Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for monitoring frequency synthesizer locking time

US5982812A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1997
Grant dateNov 9, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L2027/0016
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A frequency synthesizer circuit comprises a controller, a synthesizer and a voltage controlled oscillator are used to generate an oscillating signal in response to external commands. The synthesizer provides a lock detect signal to the controller when the synthesizer detects that the oscillating signal has reached a desired frequency following application of a load signal. A first timer, a second timer, and a counter are adapted to receive the load signal and the lock detect signal. The first timer provides a first measurement corresponding to an amount of time between the load signal and a first receipt of the lock detect signal. The second timer provides a second measurement corresponding to an amount of time between the load signal and a final receipt of the lock detect signal. The counter provides a count value corresponding to a total number of times that the lock detect signal is received inclusive of the first receipt and the final receipt of the lock detect signal. A memory device is coupled to each of the first timer, second timer, and counter, which has a data storage portion for storing the first measurement, second measurement and count value.

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