With Intermittent Comparison Controls Patents (Class 331/14)
  • Patent number: 5559474
    Abstract: In accordance with a loop open/close control signal, an analog switch closes or opens a loop including a voltage controlled oscillator, a variable frequency divider, a phase comparator, and a first loop filter, the analog switch, and a second loop filter. In order to reduce the change of frequency caused when the open loop state is set immediately after the output frequency is changed, the second loop filter uses a capacitor which shows properties of a small change of capacitance in response to an applied voltage and a small hysteresis. In another embodiment, the voltage controlled oscillator includes a second diode, one terminal of which is grounded, connected in reverses parallel to a first diode switch which switches the output oscillation frequency ranges of the voltage controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsumoto, Hisashi Adachi, Hiroaki Kosugi, Makoto Sakakura
  • Patent number: 5552749
    Abstract: A method for automatically compensating for accuracy degradation of the reference oscillator (170) is provided for a communication device (100). The communication device (100) is programmed with a first frequency value to detect a target carrier signal (310), and is reprogrammed with a second frequency value that is offset from the first frequency value by a particular offset factor, when the target carrier signal is not detected (320, 410). An available carrier signal is subsequently detected and its relative location information determined (420, 430, 440). The communication device is automatically adjusted to detect the target carrier signal using information derived from the relative location information and the particular offset factor (450, 460, 470, 480).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Nowatski, Keith I. Zambrano
  • Patent number: 5548250
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a PLL circuit is designed to include an active mode, a sleep mode and an idle mode. In the idle mode, the PLL draws substantially less power than that in the active mode. In order to return to the designed operating frequency immediately, the PLL periodically refreshes itself in this mode of operation. The power consumption of the PLL is dependent upon the ratio of on-time to off-time which is a fraction of the power consumed in the active mode. Preferably, the PLL is designed to receive an external clock signal as a reference clock from which it develops the internal system clock. The PLL also receives a lower frequency refresh signal for activating a refresh operation during the idle mode. The PLL can power itself down after completing a single phase compare operation. The refresh signal which can be derived from a real time clock must be synchronized to the external reference clock. Thus, the PLL includes a zero-phase-restart circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen Fang
  • Patent number: 5534821
    Abstract: A PLL frequency synthesizer, which comprises a voltage controlled oscillator, and a comparison frequency divider for dividing a frequency of the output signal from the voltage controlled oscillator to output a comparison signal. A phase comparator in the synthesizer compares a phase of a reference signal to be fed thereto with a phase of the comparison signal, and generates first and second phase difference signals, based on the compared result. The synthesizer further includes a charge-pump circuit operated based on the first and second phase difference signals, and having an output terminal connected to the voltage controlled oscillator. The charge-pump circuit includes a first bipolar transistor connected between a high-potential power supply and the output terminal, and a second bipolar transistor connected between a low-potential power supply and the output terminal. The first and second bipolar transistors are controlled based on the first and second phase difference signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takehiro Akiyama, Katsuya Shimomura, Kouzi Takekawa, Takehito Doi
  • Patent number: 5528198
    Abstract: A plurality of clock signals at an identical frequency but with different phases are oscillated by a voltage-controlled oscillator beforehand, and selection is made of one of the clock signals whose phase is closest to that of the data signal each time the data signal rises. In parallel with the selection of phase, a phase/frequency comparison is made between any one of the clock signals output from the voltage-controlled oscillator and the selected clock signal. After the comparison, the oscillation frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator is converted for their matching. This matching allows acquisition of a clock signal with the closest phase immediately after arrival of the data signal, and acquisition of an extraction clock signal with the frequency and phase matched in a short time by parallel conversion of the oscillation frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Baba, Yasushi Aoki
  • Patent number: 5523724
    Abstract: A low power clocking circuit includes a crystal oscillator for generating a digital signal having a first frequency. The first frequency is relatively slow which allows the crystal oscillator to consume reduced power. The phase detector signal is coupled to control a charge pump circuit that generates a voltage on an output node for controlling a voltage controlled oscillator. The VCO generates a clock signal having a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency. The charge pump circuit includes an active mode and a power down mode and is operatively coupled between a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage. As typically provided, the charge pump includes a capacitor network coupled to the output node for maintaining the output voltage. The charge pump includes a voltage control circuit having an up input for increasing the output voltage and a down input for decreasing the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmud Assar, Petro Estakhri, Boyd Pett
