Patent · US Active

Phase locked loop with sub-harmonic locking prevention functionality

US9559707B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
7References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 23, 2014
Grant dateJan 31, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 23, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L2207/14
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments relate to type-I PLLs that do not lock at a sub-harmonic frequency of a reference clock signal by controlling timing of charging or discharging of one or more capacitors in the PLLs. A phase frequency detector (PFD) of a type-I PLL can prevent sub-harmonic locking by generating a clear output signal to cause a sampling capacitor of PLL's loop filter to discharge only during a time period when the sampling capacitor is not being charged. For example, the PFD can include a gating element to control the time during which the clear output signal is generated. By ensuring that the sampling capacitor is not discharged during a time period while it is being charged, the PLL's voltage-controlled oscillator is controlled to oscillate at an intended frequency rather than at a sub-harmonic of the intended frequency.

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