Particular Error Voltage Control (e.g., Intergrating Network) Patents (Class 331/17)
  • Patent number: 8253499
    Abstract: A charge pump includes a first current source, a second current source, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, a reset switch, an inverse reset switch and a capacitance. The first and third switches have first terminals coupled to the first current source. The second and fourth switches have first terminals coupled to the second current source. The first, second and reset switches have second terminals coupled to a first terminal of the inverse reset switch. The reset switch has a first terminal coupled to second terminals of the third and fourth switches. The first and second switches are respectively controlled by first and second control signals, the third and fourth switches are respectively controlled by inverse signals of the first and second control signals, and the inverse reset switch is controlled by the inverse reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Meng-Ting Tsai, Kun-Ju Tsai, Yung-Chih Liang
  • Patent number: 8253500
    Abstract: A frequency-phase adjusting device includes a first controller, a second controller, and an oscillating circuit. The first controller generates a first control signal according to a target frequency and a current frequency. The second controller generates a second control signal according to the first control signal, wherein the second control signal is related to a first frequency difference, a second frequency difference, and a designated duration. The oscillating circuit adjusts the current frequency according to the first frequency difference, the second frequency difference, and the designated duration. The current frequency is set as a first frequency during a first duration, set as a second frequency during the designated duration, and set as a third frequency during a second duration. The first frequency difference equals a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency, and the second frequency difference equals a difference between the second frequency and the third frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Liang-Wei Huang, Ting-Fa Yu, Ta-Chin Tseng, Li-Wei Fang
  • Patent number: 8248121
    Abstract: A phase lock loop (PLL) featuring automatic stabilization is provided, in which a first charge pump is coupled to a driving control signal to generate a first current, a filter with a zero-point path and the first charge pump are coupled at a first node, and a current adjustment circuit adjusts a current on the first node according to a voltage difference in the zero-point path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Richwave Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Wei-Jie Lee
  • Patent number: 8248167
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a continuous voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency temperature compensation apparatus for a phase locked loop (PLL) and a continuous VCO frequency temperature compensation method for a PLL. The system utilizes a VCO with one digital coarse tuning input, a first analog fine tuning input, and a second analog fine tuning input. The system uses the second analog fine tuning inputs to compensate the VCO for frequency shifts due to temperature fluctuation. When the PLL transitions to the fine lock (FL) mode, the system starts driving the second fine tuning input with a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier compares the first fine tuning input with a reference voltage, and drives the second fine tuning input to compensate the first fine tuning input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: MStar Semiconductor, Inc., MStar France SAS, MStar Software R&D (Shenzhen) Ltd., MStar Semiconductor, Inc. (Cayman Islands)
    Inventor: Eric K. Bolton
  • Patent number: 8248123
    Abstract: A loop filter having a first node on which to receive an input signal to the loop filter, a second node on which to provide an output signal of the loop filter, and a cascade arrangement of at least a first circuit that generates a zero, a second circuit that generates a first pole, and a third circuit that generates a second pole to form a passive loop filter of at least 3rd order. The cascade arrangement includes a first signal path coupling the first node to the second node, such that the first circuit is coupled to the first node through the second circuit and the third circuit. Further, the loop filter includes at least one transistor circuit, and a second signal path coupled in parallel to the first signal path at the first node and coupled to the second node through the transistor circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Design & Application GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Zeller
  • Patent number: 8242849
    Abstract: A crystal offset value is stored in non-volatile memory in an oscillator device. The crystal offset value corresponds to a ratio between a rated frequency of an output of a crystal oscillator and a measured frequency of the output of the crystal oscillator. A rated divide value that corresponds to a selected frequency for an output of the oscillator device assumes the crystal oscillator operates at its rated or ideal frequency. Thus, the rated divide value corresponds to the rated frequency. The rated divide value is adjusted by the crystal offset value to generate an adjusted divide value and the adjusted divide value is used to generate an output signal of the oscillator device with the selected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Srisai R. Seethamraju, William J. Anker