  • Patent number: 5521556
    Abstract: A monolithic frequency converter using a feedback control loop generates a source of synthesized frequency signals over a wide dynamic range based on a timing source such as a crystal oscillator or an external frequency source. The frequency converter includes a controlled oscillator, a frequency counter, a timing signal generator and, connected between the frequency counter and the controlled oscillator, a digital to analog converter and a difference integrator. The controlled oscillator generates a clock signal at a frequency controlled by an electrical signal. The difference integrator is connected to an input signal terminal and connected to the timing signal generator. The difference integrator determines a difference signal between the input signal and a signal operated upon by the digital to analog converter and integrates the difference signal under control of a timing signal generated by the timing signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: American Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy G. O'Shaughnessy, Timothy Derosier, Charles A. Edmondson, Morgan K. Ercanbrack
  • Patent number: 5512860
    Abstract: A method of generating output clock pulses using a phase locked loop which includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is comprised of providing a sequence of data pulses and a sequence of reference clock pulses, resetting the phase locked loop to force the VCO to its lowest operating frequency, releasing reset of the phase locked loop and forcing the VCO to lock to a multiple of the frequency of the reference clock pulses, detecting the presence of data pulse transitions, in the event of detection of data pulse transitions, forcing the VCO to lock to the data pulses, and outputting output clock pulses from the phase locked loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles K. Huscroft, Graham B. Smith, Brian D. Gerson
  • Patent number: 5508659
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer with very short acquisition times. With a single loop there is associated a direct digital synthesizer whose signal is injected into the loop by means of a mixer. The adjustment of the loop is done on Np.Fr and the adjustment of the digital synthesis is done on (Ns+)Fr with Np, Ns, K and M as integers, Np being greater than Ns, 0.ltoreq.K<M, M as a fixed value and where Fr is a reference frequency. The mixture makes it possible to obtain, as a synthesis frequency, (Ns+Np+)Fr. The acquisition time of the digital synthesis is negligible and that of the loop is greatly reduced since it synthesizes steps that are multiples of Fr and not of as with a standard single loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Elie Brunet, Jean-Noel Brasselet, Eric Souchard
  • Patent number: 5498998
    Abstract: Adjustment of the output frequency of a frequency synthesizer can be optimized in the following manner. Once a frequency adjustment request is detected, which indicates a selected frequency, a frequency difference is calculated between the selected frequency and the present frequency. A frequency scaling factor is then determined. Once the frequency difference and the frequency scaling factor are determined, a frequency adjustment time is calculated based on a proportional relationship between the frequency difference and the frequency scaling factor. The bandwidth of a multi-bandwidth filter is adjusted to a second bandwidth for the duration of the calculated frequency adjustment time. The output frequency of the frequency synthesizer is adjusted from the present frequency to the selected frequency prior to the expiration of the frequency adjustment time. Upon expiration of the frequency adjustment time, the bandwidth of the multi-bandwidth filter is adjusted from the second bandwidth to the first bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventors: James K. Gehrke, Robert J. Sarocka
  • Patent number: 5497126
    Abstract: An improved phase synchronization circuit (301) and method therefor for a phase locked loop (300). Each of a divided reference frequency signal (206) and a feedback signal (209) is held in a predetermined state. The divided reference frequency signal (206) is enabled responsive to the phase of a reference frequency signal (115). A phase relationship between the reference frequency signal (115) and an output frequency signal (116 or 117) is determined. The feedback signal (209) is enabled responsive to enabling the divided reference frequency signal (206) and the determined phase relationship. The present invention advantageously provides a rapid and accurate phase synchronization for the PLL (300) with minimum additional hardware and without introducing phase error into the PLL (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeannie H. Kosiec, Steven F. Gillig
  • Patent number: 5493256
