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AP242401 04.99
Ceramic Resonator Oscillators of the
C500 / C166 Microcontroller Family
5
Oscillator Start-up Time
Based on small electrical system noise or thermic noise caused by resistors, the oscillation starts
with a very small amplitude. Due to the amplification of the oscillator-inverter, the oscillation
amplitude increases and reaches its maximum after a certain time period t
st_up
(start-up time).
Typical values of the start-up time for a ceramic resonator are within the range of
0.01 msec
≤
t
st_up
≤
0.5 msec. Theoretically the oscillator-inverter performs a phase shift of 180°,
and the external circuitry performs a phase shift of 180° to fulfill the oscillation condition of an
oscillator. A total phase shift of 360° is necessary.
In reality, the phase shift of the oscillator-inverter depends on the oscillator frequency and is
approximately in the range of 100° to 210°. It is necessary to compose the external components in
a way that a total phase shift of 360° is performed. This can be achieved by a variation of the
external components.
Note: The external hardware reset signal has to be active for a longer time period than the oscillator
start-up time in order to prevent undefined effects.
Note: Because of different gain in some oscillator-inverters during reset active and reset inactive it
is recommended to consider the oscillation in both phases of the reset signal. Further the
application system activity starting after reset is inactive can have an influence on the
oscillator.
5.1
Definition of the Oscillator Start-up Time t
st_up
The definition of the oscillator start-up time is not a well defined value in literature. Generally it
depends on the power supply rise time (dV
DD
/dt) at power on, on the electrical system noise, and
on the oscillation amplitude.
For this Application Note the oscillator start-up time t
st_up
is defined from V
DD
/2 to 0.9*V
OSC_max
of
the stable oscillation, see figure below.
Figure 3
Oscillator Start-up Time
V
DD
t
st_up
Supply Voltage at
XTAL2 Output
t
V
DD
/2
0.9*V
OSC_max
V
OSC_max
Signal at
XTAL2 Output