  • Patent number: 8237510
    Abstract: A method and a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit for implementing enhanced locking capability with a wide range dynamic reference clock, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. The PLL circuit includes a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) and a plurality of filter comparators receiving a differential filter VCO control voltage. The plurality of filter comparators comparing the differential filter VCO control voltage values, provides a respective gate enable signal responsive to the compared differential filter VCO control voltage values. A clock signal is applied to an up/down counter responsive to the respective gate enable signal and the wide range dynamic reference clock. The count values of the up/down counter are provided to the VCO to select a respective frequency range for the VCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joel T. Ficke, Grant P. Kesselring, James D. Strom
  • Patent number: 8228128
    Abstract: For decreasing errors within an analog phase-locked loop, an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) with digital components and digital operations is used. The ADPLL may also be used for direct frequency modulation (DFM). By defining a proportional path gain of an ADPLL by a bandwidth and a reference frequency of the ADPLL, by a TDC gain, a DCO gain, a dividing ratio of a frequency divider, a gain of an amplifier or a combination thereof, the gain of the amplifier may be adjusted so that an optimal loop bandwidth of the ADPLL may be well calibrated. For achieving the aim of entirely digital of the ADPLL, the gains of the TDC and the DCO may be further adjusted in a digital manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Hui Chang, Ping-Ying Wang, Jing-Hong Conan Zhan, Bing-Yu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8228127
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating with oscillators configured to produce an oscillating signal having an arbitrary frequency are described. The frequency of the oscillating signal may be shifted to remove its arbitrary nature by application of multiple tuning signals or values to the oscillator. Alternatively, the arbitrary frequency may be accommodated by adjusting operation one or more components of a circuit receiving the oscillating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sand 9, Inc.
    Inventors: Reimund Rebel, Klaus Juergen Schoepf, Jan H. Kuypers
  • Patent number: 8222965
    Abstract: A modulator for modulating a radio frequency signal comprises a voltage controlled oscillator, a first feedback path, and a second feedback path. The first feedback path is coupled between a detector output and the voltage controlled oscillator. The second feedback path is coupled between the detector output and the voltage controlled oscillator. The detector is coupled to a divided down output of the voltage controlled oscillator and a reference clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Dust Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Thor Nelson Juneau, Mark Alan Lemkin
  • Publication number: 20120176201
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a receiver and a timing circuit for synchronization between a transmitter clock of an MPEG stream and the local system clock of a receiver. The timing circuit may implement a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit with a MD controller to produce a control signal based on the difference between the transmitter reference clock and the local system clock. Various embodiments may use clock differential signals and an accumulated error signal to produce proportional, integral, and derivative output components for a control signal. The control signal may control a signal generator that adjusts the frequency and/or phase of the local signal clock to lock with the transmitter reference clock. Various embodiments may also include an outlier filter to remove error signals outside a defined range and/or a programmable system clock to add precision to the generated local system clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V. Intellectual Property & Licensing
    Inventors: S. Ganesh, Pushparaj Dominic
  • Patent number: 8217690
    Abstract: A frequency synthesizer comprises a VCO group; a phase comparator; and a loop filter. Each VCO includes a varactor and a capacitor bank including a plurality of weighted capacitance elements, and a plurality of switches turned ON and OFF based on a control signal. Also provided a temperature compensation including a varactor correction potential generation circuit, a correction potential generation circuit for parasitic capacitance of the capacitor bank, a variable gain amplifier in which weighting processing, based on a control signal of the capacitor bank, is performed on an output potential of the correction potential generation circuit, and an adder circuit that adds the output voltage of the correction potential generation circuit of the varactor and output voltage of the variable gain amplifier, and the varactor of the VCO is controlled by output (correction potential) of the adder circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Weiliang Hu, Noriaki Matsuno