    Abstract: A phase-locked signal generator which performs phase-locked control of the output of a triangular-wave VCO when a trigger signal is not inputted, and which performs, when the trigger signal is inputted, short interval suspension of oscillation of the triangular-wave VCO, and detection of a phase difference between the trigger signal and the reference clock signal by a successive phase measuring portion after the short interval by using the triangular-wave signal, thereby obtaining phase data. The measured phase data is held until the next trigger signal, and the phase of the triangular-wave VCO is controlled in accordance with the phase data so that the triangular-wave signal has a fixed phase with respect to the reference clock signal. A square-wave signal outputted from the triangular-wave VCO is used as the phase-locked clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Somei Kawasaki, Masami Iseki, Hironari Ebata
  • Patent number: 5491439
    Abstract: A phase locked loop circuit includes a phase/frequency detector which uses a divider circuit and feedback from a clock distribution tree to generate INC and DEC pulses which have no "dead zone". A pair of charge pumps receives the INC and DEC pulses. One charge pump is a differential pump and has voltage controlled common mode feedback circuit to maintain a common mode controlled voltage. A differential current is outputted to a loop filter capacitor by this charge pump. The other charge pump is a single-ended output pump which supplies current to a current controlled oscillator which also receives input from a voltage to current converter. The current controlled oscillator includes a variable resistance load which varies inversely with the magnitude of the input current. A jitter control circuit is provided which reduces jitter in the current controlled oscillator output in the locked phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ram Kelkar, Ilya I Novof, Stephen D. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 5485127
    Abstract: Chip logic, a frequency multiplication and/or division, a temperature sensing circuit, and a power management circuit, are integrated on a very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit chip. The temperature sensing circuit directly measures the chip temperature, producing a temperature output signal. The power management circuit, which is connected to the temperature sensing circuit and to the chip logic, responds to the temperature output signal and to a functional state of the chip logic to generate a control signal to the PLL. The PLL responds to the control signal to either stop the clock signal or modify the operating frequency of the clock signal, depending upon the state of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignees: Intel Corporation, International Business Machine Corporation
    Inventors: Renitia J. Bertoluzzi, Robert T. Jackson, Stephen D. Weitzel
  • Patent number: 5483559
    Abstract: A PLL device includes a VCO (10) forming a phase-locked loop and an amplifier (18) for outputting a phase change signal having phase function with respect to frequencies, a synthesizer (20) having a first input receiving an error signal (phase comparison signal) from a phase comparator (2) through an LPF (4) and a second input for synthesizing signals at the first and second inputs to output a synthetic signal, and a phase and amplitude changer (15) for changing the phase and amplitude of the synthetic signal to provide a phase and amplitude change signal to the second input of the synthesizer in response to the error signal, the synthetic signal acting as an oscillation signal of the VCO (10), whereby the PLL device has a small variation in free-running frequency and a wide lock range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5483204
    Abstract: A clock circuit for supplying an output clock signal to a logic circuit, includes a phase difference-to-voltage converter producing a voltage signal corresponding to a phase difference between a basic clock signal and a feedback clock signal, a voltage-controlled phase controller controlled by the voltage signal from the phase difference-to-voltage converter and outputting a first clock signal, a clock supply circuit receiving the first clock signal, and supplying a second clock signal, as the output clock signal, through to the logic: circuit, a dummy clock circuit having a dummy capacitance circuit, receiving the first clock signal, and outputting a third clock signal, and a selector selectively supplying the phase difference-to-voltage converter, with a selected one of the output of the clock supply circuit and the output of the dummy clock circuit, as the feedback clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Tanoi
  • Patent number: 5475719
    Abstract: Accurate phase switching of similar pulse trains having different phase position, in which a respectively selected pulse train determines a pulse train to be distributed by means of a phase locked loop, is achieved. Each pulse train is individually delayed so the phase position is roughly adjusted to zero with respect to the pulse train to be distributed. Each non-selected pulse train is continuously compared with the pulse train to be distributed. A phase error voltage is determined that corresponds to a phase difference still present as it would become effective as a control voltage in the phase locked loop. An oppositely equal correcting voltage is added to the phase error voltage to produce a sum, and the sum is made available as an output voltage. Switching to another pulse train is effected by maintaining the relevant correcting voltage at a momentary value and switching the associated output voltage into the phase locked loop as a control voltage in place of a previously used output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Alcatel N.V.
