Abstract: A programmable frequency following device is provided. The programmable frequency following device includes a frequency divider for dividing the input frequency by a predetermined divisor. A frequency counter is used to count the output frequency of the programmable frequency following device, the frequency counter being reset to 0 after reaching a cycle time of the output frequency from the frequency divider. A programmable frequency comparator is used to compare the output count from the frequency counter with a user-programmable reference value at the time before the frequency counter is reset to 0. An up-down counter is under control by the programmable frequency comparator to count either in the upward or downward direction, and the count is locked when the output frequency reaches an intended value.