Phase locked loop circuitry for synthesizing high-frequency signals and associated method
US6549765B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03L2207/06
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for synthesizing high-frequency signals, such as wireless communication signals, includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer with a variable capacitance voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that has a discretely variable capacitance in conjunction with a continuously variable capacitance. The discretely variable capacitance may provide coarse tuning adjustment of the variable capacitance to compensate for capacitor and inductor tolerances and to adjust the output frequency to be near the desired frequency output. The continuously variable capacitance may provide a fine tuning adjustment of the variable capacitance to focus the output frequency to match precisely the desired frequency output. During fine tuning adjustment, the PLL may be controlled by a plurality of analog control signals. The analog control signals may be derived by first generating a plurality of phase shifted signals from a divided version of the VCO output clock. Second, the phase differences between the plurality of phase shifted signals and a divided version of a reference clock may be detected and then converted to the analog control signals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.