    Inventors: Michael O. Gurtler, Rolf Beerenwinkel
  • Patent number: 5473284
    Abstract: An oscillator unit for a base station or the like in a digital cellular radio network. The oscillator unit includes an adjustable oven stabilized crystal oscillator (21). The oscillator unit additionally includes a non-volatile memory (27), in which is stored a control information defining the frequency of the oven stabilized crystal oscillator (21) at the start of the oscillator unit, apparatus (30, 31, 32) for deriving a reference frequency from a fixed digital transmission connection, such as a PCM connection, between the base station and the remaining cellular radio network, a frequency control loop (21, 22, 23, 24) for maintaining a long-term stability for the oven stabilized crystal oscillator (21) on the basis of a long-term average of the difference between the frequency of the oven stabilized crystal oscillator and the reference frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
    Inventors: Arto Jantti, Risto Saukkonen, Veli Juola, Lassi Vaananen, Tapani Karki
  • Patent number: 5469478
    Abstract: A digital phase lock loop for producing an output signal based on an input signal which is subject to jitter and frequency offset. The output signal follows the center of the jitter on the input signal to produce a jitter-filtered signal which compensates for the frequency offset. The digital phase lock loop includes a phase detector, a pulse scaler counter, a phase error counter and a first digitally controlled oscillator. The phase detector detects a phase difference between the input signal and the output signal and outputs up or down pulses depending on the phase difference. The pulse scaler counter increments an up/down counter when an up pulse is received from the phase detector, and decrements the up/down counter when a down pulses is received from the phase detector. When the up/down counter overflow or underflows, a correction pulse is output. The phase error counter resets during every cycle of the input and output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Johnny C. Lee
  • Patent number: 5461345
    Abstract: A frequency synchronous circuit has a first selection unit, a first counter unit, a second counter unit, a storage/average unit, and a comparison unit. The first selection unit is used to select one sampling signal from a first sampling signal having a first sampling time and a second sampling signal having a second sampling time shorter than the first sampling time. The first counter unit is used to count a reference signal supplied from outside the frequency synchronous circuit during the sampling time of the selected one sampling signal, and the second counter unit is used to count a synchronous clock signal to be output from the frequency synchronous circuit during the sampling time of the selected one sampling signal. The storage/average unit, which is operatively connected to the first counter unit, is used to store and average an output signal of the first counter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Taki
  • Patent number: 5461344
    Abstract: A phase lock loop frequency synthesizer is applied to radio communication devices or the like, in order to reduce frequency error at a time of frequency changing, and considerably reduce a frequency changing time. At the time of frequency changing, a first loop filter performs frequency coarse adjustment, and charges or discharges a capacitor in a second loop filter to voltage corresponding to target frequency. Further, a controller feeds a voltage controlled oscillator with a frequency fine control data so as to output the target frequency, and controls a loop filter in a phase lock loop to be switched over from the first loop filter to the second loop filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Andoh
  • Patent number: 5459435
    Abstract: A frequency synchronous circuit has a first counter unit, a second counter unit, a storage/average unit, and a comparison unit. The first counter unit is used to count a reference signal supplied from outside the frequency synchronous circuit during a sampling time which is defined by a sampling signal, and the second counter unit is used to count a synchronous clock signal to be output from the frequency synchronous circuit during the sampling time of the sampling signal. The storage/average unit, which is operatively connected to the first counter unit, is used to store and average an output signal of the first counter unit. The comparison unit, which is connected to the storage/average unit and the second counter unit, is used to compare an output signal of the storage/average unit with an output signal of the second counter unit, and the frequency synchronous circuit outputs the synchronous clock signal whose frequency is synchronized in accordance with an output signal of the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Taki
  • Patent number: 5457428
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit which utilizes multiple reference signals is formed with control circuitry to minimize time interval error. The phase-locked loop (PLL) comprises a switching device, phase detector, loop filter governable oscillator, frequency divider, signal sensing circuit and a TIE reduction control circuit. The PLL maintains a substantially constant .pi./2 radians between a first reference signal and its phase-locked output. Upon loss of the first reference signal, the signal sensing circuit causes the switching device to switch to a second reference signal. The second reference signal is of the same frequency but unknown phase relationship with the interrupted first reference signal. Upon switch over, the TIE reduction control circuit causes the frequency divider output to be interrupted and forced high for a quarter-cycle of the period of the reference signals to force the PLL to phase-lock on the second reference signal with minimal TIE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: John M. Alder, Hendricus M. H. Bontekoe
  • Patent number: 5446411
