Wireless-Coupled Oscillator Systems With an Injection-Locking Signal

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques 2019-02, Vol.67 (2), p.642-658
• Main Authors: Ponton, Mabel, Herrera, Amparo, Suarez, Almudena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bifurcations; Couplings; Injection locking; Locking; Noise reduction; Phase noise; stability; Stability analysis; Synchronism; Synchronization; Topology; Wireless sensor networks; wireless-coupled oscillators
• ISSN: 0018-9480; 1557-9670
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2018.2884412

A detailed analysis of wireless-coupled oscillator systems under the effect of an injection-locking signal is presented. The injection source of high spectral purity is introduced at a single node and enables a reduction of the phase-noise spectral density. Under this injection source, the behavior of the coupled system is qualitatively different from the one obtained in free-running conditions. Two cases are considered: bilateral synchronization, in which an independent source is connected to a particular system oscillator, coupled to the other oscillator elements, and unilateral synchronization, in which one of these elements is replaced by an independent source that cannot be influenced by the rest. The two cases are illustrated through the analysis of a wireless-coupled system with a star topology, such that the injection signal is introduced at the central node. The investigation involves an insightful analytical calculation of the coexisting steady-state solutions, as well as a determination of their stability and bifurcation properties and phase noise. The injection signal stabilizes the system in a large and continuous distance interval, enabling a more robust operation than in autonomous (noninjected) conditions. A coupled system operating at 2.45 GHz has been manufactured and experimentally characterized, obtaining a very good agreement between simulations and measurements.