Method and apparatus for fractional RF signal synthesis
US7084676B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2004 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K5/1565
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a method to improve the frequency resolution and phase noise of a synthesized RF signal. It also results in the superior characteristics of instantaneous frequency changeability, wide frequency setting ability, and fully digital ASIC implementation ability. The synthesized RF signal is generated from a higher reference frequency using a variable pulse stretching technique. The amount of the pulse stretch in each cycle is controlled by a phase increment value and is implemented using programmable delay lines. Pulse stretching is extended beyond one cycle by pulse swallowing, allowing the generation of an RF signal from DC up to the input reference clock signal frequency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.