    Abstract: Apparatus for setting up the tuning frequency of a phase locked loop is provided which utilises the voltage controlled oscillator of the phase locked loop itself. The apparatus includes signal translation circuitry which can provide a control voltage to the VCO of the phase locked loop dependent on a tuning voltage which is alterable in response to the frequency of the signal output by the VCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics Limited
    Inventors: Wayne L. Horsfall, Gary Shipton
  • Patent number: 5444420
    Abstract: A phase lock loop (PLL) circuit and method in which a PLL circuit locks on a variable input phase by providing an instantaneous phase value of a signal from an oscillator at periodic intervals, and by providing phase corrective signals to the oscillator at the same periodic intervals by comparing an instantaneous value of the variable phase to the corresponding instantaneous value of the oscillator signal phase, the phase corrective signals adjusting the phase of the oscillator signal to the predetermined phase. The PLL circuit may also lock on a predetermined frequency by providing frequency corrective signals until a difference between the predetermined frequency and the frequency of oscillator signal is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: James V. Wernlund
  • Patent number: 5436598
    Abstract: A phase lock loop (PLL) circuit which includes an input for inputting an incoming signal which is to be tracked, a phase lock loop subcircuit, a phase state indicator subcircuit, and a synchronized blanking window generator. These elements create a phase lock loop circuit capable of producing a stable output which closely tracks the incoming signal, even when the incoming signal shifts in phase by 180 degrees. The phase state indicator subcircuit detects a phase reversal in the incoming signal and outputs a signal indication such. This indicating signal is used by the phase lock loop subcircuit to produce a stable reference signal tracking the incoming signal most of the time. However, during a short period of time between the inversion of the incoming signal and the output of the indicating signal by the phase state indicator subcircuit, the synchronized blanking window generator provides a signal to the phase lock loop subcircuit which is used to stabilize the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Calcomp Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew M. Harris
  • Patent number: 5436597
    Abstract: A pro-capture circuit for a phase locked loop detects when the phase locked loop is operating outside of its operating range, and then forces the phase locked loop back into the proper range. The principle of detection is general and may be adapted to work in distinct phase locked loop designs. More particularly, the pro-capture circuit is used in a phase locked loop having a normal operating range in which an output signal of the phase locked loop varies between a minimum normal value and a maximum normal value. The pro-capture circuit includes circuitry for sensing when the output signal is outside the normal operating range and circuitry for forcing the output signal to reenter the normal operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Sierra Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Frank M. Dunlap, Vincent S. Tso
  • Patent number: 5428317
    Abstract: A phase locked loop (10) has a first (24) and a second (28) feedback path by which a generated clock signal may be phase and frequency matched to an input reference clock signal. The two feedback paths are delay matched so either one may be used to maintain "PLL lock." However, the first path consumes significantly less power than the second path. Control circuitry (22) selects which path is fed back through a multiplexer (126) and disables the second path when the path is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Hector Sanchez, Jose Alvarez, Gianfranco Gerosa
  • Patent number: 5424687
    Abstract: According to an output from a voltage-controlled oscillator, there are generated by a fractional divider a high-frequency division signal and a low-frequency division number. A phase comparison is conducted between the high-frequency division signal and a high-frequency reference signal by a phase comparator. A phase comparison is carried out between the low-frequency division signal and a low-frequency reference signal by a phase comparator. Either one of the outputs from the phase comparators is selected by a selector to be fed to a filter, thereby producing a control voltage for the voltage-controlled oscillator. A high-resolution division is achieved by the fractional division; consequently, disturbance of the oscillation frequency due to a change-over of the selector is suppressed. There is obtained a PLL frequency synthesizer developing a high-speed lock-up and a highly stable oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinri Fukuda
  • Patent number: 5423076
    Abstract: A transceiver which operates in separate transmit and receive bands has a first conversion stage for generating a first IF signal translation of a receive signal, which first conversion stage also functions as a first and final, hence, single conversion stage for generating a transmit signal at its transmission frequency. A modulated transmit signal component used in the single conversion to the transmission frequency of the transmission signal has harmonics which lie outside the transmission band and is of a frequency which permits a substantial overlap of transmit and receive injection frequencies generated by a first numerically controlled signal generator which are applied to a first mixer of the first conversion stage during respective transmit and receive mode operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Larry L. Westergren, Alan B. Mroch, Gregory A. O'Neill, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5420544
    Abstract: A skew due to distribution of a clock inside a gate array is reduced. Phase comparators (14A), (14B) and (14C) are prepared in the peripheral portion of an internal circuit 71. The phase comparator (14C) is selected which is located nearest an element (77C) which receives an internal clock signal (65C) which is to be synchronized in terms of phase with an external clock signal (73). The selected phase comparator (14C) is connected to a charge pump circuit (16). Without forming a plurality of PLL circuits except for the phase comparators, the phase of any desired internal clock signal is synchronized with the phase of the external clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuhiko Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 5414390