  • Patent number: 8207795
    Abstract: A delay cell for use in a ring oscillator and associated method is provided. The delay cell includes a differential amplifier, a switched capacitance bank, and a Kvco equalizer. The differential amplifier comprises a differential pair, a first load and a second load. The differential pair includes a positive input terminal, a negative input terminal, a positive output terminal, and a negative output terminal. The first load is coupled to the positive output terminal, and the second load is coupled to the negative output terminal. The switched capacitance bank has a plurality of controlled capacitor paths selectively connecting to the positive output terminal or the negative output terminal according to a capacitance controlling signal. The Kvco equalizer has an adjustable current source for providing a current to the Kvco equalizer according to a current controlling signal to compensate currents flowing through the first load and the second load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Yao-Chi Wang
  • Patent number: 8208596
    Abstract: A system and method for effectively utilizing a dual-mode phase-locked loop to support a data transmission procedure includes a voltage controlled oscillator that generates a receiver clock signal in response to VCO input control signals. A binary phase detector generates a BPD output signal during a BPD mode by comparing input data and the receiver clock signal. In addition, a lock-assist circuit generates a PFD output signal during a PFD mode by comparing a reference signal and a divided receiver clock signal. A loop filter performs a BPD transfer function to generate a VCO input control signal from the BPD output signal during the BPD mode. The same loop filter also performs a PFD transfer function to generate the VCO input control signal from the PFD output signal during the PFD mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Chatwin
  • Patent number: 8198943
    Abstract: An oscillation signal with a selectable frequency is generated with a phase locked loop (10, 12, 14). The oscillator (10) of the loop receives a feedback signal, to which an offset is added in order to reduce transient effects when a frequency modification is made. A first and second offset control value are used to control the offset successively. The first offset control value is controlled by a combination of the frequency settings before and after the modification. The second offset control value is controlled by the frequency settings after the modification. The first and second offset control values are used to control an offset of applying to a frequency control signal of an oscillator (10) of the phase locked loop (10, 12, 14). The offset controlled by the first control offset value is applied during a predetermined time interval before the offset controlled by the second control offset value is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Remco Cornelis Herman van de Beek, Jozef Reinerus Maria Bergervoet
  • Patent number: 8193845
    Abstract: A phase lock loop includes a quantization circuit that generators an out of phase noise cancellation signal from an error in a delta-sigma modulator and applies the noise cancellation signal to the charge pump. The quantization circuit includes a digital-to-analog differentiator. The digital-to-analog differentiator may be, for example, a single-bit first-order digital-to-analog differentiator, a single-bit second-order digital-to-analog differentiator, or a full M-bit binary-weighted digital to analog differentiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Heng-Yu Jian, Zhiwei Xu, Yi-Cheng Wu, Mau-Chung Frank Chang
  • Patent number: 8193866
    Abstract: For decreasing errors within an analog phase-locked loop, an all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) with only digital components and digital operations is used. The ADPLL may also be used for direct frequency modulation (DFM). By modulating certain parameters within the ADPLL by following an all-pass frequency response, a loop gain of the ADPLL may be precisely modulated, and an available bandwidth of the ADPLL is also significantly broadened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Hui Chang
  • Patent number: 8193963
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for time to digital conversion (TDC) are disclosed. A timing circuit comprises a TDC circuit, a calibration module, and a correction module. The TDC circuit is configured to provide a timing signal indicative of a timing difference between edges of a periodic reference clock signal and a variable feedback signal. The TDC circuit is also configured to provide a delay signal that is variably delayed relative to the reference clock signal. The calibration module is configured to provide a calibration signal to increase and decrease a total delay of the TDC circuit based on a time delay of the calibration signal plus a time delay of a correction signal. The correction module, which is configured to receive the timing signal and provide the correction signal, minimizes harmonic spurs in a frequency response of the timing signal by operating at a frequency of the reference clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: You-Jen Wang, Shen-Iuan Liu, Feng-Wei Kuo, Chewn-Pu Jou, Fu-Lung Hsueh
