Abstract: A spread-spectrum clock signal generator includes a circuit loop receiving a reference signal at a reference frequency and adapted to generate an output signal at an output frequency dependent on and locked to the reference frequency, and a modulator circuit generating a modulation signal at a modulation frequency; the modulation signal is injected into the circuit loop to induce a modulation of the frequency of the output signal with respect to the frequency dependent on the reference frequency. The circuit loop is a frequency-locked loop and has a bandwidth sufficiently higher than the modulation frequency, so that the output frequency tracks the modulation signal. Frequency-offset correction circuit is further provided, for evaluating a frequency offset between an average frequency of the output signal and the frequency dependent on the reference frequency, and for generating a frequency-offset correction signal which is injected into the circuit loop for correcting the evaluated frequency offset.

Abstract: The method is based on a controlled, direct insertion/cancellation of samples in a processed data stream. An up-sampled data stream is generated by the input block providing signal samples having a frequency rate. An intermediate data stream generated by a Rate Adapting Stage providing signal samples adapted to an intermediate frequency rate. An output data stream is delivered by a final low pass filter, including M signal samples having a desired output sample frequency rate. The method provides a generation of an up-sampled weighted stream in the Rate Adapting Stage by weighting the signal samples of the up-sampled data stream via a set of weight. Then, the input frequency rate is adapted to the output frequency rate in Rate Adapting Stage by a direct insertion of zero samples into the processed stream when L<M, or by a direct cancellation of samples when L>M.