    Abstract: A center frequency controlled phase locked loop system includes a primary phase locked loop having a first voltage controlled oscillator including a first voltage to current converter whose output current drives a first current controlled oscillator to produce the primary clock signal to be locked onto an input signal; a second phase locked loop having a second voltage controlled oscillator including a second voltage to current converter whose output current drives a second current controlled oscillator to produce the synthesized clock signal whose frequency is approximately that of the input signal or integral multiple thereof; and a current copier circuit for copying the output current from the second voltage to current converter and delivering it to the first current controlled oscillator to maintain the center frequency of the first voltage controlled oscillator at approximately the output frequency of the synthesized clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Kovacs, Ronald Kroesen
  • Patent number: 5410572
    Abstract: In a disclosed PLL circuit, a constant voltage output by a constant voltage power supply 6 for obtaining a signal with a frequency equivalent to that obtained in a synchronized state is added to a signal output by a filter 3 by means of an adder 7. A signal output by the adder 7 representing the sum of the voltage output by the constant-voltage power supply and the signal output by the filter is supplied to a voltage-controlled oscillator 4. With a reference signal Pi supplied, the PLL circuit functions like an ordinary PLL circuit. When the signal Pi becomes unavailable, however, a signal output by a reference-signal-input detecting circuit 5 for monitoring the reference signal Pi puts integrating components employed by the filter 3 in a short-circuit state, initializing information accumulated in the integrating components. In addition, the output of the filter is set to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5406229
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer, which realizes speed-up of channel switching between channels having separated frequencies, has an EEPROM which stores the phase difference between a first frequency divider and a second frequency divider producing outputs corresponding to the frequencies of the channels to be switched. A delay circuit delays the output of the second frequency divider by an amount corresponding to an amount of the phase difference stored in the EEPROM. A controller supplies the outputs of the second frequency divider and the delay circuit to a phase detector. Further, the controller stops a PLL operation and restarts it in synchronism with a leading edge of, preferably, a second period of the output signal of the reference oscillator to which the preset phase difference is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuru Kojima
  • Patent number: 5406228
    Abstract: An oscillator system and method in which a time period (inverse of frequency) of a multi-stage ring oscillator (ROSC) is adjusted by a bias current which controls the charging and discharging times of respective capacitors (e.g., interelectrode capacities) within each stage. The time periods of the unadjusted oscillator are counted along with the time periods of a reference clock over a same period of time and a count difference between the two counts is determined. The count difference is applied by a logic circuit in accordance with an algorithm relating count differences to incremental bias current levels to adjust the frequency of the oscillator. The logic circuit generates digital gate signals corresponding to the count difference and these signals automatically select the bias current level needed to bring the oscillator frequency into close agreement with the reference clock frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: General Instrument
    Inventor: Chinh L. Hoang
  • Patent number: 5396521
    Abstract: In a receiver for use in demodulating a modulated wave modulated by a digital data signal arranged within a preselected channel to produce a reproduced data signal by the use of a local frequency signal of a local frequency, a VCO and a PLL circuit are intermittently put into active states with reference to an offset frequency between a channel frequency and the local frequency. The PLL circuit is put into the active state for a time interval determined by the offset frequency before reception of the preselected channel while the VCO is put into the active state during the active state of the PLL circuit and during reception of the preselected channel. A duration of the active state in the PLL circuit becomes long when the offset frequency does not fall within a predetermined range determined by predetermined offset frequencies and, otherwise, the duration of the active state in the PLL circuit becomes short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichiro Minami
  • Patent number: 5389898
    Abstract: The invention discloses a PLL formed by a phase detector, a filter, three VCO's (VCO1, VCO2, and VCO3), a multiplexer, and a frequency divider. The VCO1, VCO2, and VCO3 have different mean frequencies, each oscillating at a frequency controlled according to the voltage value of a phase control signal from the filter. The multiplexer selects one of the VCO's which operate in parallel. If a pulse of a digital phase difference signal UP indicating that an internal signal is delayed in phase with respect to a reference signal is output twice in succession, or if a pulse of a digital phase difference signal DOWN indicating that an internal signal is advanced in phase with respect to a reference signal is output twice in succession, a counter makes the multiplexer change its current VCO selection via a shift register. Accordingly, high-speed PLL pulling is achievable even if a PLL frequency variable-range is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Taketoshi, Tsuguyasu Hatsuda, Seiji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5389899