  • Patent number: 8188777
    Abstract: A charge pump circuit (31), and a PLL circuit using the charge pump circuit, has a glitch compensation circuit (36) to compensate for a slow glitch which occurs along charging/discharging of electric charges in a parasitic capacitance. The glitch compensation circuit (36) includes a comparator (37), a latch circuit (38), a capacitor (C1) and transistors (Q9, Q10) serving as a charge/discharge device. The comparator (37) compares potentials and applies a logic output signal to the latch circuit (38), and the latch circuit (38) in response to output of the comparator, instructs the charge/discharge device to perform a charge or discharge operation to charge or discharge the capacitor so as to allow a potential at a second output terminal to come close to a potential at a first output terminal or a potential at a designated node in a loop filter of the PLL circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ICOM Incorporated
    Inventor: Kouichiro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120126901
    Abstract: A frequency dithering circuit reduces emissions that cause Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) by spreading the spectrum of a clock. The clock sequences a counter that drives a digital count value to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The DAC outputs a sawtooth wave with a wide voltage swing. A subtractor scales down the voltage swing to produce a reduced-swing sawtooth wave which is used as an upper limit voltage. Comparators trigger a set-reset latch to toggle the clock when current pumps charge and discharge a capacitor beyond voltage limits. Since the upper limit voltage is the reduced sawtooth wave from the subtractor, the amount of time to charge the capacitor varies, dithering the period of the clock. The degree of dithering can be adjusted by programming the feedback resistance in the subtractor. The subtractor reduces the sensitivity of dithering to errors in the DAC, allowing for an inexpensive, less precise DAC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science & Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Chi Tak (Gerry) LEUNG, Chik Wai (David) NG, Hing Kit KWAN, Wai Kit (Victor) SO, Po Wah CHANG, Wing Cheong MAK, Kwok Kuen KWONG
  • Patent number: 8183936
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer and a loop locking method thereof are provided. The phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer includes a reference route sigma-delta modulator feedback circuit, a reference phase integration circuit coupled to the output end of the reference route sigma-delta modulator feedback circuit, a phase/frequency detector coupled to the output ends of the reference and feedback phase integration circuit, a loop filter coupled to the output end of the phase/frequency detector and the input end of the reference route sigma-delta modulator feedback circuit, an oscillator coupled to the output end of the loop filter, and a feedback phase integration circuit coupled to the output end of the oscillator and the input end of the phase/frequency detector. In the phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer, the oscillator generates corresponding frequency output signals which yield the advantages of resisting noise signals, enhancing resolution, and facilitating integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Wei Zen Chen, Yen-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 8183950
    Abstract: A phase locked loop (“PLL”) includes a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”) operable to acquire and maintain lock at a selected output frequency of the VCO and control logic operable to perform steps in a method of selecting a frequency band for operating the VCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Storaska, Michael A. Sorna
  • Patent number: 8183947
    Abstract: The quartz oscillator circuit includes an inverter comprising two complementary PMOS and NMOS transistors (P1, N1) series-mounted with a current source (4) between two terminals of a supply voltage source to define an active branch. A source terminal of the PMOS transistor (P1) is connected to the current source, whereas a source terminal of the other NMOS transistor (N1) is connected to an earth terminal. Drain terminals of the transistors are connected at output to a first electrode (XOUT) of the quartz (3), whereas the gate terminals of the transistors are connected at input to a second electrode (XIN) of the quartz. A first phase shift capacitor (C1) is connected to the first electrode of the quartz, whereas a second capacitor (C2) is connected to the second electrode of the quartz. The oscillator circuit includes active polarisation means (2) arranged between the drain terminals and the gate terminals of the inverter transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventor: Arnaud Casagrande
  • Patent number: 8183949
