Abstract: A technique for establishing a tuning signal window for a multi-band VCO involves setting the tuning signal window to an initial size, preferably a relatively small size, and determining whether the VCO is churning. When the VCO is determined to be churning, the tuning signal window is expanded until the VCO stops churning. In an embodiment, the tuning signal window is expanded incrementally until the tuning signal window is large enough to include a solution, where a solution is defined as an operating point along a frequency band that satisfies both the setpoint frequency and tuning window signal requirements. The tuning signal window can be set at an offset relative to the tuning signal zero to compensate for shifts in the frequency bands that may result from changes in operating conditions.

Abstract: A pair of motorcycle tires includes front and rear tires. The front tire's tread band includes at least one circumferential groove and a plurality of transverse grooves. The at least one circumferential groove extends at an equatorial plane of the front tire within a central zone of the tread band. The transverse grooves include axially inner ends lying within the central zone that alternately extend from the central zone toward axially opposite shoulder zones. At least some of the transverse grooves are connected to the at least one circumferential groove. The rear tire's tread band includes an area defining a substantially null sea/land ratio within a central zone of the tread band. The central zone of the rear tire's tread band has a width greater than or equal to about 5% and less than or equal to about 30% of an axial development of the rear tire's tread band.

Abstract: A linear PLL includes a VCO with first and second tuning elements. The first tuning element is adjusted in proportion to the phase error between an input signal and a VCO signal and the second tuning element is adjusted by an integral function of the phase error. By configuring the VCO with separate tuning elements that are separately adjusted in proportion to the phase error and by an integral function of the phase error, the 3 dB bandwidth frequency of the linear PLL depends primarily on the phase detector gain and the VCO gain that is contributed from the proportional adjustment. A linear PLL with separate proportional and integral tuning elements can be designed to exhibit a relatively constant gain over a relatively large frequency range.

Abstract: An offset related to a feedback system for a VCO is quantified and then a parameter of the feedback system is adjusted in response to the quantified offset to correct for the offset. Correcting for offset in a feedback system can improve the performance of a PLL by reducing phase drift between the input signal and the VCO signal. The reduced phase drift can have benefits such as, for example, reduced bit errors and/or improved phase tracking accuracy.

Abstract: The frequency changes in a bang-bang PLL that are generated using a digital phase detector's up/down signal are initially set to produce a faster pull-in rate and then reduced to produce a slower pull-in rate. The faster pull-in involves relatively large frequency changes and the slower pull-in rate involves smaller frequency changes. The changes in frequency of a bang-bang PLL can be implemented using a step size controller that includes timing control logic and step size logic. The function of the timing control logic is to control the timing of step size changes. The function of the step size logic is to set the step size of the frequency changes that are made by the VCO in response to the pd_up/down signal that is delivered directly to the VCO from the digital phase detector.

Abstract: Systems and methods of characterizing eye diagrams are described. In one aspect, at measurement times across a measurement interval spanning at least one unit interval of the input signal, corresponding levels of the input signal are classified into groups based on at least one threshold. An eye diagram characteristic width is derived based on a distribution across the measurement interval of the levels in one of the groups.

Abstract: A technique for correcting for DC offset in a phase locked loop involves generating digital phase information in response to an input signal and then generating an offset correction signal in response to the digital phase information. The digital phase information may include transition samples that are integrated to generate the offset correction signal. Integrating the transition samples helps to compensate for the effects of phase noise, especially phase noise that is contributed by the input signal and/or the recovered clock signal.

Abstract: The frequency changes in a bang-bang PLL that are generated using a digital phase detector's up/down signal are initially set to produce a faster pull-in rate and then reduced to produce a slower pull-in rate. The faster pull-in involves relatively large frequency changes and the slower pull-in rate involves smaller frequency changes. The changes in frequency of a bang-bang PLL can be implemented using a step size controller that includes timing control logic and step size logic. The function of the timing control logic is to control the timing of step size changes. The function of the step size logic is to set the step size of the frequency changes that are made by the VCO in response to the pd_up/down signal that is delivered directly to the VCO from the digital phase detector.

Abstract: Creating a low-bandwidth channel in a high-bandwidth channel. By taking advantage of extra bandwidth in a high-bandwidth channel, a low-bandwidth channel is created by inserting extra packets. When an inter-packet gap of the proper duration is detected, the extra packet is inserted and any incoming packets on the high-bandwidth channel are stored in an elastic buffer. Observing inter-packet gaps, minimal latency is introduced in the high-bandwidth channel when there is no extra packet in the process of being sent, and the effects of sending a packet on the low-bandwidth channel are absorbed and distributed among other passing traffic.

Abstract: A sliver compactor is provided between a drafting roller of a drafting frame and the delivery unit which supplies the sliver to the spinning stations of the spinning machine. The sliver compactor has a shielding element juxtaposed with the perforated moving surface to which suction is applied and which reduces the suction force required to draw the fibers of the sliver into a compact form. The shielding element extends over a plurality of slivers and the respective spinning stations and a number of such shielding elements may be aligned over the length of the machine below the stretching field plane and secured on the machine frame.

Abstract: A sliver compactor is provided between a drafting roller of a drafting frame and the delivery unit which supplies the sliver to the spinning stations of the spinning machine. The sliver compactor has a shielding element juxtaposed with the perforated moving surface to which suction is applied and which reduces the suction force required to draw the fibers of the sliver into a compact form. The shielding element extends over a plurality of slivers and the respective spinning stations and a number of such shielding elements may be aligned over the length of the machine below the stretching field plane and secured on the machine frame.