Patent · US Expired

Step-down clock control and method for improving convergence for a digitally controlled self-calibrating VCO

US6496556B1 · kind B1 · utility

15Cited by
1References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 15, 2002
Grant dateDec 17, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 15, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L7/0891
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A PLL system (200) includes a clock sequence generator (190). Clock sequence generator (190) provides a clock that steps down from a fast frequency through several steps to a frequency of zero. This step-down non-linear digression of frequencies causes a counter (110) driving a tank circuit of a self-calibrating VCO to achieve lock at an extremely rapid rate. The PFD (150) generates an analog signal based on the phase and frequency relationship of the reference and feedback clock signals. The analog signal is compared against an upper and lower reference voltage in a threshold detect circuit (120) and the signals UP and DOWN are supplied to the counter (110). The counter (110) provides a count value that controls the resonant frequency generated by the tank circuit. The convergence speed of the PLL system (200) is accelerated by the effects of the step-down clock provided by the clock sequence generator (190).

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