    Abstract: A method is provided for selecting an operating band of a voltage-controlled oscillator (“VCO”) of a phase locked loop (“PLL”) for which the lock frequency is closest to a center of the frequency range of the operating band. In such method, steps can be performed to determine the maximum and minimum frequencies of the operating band and the center frequency between them. From the center frequency of the operating band and the lock frequency within such operating band, a difference value can then be determined. The operating bands of the PLL can be tested until an operating band having the smallest difference value is determined. The VCO can then be set to such operating band in order for the lock frequency to be closest to the center frequency of the operating band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Storaska, Michael A. Sorna
  • Patent number: 8174332
    Abstract: A phase lock loop pre-charging system and method are described. In one embodiment, a phase lock loop pre-charge system includes a bias component for generating a pre-charge voltage, and an activation component for activating the bias component. In one exemplary implementation the pre-charge voltage is utilized to facilitate pre-charging of a phase lock loop voltage controlled oscillator. In one embodiment, the bias component includes replica bias components that track the voltage controlled oscillation control voltage over varying process, voltage and temperature characteristics. The phase lock loop pre-charging systems and methods can be utilized to reduce lock time for a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Carel J. Lombaard, Eugene O'Sullivan, Paul Walsh
  • Patent number: 8169265
    Abstract: A phase lock loop circuit is provided. A phase frequency detector detects a phase difference between a feedback signal and a reference signal, and generates a phase error signal in response to the detected phase difference. A charge pump consists of at least one core device and outputs a current signal based on the phase error signal. An active loop filter receives and transfers the current signal into a control signal. Operating voltage of the active loop filter is higher than operating voltage of the charge pump. A controlled oscillator receives the control signal and generates an output signal in response to the control signal. A feedback divider receives the output signal to generate the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Shiue-Shin Liu
  • Patent number: 8166318
    Abstract: A power circuit includes a memory power circuit and a central processing unit (CPU) power circuit. The memory power circuit includes a first operational amplifier and a first switch. The CPU power circuit includes a second operational amplifier and a second switch. The memory power circuit supplies power to a memory slot. The CPU power circuit supplies power to a CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai-Qing Zhou
  • Patent number: 8154351
    Abstract: A VCO in a phase-locked loop (PLL) is arranged to receive low-pass data via a first input and high-pass data at a second input. The first input is coupled to a first set of varactors in the VCO. The second input is coupled to a second set of varactors in the VCO. The controller sets the input voltage at the first input and directs a charge pump to operate in a tri-state mode that opens the feedback loop of the PLL. The controller applies different voltages via the second input and measures the change in output frequency. A present gain of the VCO is determined from the ratio of the change in frequency and the change in voltage at the second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Shahrzad Tadjpour
  • Patent number: 8149065
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop that supports a large frequency drift capability, yet maintains a low Kvco, and does not introduce noise or discontinuities in the frequency of the generated phase-locked loop output signal. The phase-locked loop may include a VCO with an LC tank circuit, the capacitance of which may be adjusted in incremental units. By gradually adjusting a control signal applied to a selected VCO LC tank circuit frequency adjustment control line, e.g., in a continuous ramped function, or time-averaged ramped function, from LOW-to-HIGH or from HIGH-to-LOW, over a period of time that is greater than the response time of the phase-locked loop, a frequency range supported by the VCO may be shifted to either a higher frequency range or a lower frequency range, as needed, to accommodate environmentally induced frequency drift in the VCO, without introducing noise or discontinuities in the frequency of the generated phase-locked loop output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Randy Tsang, Yu-chi Lee, David Cousinard
  • Patent number: 8145935
    Abstract: A clock signal generator can include a clock signal generation unit that is configured to generate a clock signal. A clock signal control unit is configured to count a number of pulses of the clock signal during a reference time, and to compare the number of pulses with a reference value to provide a comparison result, and to generate a control signal based on the comparison result, where the clock signal generation unit increases or decreases the number of pulses of the clock signal based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Geun Park, Chul Joon Choi, Hyuk Jun Sung, Byung Yoon Kang
  • Publication number: 20120063546
