Dual-modulus prescaler
US6385276B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 12, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K23/667
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dual-modulus digital prescaler circuit having an extended period in which responses to a divider control indicating a possible modulus change must be made, such extended period permitting higher speed operation while suffering no penalty in manufacturing cost or increased power use. In embodiments comprising a dual modulus divider, a fixed-modulus divider and interconnected control logic, dual modulus divider state transitions giving rise to incrementing of fixed-modulus divider states are selected to be independent of short-term instabilities in divider control inputs. Identified critical state transitions associated with output signals from the dual modulus divider are constrained to occur at times prior to periods of insensitivity to stability of the dual-modulus control signal. Thus, timing of such output signals is determined so that there will be following time interval sufficient to provide desired stability of the modulus control signal for the next divide cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.