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer, including a phase-locked loop. The phase locked loop effects phase comparison between a comparison signal based on an output from a voltage-controlled oscillator and a reference signal based on an output from a reference oscillator. The resultant phase difference signal is submitted to a loop filter whose output serves as a control signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator. The frequency synthesizer includes a preset circuit for switching the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator by quickly charging or discharging a capacitor of the loop filter and a modifying circuit for modifying the time constant of the loop filter. The phase-locked loop is brought to phase lock at a high speed by decreasing the time constant of the loop filter when switching the output frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shinya Yahagi, Noriyoshi Komatsu, Toshimitsu Kibayashi, Yoshifumi Toda
  • Patent number: 5384552
    Abstract: In a clock recovery circuit, an asynchronous oscillator generates a first clock pulse at a frequency n times the frequency of a baseband signal. A sampler samples the baseband signal in response to the first clock pulses. A flip-flop holds and delivers the sampled signal in response to a second clock pulse supplied from a voltage-controlled oscillator. The time difference between the first clock pulse and the second clock pulse is detected and a set of tap-gain values is selected according to the time difference. The sample delivered from the flip-flop is successively delayed by a tapped delay line to produce tap signals which are respectively weighted with the selected tap-gain values. The weighted samples are summed to estimate an intermediate sample. A clock phase error of the estimated sample with respect to the clock timing of the transmitted signal is determined for controlling the VCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Motoya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5382922
    Abstract: Calibration systems and techniques for phase-locked loops (PLLs) provide precise setting of the center frequency and/or uniform voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) gain characteristics. Center frequency is calibrated by imposing a selected center frequency at the output of the PLL and driving the control voltage V.sub.c across the PLL's filter to a predefined, steady state voltage indicative of PLL circuit calibration. The approach can be employed to calibrate any imposed VCO frequency output. VCO gain calibration is accomplished by employing the center frequency calibration technique only with a low frequency point imposed on the VCO output. A high frequency point on the transfer function is calibrated by applying a known voltage across the filter and driving the VCO output to a corresponding calibration frequency. Once a low frequency point and a high frequency point are calibrated, the slope of the VCO transfer function is defined. Various integrated PLL/calibration system embodiments are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Gersbach, Masayuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5379002
    Abstract: A control voltage coarse adjustment circuit including a D/A converter voltage generator is provided on a load side of a capacitor in a loop filter included in a phase locked loop. For this structure, a coarsely adjusted voltage is generated to be added to a voltage which is generated by the capacitor of the loop filter for the switch-over of channels during a communication frame. The added voltages are applied to a voltage controlled oscillator to change a frequency for the switch-over of channels. Consequently, the charge and discharge of the capacitor is carried out in a short time to suppress the influence of dielectric absorption current. Thus, the intermittent operation of the phase locked loop in which the phase locked loop is closed and opened intermittently is carried out for the saving of electric power consumption, and a carrier frequency is stabilized in the open phase locked loop by an electric charge voltage of the capacitor in the loop filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Jokura
  • Patent number: 5374902
    Abstract: An ultra low phase noise microwave synthesizer for providing an output signal having a frequency F.sub.O of from 2 GHz to 20 GHz using a first voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a first frequency comparing circuit for driving said first VCO to a first selected frequency (F.sub.idle), a first circuit including a first harmonic sampler for phase locking said first VCO to said first selected frequency (F.sub.idle), a second VCO, a second frequency comparing circuit coupled to said first VCO for driving said second VCO to a second selected frequency (F.sub.coarse), a second circuit coupled to said first VCO including a second harmonic sampler for phase locking said second VCO to said second selected frequency (F.sub.coarse), a third VCO, and a third circuit coupled to said second VCO including a third harmonic sampler for phase locking said third VCO to said frequency F.sub.O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Wiltron Company
    Inventor: Donald A. Bradley
  • Patent number: 5373258
    Abstract: In the slaving process, a reference signal is sampled by a clock signal of an oscillator and then digitized. The value representative of a phase error is then deduced from the sampled and digitized signal. A correction value is then deduced from this phase error to correct a digital value representing the oscillator control voltage. The device of the invention allows this process to be implemented. The invention also relates to a voltage-controlled crystal oscillator incorporating such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Guy Gerot, Pascal Blouin
  • Patent number: 5373254