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator generates a first signal and a second signal having a phase reverse to that of the first signal. A switch supplies a current signal generated by a first charge pump to a loop filter. A counter counts a cycle number of the second signal included in one cycle period of a reference signal. A second charge pump supplies, to the loop filter, a first current signal having a constant value and a second current signal having a constant value whose polarity is reverse to that of the first current signal. The control circuit controls the switch and the second charge pump based on a comparison between the cycle number of the second signal counted by the counter and a value X.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Yuka KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8134392
    Abstract: A phase locked loop (PLL) which has a desired frequency characteristic even though a manufacturing process of a semiconductor integrated circuit has fluctuations. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes the PLL and a control unit. The PLL has a phase frequency detector, a loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a divider. The VCO comprises a voltage-current converter (VIC) and a ring oscillator. In response to a control voltage, the VIC generates a control current for setting each operating current of the ring oscillator. The control unit switches the PLL to a calibration operating period of its open loop and a normal operating period of its closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 8130047
    Abstract: In many types of wireless applications (like wireless modems), it is important that the phase locked loops (PLLs) be able to synthesize clock frequencies in a wide tuning range. Because of the complexity of many conventional PLLs (which were deigned to cover wide tuning ranges), there was often a significant delay to achieve phase and frequency lock. Here, an open loop calibration system is provided to coarse tune a PLL very rapidly. Generally, this calibration system employs binary searches to coarsely adjust a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) from a VCO bank to within a predetermined range around a target frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Salvatore Finocchiaro, Francesco Dantoni
  • Patent number: 8125254
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a feedback loop circuit includes a phase detector, first and second charge pumps that are each coupled to receive an output signal of the phase detector, a first low pass filter, a second low pass filter coupled to an output of the second charge pump, a clock signal generation circuit having first and second control inputs, a first switch circuit coupled between the first low pass filter and the second low pass filter, and a second switch circuit coupled to the first low pass filter and the first control input of the clock signal generation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Weiqi Ding
  • Patent number: 8120436
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for generating an oscillating signal includes a transconductance amplifier comprising a single-ended output and a differential input. The system also includes only one feedback loop coupled to the transconductance amplifier. The feedback loop includes a low pass filter configured to receive the output of the transconductance amplifier. Also, the feedback loop includes a high pass filter configured to receive the output of the first low pass filter and output a signal to only one terminal of the differential input of the transconductance amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Sang Wook Park, Edgar Sánchez-Sinencio
  • Patent number: 8120431
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a voltage controlled oscillator, a first charge pump, a second charge pump, a switch circuit and a comparator circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator may be configured to generate an output signal oscillating at a first frequency in response to a control signal. The charge pump circuit may be configured to generate a first component of the control signal in response to a first adjustment signal and a second adjustment signal. The second charge pump may be configured to generate a second component of the control signal in response to a first intermediate signal and a second intermediate signal. The switch circuit may be configured to generate the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal in response to the first adjustment signal and the second adjustment signal. The comparator circuit may be configured to generate the first and second adjustment signals in response to a comparison between (i) an input signal having a second frequency and (ii) the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: LSI Corporation
    Inventor: Chunbo Liu
  • Patent number: 8120400
    Abstract: A Phase Locked Loop circuit, includes: a main path through which an input signal is propagated, and an actual signal is output; a main feedback path through which the actual signal is fed back to an input stage of the main path; and a local feedback path through which feedback is carried out from a path middle of the main path to a path middle of an input stage side; the main path including a phase detector, a loop filter, and a controlled oscillator, and the local feedback path including a replica portion, a delay portion, a first subtracter, and a second subtracter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Gendai
  • Patent number: 8121242
