Philsar Semiconductor Inc.

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.

Conexant Systems, Inc.

Thomas A D Riley

Florinel G Balteanu

Mark M Cloutier

Christian Cojocaru

Thierry Lepley

Tadeuse A Kwasniewski

Norman M Filiol

A delta sigma modulator which uses at least one quantizer having a dead zone. The dead zone quantizer outputs a zero when its input is within the dead zone range. It outputs a predetermined value if the input is above the dead zone range. If the input is below the dead zone range, the quantizer outputs another predetermined value. Ideally, the quantizer dead zone thresholds are complimentary in that the upper threshold for an input is the positive value of the lower threshold. Also, to save on accumulator bits, the delta sigma modulator selects a predetermined number of most significant bits at different stages.

Multiple stage delta sigma modulator

PLL frequency synthesizers and their calibration techniques are described. The PLL frequency synthesizers are used to generate digital modulation of a carrier signal. A digital frequency divider in the feedback path of the loop has its division ratio controlled by a digital &Dgr;-&Sgr; modulator. The modulation of the carrier is achieved by applying a modulation signal to the input of the &Dgr;-&Sgr; modulator and to the input of the voltage-controlled oscillator of the PLL. The high frequency path and low frequency path of the modulation signal must be adjusted with respect to one another in order to obtain a good modulation. As the low frequency path can be accurately set, the calibration is performed only on the high frequency path. Digital calibration techniques for the high frequency path are described.

Delta-sigma based dual-port modulation scheme and calibration techniques for similar modulation schemes

A method and an apparatus relating to a PLL circuit for frequency synthesizer applications. By using a composite PFD large and small phase variations between a reference signal and the divider output are compensated for. The composite phase frequency detector (PFD) has both a digital phase frequency detector (digital PFD) and an analog phase detector (analog PD) with the digital PFD compensating for large phase differences and the analog PD compensating for smaller phase differences. The PLL automatically chooses between these two components in the composite PFD by controlling the pulse width of the divider output. This is accomplished by synchronizing the dead zone of the digital PFD with the active pulse width of the divider output and by similarly synchronizing the phase detector window of the analog PD to be within both the dead zone of the digital PFD and the active pulse width of the divider output. Thus, during the active pulse of the divider output, the analog PD is operative while during the inactive pulse the digital PFD is operative. By essentially having only one PD active at any time, problems with analog/digital mixed circuits are avoided.

Linear low noise phase loop frequency synthesizer using controlled divider pulse widths

A delta-sigma modulator having a dead-zone quantizer and an error shaping digital filter clocked by a signal which is periodic at the frequency of the reference. A dead-zone quantizer provides quantization of a high resolution digital word to a low resolution digital word with three or a higher odd number of possible output levels and with an output of zero for an input near the center of the normal input range. The delta-sigma modulator is used in a fractional-N divider. The fractional-N divider is used in a fractional-N frequency synthesizer.

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Osgoode, Canada

Thomas A D Riley