page, and your first preliminary search is free — one claim, back within 24 hours — so you know whether there is art the Office never saw before anyone pays for more. Flat fees: $2,500$899 for the independent claims, $5,000$1,500 for every asserted claim.
This page is assembled from public records — federal court dockets and the patent's own file — and is updated as the case list changes. It states what the record shows and is not an opinion on the validity or infringement of any claim. Patent data via Google Patents; docket data via CourtListener.