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for frequency lock stability in a receiver using overlapping voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) bands. An input communication signal is accepted and an initial VCO is selected. Using a phase-locked loop (PLL) and the initial VCO, the frequency of the input communication signal is acquired and the acquired signal tuning voltage of the initial VCO is measured. Then, the initial VCO is disengaged and a plurality of adjacent band VCOs is sequentially engaged. The acquired signal tuning voltage of each VCO is measured and a final VCO is selected that is able to generate the input communication signal frequency using an acquired signal tuning voltage closest to a midpoint of a predetermined tuning voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Viet Linh Do, Mehmet Mustafa Eker, Simon Pang
  • Patent number: 8120430
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a phase-locked loop (“PLL”) (100) drives a VCO (114) of the PLL circuit with a first control voltage (VCTRL) produced by a loop filter (112) when a first clock signal (clk_ref) is present. The VCO produces an output frequency while the PLL circuit is operating off the first clock signal. When the first clock signal is lost (ref_lost), a control voltage maintenance circuit (120) produces a second control voltage maintaining the VCO output frequency. In one device, the control voltage maintenance circuit includes a phase-frequency detector (104) that can operate off of either the clock reference signal or a master clock signal. In an alternative device, the control voltage maintenance circuit includes a voltage generator (334, 362) that produces a generated voltage that drives the loop filter when lock is lost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Narasimhan Vasudevan
  • Patent number: 8115559
    Abstract: An oscillator including a current bias circuit and a ring oscillator. The current bias circuit tracks a temperature change of the oscillator by using a control voltage and generates a plurality of bias voltages to supply a bias current according to the temperature change. The ring oscillator compares differential output signals generated according to the bias voltages and generates an oscillation signal as a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyoung Rae Kim, Nam Jin Song
  • Patent number: 8111107
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a charge pump having a voltage output. A voltage level detector is arranged to receive the voltage output, wherein the voltage level detector provides a first enable signal for the charge pump. A ring oscillator has multiple inverters. The ring oscillator is coupled to the charge pump. A counter control circuit is configured to provide a control signal for adjusting a frequency of the ring oscillator based on the first enable signal of the voltage level detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 8102215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a compensation method and phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit, wherein different kinds of two-point modulations are used and the integral regulator of a loop filter is replaced by introducing predetermined settings at the loop filter or at a voltage controlled oscillator. Thereby, the dynamic settling time of the PLL circuit can be improved to gain time for other circuit components which can thus assure required precision for the modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventor: Winfrid Birth
  • Patent number: 8098104
    Abstract: A device may include an oscillator circuit, a control circuit, a frequency detector circuit, and a processor circuit. The oscillator circuit may include a frequency control input to output an oscillator signal. The frequency of the oscillator signal depends on an input signal applied to the frequency control input. The control circuit is configured to apply a first input signal value, a second input signal value, and a third input signal value to the frequency control input. The frequency detector circuit is configured to detect the first frequency value of the oscillator signal when the first input signal value is applied to the frequency control input, a second frequency value of the oscillator signal when the second input signal value is applied to the frequency control input, and a third frequency value of the oscillator signal when the third input signal value is applied to the frequency control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Christian Wicpalek, Thomas Mayer, Thomas Bauernfeind, Volker Neubauer, Linus Maurer
  • Patent number: 8098103
    Abstract: Techniques for cancelling a disturbance signal from a PLL output signal. In an aspect, a cancellation signal is combined with the signal input to a VCO or DCO in the PLL. In a further aspect, the appropriate cancellation signal is derived by analyzing one or more signals within the PLL. The signals within the PLL may be correlated against one or more disturbance signal templates, such as a sinusoid having a known frequency, to derive one or more correlation coefficients. The coefficients may be applied to weight one or more disturbance synthesis functions to generate the cancellation signal. Further aspects provide for joint analysis, synthesis, and cancellation of signals having unknown frequency from the PLL output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel F. Filipovic, Gary J. Ballantyne, Jifeng Geng
  • Patent number: 8094754
