Patent · US Expired

Methods and apparatus for generating multiple clocks using feedback interpolation

US7323916B1 · kind B1 · utility

86Cited by
10References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 2005
Grant dateJan 29, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K2005/00052
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A frequency synthesis circuit includes a phase locked loop and an interpolator circuit. The phase locked loop circuit receives a reference clock and a feedback clock and generates an output clock with a frequency based on the reference clock and the feedback clock. An interpolator circuit is coupled in the feedback path of the phase locked loop circuit. An interpolator control circuit generates an interpolator control word that specifies a variable time delay for the interpolator circuit. The interpolator circuit receives the output clock, and generates the feedback clock by introducing a variable time delay in the output clock in accordance with the interpolator control word. The time variable delay varies the frequency of the output circuit. Embodiments for frequency synthesis circuits that include a spread spectrum frequency clock generator, frequency modulators, and a fixed frequency clock generator circuit are disclosed.

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