Rf Micro Devices, Inc.

Barry Travis Hunt, Jr

Scott R Humphreys

Ryan Lee Bunch

Alexander Wayne Hietala

Christopher Truong Ngo

Stephen T Janesch

Paul Gerard Martyniuk

Scott Robert Humphreys

A fractional-N based Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) system for a mobile terminal is provided. In general, automatic frequency control is implemented in a frequency synthesizer to correct or compensate for a frequency error of an associated reference oscillator. The frequency synthesizer includes a first fractional-N phase-locked loop (FN-PLL) generating a baseband clock signal used by a baseband processor of the mobile terminal, a second FN-PLL generating a receiver local oscillator signal used by a receiver of the mobile terminal to downconvert a received radio frequency signal to a desired frequency, and a translational PLL generating a transmitter local oscillator signal used by a transmitter of the mobile terminal to provide a radio frequency transmit signal. The automatic frequency control is performed by applying a digital correction value, which is preferably multiplicative, to fractional-N dividers of the first and second FN-PLLs.

Fractional-N based digital AFC system with a translational PLL transmitter

A system providing a phase or frequency modulated signal is provided. In general, the system includes a phase locked loop (PLL) having a fractional-N divider in a reference path of the PLL operating to divide a reference frequency based on a pre-distorted modulation signal. Pre-distortion circuitry operates to provide the pre-distorted modulation signal by pre-distorting a modulation signal such that a convolution, or cascade, of the pre-distortion and a transfer function of the PLL results in a substantially flat frequency response for a range of modulation rates greater than a bandwidth of the PLL.

Pre-distortion system for a synthesizer having modulation applied in the reference path

A fractional-N offset phase locked loop (FN-OPLL) is provided. The FN-OPLL includes a fractional divider, a phase detector, a loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and feedback circuitry. Combiner circuitry combines an initial fractional divide value and a modulation signal to provide a combined fractional divide value. Based on the combined fractional divide value, the fractional-N divider divides a reference frequency and provides a divided reference frequency to the phase detector. The phase detector compares a phase of the divided reference frequency to a phase of a feedback signal to provide a comparison signal. The comparison signal is filtered by the loop filter to provide a control signal to the VCO, where the control signal controls a frequency of an output signal of the VCO. The output signal is processed by the feedback circuitry to provide the feedback signal to the phase detector.

Fractional-N offset phase locked loop

The present invention provides a system for adjusting a selectable capacitance of a variable capacitance array to compensate for voltage non-linearity of the variable capacitance array. In general, the system includes the variable capacitance array and a calibration circuit. The calibration circuit operates to determine a voltage across the variable capacitance array and to generate a capacitance selection signal based on the voltage across the variable capacitance array and a known capacitance versus voltage characteristic of the variable capacitance array.

Digital calibration for capacitor voltage non-linearity

The invention provides an apparatus and method for calibrating both the pole/zero locations and the gain of a charge pump phase-locked loop's (PLL's) frequency response with one calibration operation. In one embodiment, the calibration is performed using a bandgap voltage reference and a stable frequency reference in order to measure a slew rate (I/C), defined as a current-to-capacitance ratio, and then adjusting the RC time constant (tRC) by adjusting the capacitance value. The adjustment setting is used in the loop filter capacitors, thereby calibrating the pole and zero locations of the PLL, which depend on the RC product. The charge pump reference current is proportional to the ratio of the bandgap voltage to the resistor value. When the capacitance is adjusted, the slew rate is calibrated as well, wherein the slew rate represents a portion of the loop gain of the PLL.

Phase-locked loop having loop gain and frequency response calibration

Undersired glitches in output signals from TSPC- flip-flop circuits having an output stage comprising an node and a second node are removed by precharging the second node (prior to a clock transition) to a value desired at the output node during a period following the clock transition, and connecting the output node to the second node upon such clock transition. Corrective circuitry illustratively comprising two NMOS transistors added to the output stage and receiving an input reflecting the desired future output is active during a portion of the operating cycle when the output stage exhibits a high impedance tristate condition.

True single-phase flip-flop

A dual-modulus digital prescaler circuit having an extended period in which responses to a divider control indicating a possible modulus change must be made, such extended period permitting higher speed operation while suffering no penalty in manufacturing cost or increased power use. In embodiments comprising a dual modulus divider, a fixed-modulus divider and interconnected control logic, dual modulus divider state transitions giving rise to incrementing of fixed-modulus divider states are selected to be independent of short-term instabilities in divider control inputs. Identified critical state transitions associated with output signals from the dual modulus divider are constrained to occur at times prior to periods of insensitivity to stability of the dual-modulus control signal. Thus, timing of such output signals is determined so that there will be following time interval sufficient to provide desired stability of the modulus control signal for the next divide cycle.

Growing community of inventors

Greensboro, NC, United States of America

Barry Travis Hunt, Jr