Generation of a stable reference clock frequency from a base clock frequency that may vary depending on source
US6070248A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 30, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/08
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A clock signal generator within an electronic device locally generates a reference clock signal having a reference frequency from a base clock signal having a base frequency. The base clock signal is from a base signal source that is external to the electronic device, and the base frequency of the base clock signal may vary depending on the base signal source. The present invention includes a plurality of frequency dividers which are coupled to the base signal source. Each of the frequency dividers outputs a divided clock signal having a respective frequency that is the base frequency divided by a respective factor. A multiplexer accepts the value of the base frequency of the base clock signal as stored within a storage device that is external to the electronic device. The multiplexer then selects as the reference clock signal a divided clock signal having a respective frequency that is closest to the reference frequency depending on the value of the base frequency. In this manner, a reference clock signal having a stable reference frequency is generated for the electronic device despite possible variations in the base frequency of the base clock signal. The present invention may b…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.