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the phase of a system clock, in which one of a first clock signal and a second clock signal is selected and output to a system as a system clock signal, the first clock signal being generated by a frequency synthesizer synchronized with an external clock signal supplied from a reference clock signal oscillator provided externally of the system, and the second clock signal being supplied from another reference clock signal oscillator provided internally of the system, and the phases of the first and second clock signals are controlled, prior to switching between the first and second clock signals and supplying the switched clock signal to the system as the system clock signal. The switching is delayed for a period while there is a phase shift between the first and second clock signal , when the system clock signal is switched between the first and second clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Computer Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Nakauchi, Masato Hirai, Masami Kurata
  • Patent number: 5367269
    Abstract: A system for producing an oscillating signal includes a phase-locked loop including a control voltage producing circuit. The control voltage producing circuit is provided for producing a plurality of predetermined control voltages, with each of the predetermined control voltages corresponding to a desired frequency. A plurality of memories are provided in the phase-locked loop for storing the predetermined control voltages. A control device is connected to the plurality of memories for storing the predetermined control voltages in the memories in a state where the phase-locked loop is closed, and for deriving at least one of the predetermined control voltages stored in the memories in a state where the phase-locked loop is opened. A voltage-control oscillator is provided in the phase-locked loop to be operated by the predetermined control voltage derived from one of the memories for producing the oscillating signal having a desired frequency dependent upon the desired voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yanagidaira, Takashi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5363419
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a PLL so that handover between fine and coarse loops take place at 2.5% of the nominal VCO frequency and where the coarse and fine loops error are combined in a summer circuit which employs a series circuit having a P-channel and N-channel FET with common drains and where the drains connected to the summer output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Ho
  • Patent number: 5359297
    Abstract: A power-on reset circuit controls a PLL to prevent overshoot of the VCO during power-up. The power-on reset circuit asserts a control signal upon detecting the power supply potential to the PLL below a predetermined threshold. The control signal enables a pull-down transistor to attenuate the control voltage to the VCO and reduce the output frequency of the VCO. The control signal further blocks the input reference signal to the phase detector. With the input reference signal blocked, the phase detector produces only down pulses to the charge pump during subsequent high to low logic transitions of the feedback signal from the VCO thereby further discharging the loop node and reducing the output frequency of the VCO. Following power-up, the control signal disables the pull-down transistor and allows the input reference signal to reach the phase detector whereby the PLL begins normal frequency acquisition and lock sequencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Hodel, William H. Gulliver
  • Patent number: 5359298
    Abstract: The voltage controlled oscillator in a phase-locked loop comprises a voltage-current converter (62) and a current frequency converter (34). The voltage-current converter (62) comprises a voltage differential-current converter (64), a current-current converter (66) and a current adder-subtracter (68). In the voltage differential-current converter (64), only the voltage fluctuation or difference .DELTA.V.sub.CN with respect to one half a power supply voltage V.sub.DD /2, and not the absolute value of a control voltage V.sub.CN, undergoes current conversion as a control current I.sub.CN. Therefore, the center frequency of the oscillation frequency is not a factor of control voltage V.sub.CN and is controlled only by an offset voltage V.sub.B2. Accordingly, the center frequency can be independently set by changing offset voltage VB.sub.2. This is particularly significant in zone bit recording, which requires a wide frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Abe
  • Patent number: 5355098
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop with memory storing control data. The control data to be given to a voltage-controlled oscillator in a phase-locked loop is addressed in accordance with an oscillation condition including the frequency of a reference signal, a dividing ratio of the frequency divider and ambient air temperature. When the phase-locked loop is controlled off, the control voltage for the voltage-controlled oscillator is changed into digital data by an analog-to-digital converter to be transferred to the memory. The digital data or control data is read out from the memory when the phase-locked loop is controlled on. The control data is then changed into analog equivalent as control voltage supplied to the voltage-controlled oscillator, shortening the locking-up time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5351014
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer is composed of a reference oscillator, the first and the second integrators, a binary adder, a low pass filter and VCO forming a Phase Locked Loop (PLL). The first integrator, driven by the timing of a reference oscillator, integrates an externally supplied value K and generates the input signal. The second integrator, driven by the output signal of the VCO of the PLL, integrates an externally supplied value L. The binary adder detects the difference between the outputs of the first and the second integrators functioning as a phase comparator. The output of the phase comparator is converted into an analog voltage which is filtered to control the VCO to achieve frequency synthesis by the phase lock function of the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Ichiyoshi