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for holding the frequency of a non-synchronous communication signal in a clock and data recovery (CDR) device frequency synthesizer. The method initially acquires the phase of a non-synchronous first communication signal having a first frequency, and divides a first synthesized signal by a selected frequency ratio value, creating a frequency detection signal having a frequency equal to a reference signal frequency. In response to losing the first communication signal and subsequently receiving a second communication signal with a non-predetermined second frequency, the frequency ratio value is retrieved from memory based upon the assumption that the second frequency is the same, or close to the first frequency. Using a phase-frequency detector (PFD), the reference signal, and the frequency ratio value, a second synthesized signal is generated having an output frequency equal to first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventors: Mehmet Mustafa Eker, Simon Pang, Viet Linh Do, Hongming An, Philip Michael Clovis
  • Patent number: 8090335
    Abstract: An open loop frequency calibration algorithm is employed whereby frequency counters are utilized to provide frequency information concerning the difference in frequency between a local oscillator and a reference signal prior to obtaining phase locked operation of a phase locked loop (PLL). The frequency difference is then used to adjust the local oscillator's frequency to be changed by a value that is proportional to the frequency difference measured. Through adaptive calibration of the local oscillator's frequency prior to closed loop PLL operations, a substantial reduction in the amount of time required to obtain phase/frequency coherent operation of the PLL is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Khaldoun Bataineh
  • Patent number: 8089317
    Abstract: A phase-locked loop circuit includes a phase detection unit, a loop filter unit including a series circuit of a resistor and a capacitor, first and second pulse-current output units which supply differential and single-end pulse currents corresponding to phase information to the resistor and capacitor, an oscillating unit which varies an oscillation frequency in accordance with a voltage generated at the resistor and capacitor, and a calibration unit which obtains information of an oscillation gain in actual operation and corrects an operation of the oscillating unit on the basis of a difference between the oscillation gain in actual operation and a target oscillation gain. The oscillation gain in actual operation represents a characteristic of oscillation frequency versus input signal of the oscillating unit and is obtained using predetermined oscillation control signals on the basis of a difference between actual oscillation frequencies under the oscillation control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujiwara, Yosuke Ueno
  • Patent number: 8085098
    Abstract: A PLL circuit comprising an oscillation unit, a frequency division unit, a phase comparison unit, and a generation unit comprises a switching unit that switches between a first state in which a control voltage output from the generation unit is input into the oscillation unit and a second state in which a reference voltage is input into the oscillation unit; and a correction unit that, in the second state, compares the control voltage output from the generation unit with the reference voltage, and corrects a frequency at which the oscillation unit oscillates with respect to a voltage input into the oscillation unit, such that the control voltage output from the generation unit is equivalent to the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8085099
    Abstract: A technique and corresponding circuitry are presented for a process independent, self-calibrating relaxation based clock source. The technique and circuitry presented here can reduce the time and cost needed for calibration significantly. The relaxation based clock source produces a clock signal whose frequency is dependent upon a trim value. Starting from an initial trim value, the clock signal is generated, its frequency is compared with a reference clock frequency value, and the trim value is correspondingly adjusted up or down a bit at a time. After this process has continued for a while, min-max logic is used to determine the maximum and minimum trim values and, based on these, the final trim value for the clock is set. This calibration process can also be used to extract whether, and by how much, the implementation on silicon of a particular chip lies in the fast or slow process corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Deepak Pancholi, Bhavin Odedara, Naidu Prasad, Srikanth Bojja, Srinivasa Rao Sabbineni, Jayaprakash Naradasi
  • Patent number: 8085101
    Abstract: A spread spectrum controller (20) controls a PLL (10) so that the PLL outputs a spread-spectrum processed clock signal. A loop bandwidth controller (30) controls at least one of a phase detector (11), a loop filter (12), a voltage-controlled oscillator (13), and a frequency divider (14) in the PLL (10) during operation of the spread spectrum controller (20) to change a loop bandwidth of the PLL (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Michiyo Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi Ebuchi, Kenji Murata