Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for highly accurate higher frequency signal generation and related level gauge

US8659472B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
60References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 2009
Grant dateFeb 25, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 20, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L2207/12
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus includes a stable local oscillator, which includes a first control loop. The first control loop includes a first voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a first output signal and a first phase-locked loop. The apparatus also includes a frequency up-converter configured to increase a frequency of the first output signal. The apparatus further includes a second control loop configured to receive the up-converted first output signal. The second control loop includes a second voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a second output signal and a second phase-locked loop. The second control loop may further include a mixer having a first input coupled to the frequency up-converter, a second input coupled to the second voltage-controlled oscillator, and an output coupled to the second phase-locked loop. A reference frequency source may be configured to generate a signal identifying a reference frequency and to provide that signal to the phase-locked loops.

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