Patent · US Expired

Multiple frequency phase-locked loop clock generator with stable transitions between frequencies

US5142247A · kind A · utility

153Cited by
2References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 6, 1991
Grant dateAug 25, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 6, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L7/18
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A phase-locked loop (PLL) clock generator circuit which is capable of changing the frequency of its outpt clock signal in a stable fashion. Selection of the frequency of the output clock signal is made by way of a selectable frequency divider coupled between the reference clock signal and an input of the PLL, with another frequency divider in the feedback loop of the PLL; each of these frequency dividers are selectable according to a signal on a select bus, translated by way of a ROM look-up table. The circuit also includes a multiplexer having a first input coupled to the PLL output, and a second input coupled to a stable clock signal, for example to the referenc clock signal or to the output of a fixed frequency PLL. The conrol input of the multiplexer is controlled by a state machine which monitors the select bus. Responsive to detection of a transition of the select bus, indicating a new frequency, the state machine issues a pulse to the control input of the multiplexer to cause it to select the stable clock signal for sufficient time to allow the PLL to acquire and lock onto the new frequency, after which the multiplexer again selects the PLL output as the output clock signal.…

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