Patent · US Expired

PLL Fast frequency synthesizer with memories for coarse tuning and loop gain correction

US4568888A · kind A · utility

71Cited by
6References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 8, 1983
Grant dateFeb 4, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 8, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L2207/05
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer apparatus for providing an output signal whose frequency jumps from one value to another, at regular intervals of time. Coarse tuning circuitry couples a prescribed signal to the apparatus' voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), to drive the VCO immediately to the correct frequency each time a new frequency is selected, thereby substantially reducing the apparatus' settling time. In addition, adaptive coarse tuning circuitry continuously updates the values of stored coarse tuning information for each possible frequency, to correct for any drifts in the VCO's voltage/frequency characteristic. A VCO gain normalizer circuit amplifies the error signal coupled to the VCO by an amount that varies with the selected frequency, so as to correct for any non-uniformities in the apparatus' various elements, particularly the VCO, and to thereby provide a uniform loop gain.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.