Phase locked loop, phase locked loop arrangement, transmitter and receiver and method for providing an oscillator signal

A phase locked loop arrangement for a beamforming system, comprising:

• at least two phase locked loops, each phase locked loop comprising:
• a loop filter configured to provide a control signal to a controllable oscillator, the controllable oscillator configured to provide an oscillator signal in response to the control signal;
• a frequency divider configured to provide a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal in response to the oscillator signal, the second feedback signal delayed with respect to the first feedback signal;
• a first comparator path configured to receive the first feedback signal;
• a second comparator path configured to receive the second feedback signal;
• wherein each of the first and second comparator paths are configured to provide a respective current signal to the loop filter in response to a respective phase adjustment signal and a phase deviation between a common reference signal and the respective feedback signal;
• a reference signal source providing the reference signal and coupled to the first and second first comparator paths of each of the at least two phase locked loops;
• and
• a phase deviation circuit configured to provide a phase control signal to each of the phase locked loops to generate a phase difference between oscillator signals of the at least two phase locked loops.

A transmitter arrangement, comprising:

• a phase locked loop arrangement comprising:
• at least at least two phase locked loops, each phase locked loop comprising:
• a loop filter configured to provide a control signal to a controllable oscillator, the controllable oscillator configured to provide an oscillator signal in response to the control signal;
• a frequency divider configured to provide a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal in response to the oscillator signal, the second feedback signal delayed with respect to the first feedback signal;
• a first comparator path configured to receive the first feedback signal;
• a second comparator path configured to receive the second feedback signal;
• wherein each of the first and second comparator paths are configured to provide a respective current signal to the loop filter in response to a respective phase adjustment signal and a phase deviation between a common reference signal and the respective feedback signal;
• a reference signal source providing the reference signal and coupled to the first and second first comparator paths of each of the at least two phase locked loops;
• a phase deviation circuit configured to provide a phase control signal to each of the phase locked loops to generate a phase difference between oscillator signals of the at least two phase locked loops;
• and
• an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the antenna elements is in operative connection to a respective one of the phase locked loops of the phase locked loop arrangement to receive an individual signal for transmission derived from the respective oscillator signal thereof.

A receiver arrangement, comprising:

• a phase locked loop arrangement comprising:
• at least two phase locked loops, each phase locked loop comprising:
• a loop filter configured to provide a control signal to a controllable oscillator, the controllable oscillator configured to provide an oscillator signal in response to the control signal;
• a frequency divider configured to provide a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal in response to the oscillator signal, the second feedback signal delayed with respect to the first feedback signal;
• a first comparator path configured to receive the first feedback signal;
• a second comparator path configured to receive the second feedback signal;
• wherein each of the first and second comparator paths are configured to provide a respective current signal to the loop filter in response to a respective phase adjustment signal and a phase deviation between a common reference signal and the respective feedback signal;
• a reference signal source providing the reference signal and coupled to the first and second first comparator paths of each of the at least two phase locked loops;
• a phase deviation circuit configured to provide a phase control signal to each of the phase locked loops to generate a phase difference between oscillator signals of the at least two phase locked loops;
• and
• an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the antenna elements is in operative connection to a respective one of the phase locked loops of the phase locked loop arrangement to down-convert a received signal with the respective oscillator signal thereof.

A method for providing an oscillator signal in a phase locked loop, comprising:

• generating a common reference signal;
• generating an oscillator signal in response to a control signal;
• generating a first feedback signal based on the oscillator signal;
• generating a second feedback signal based on the oscillator signal and delayed with respect to the first feedback signal;
• generating a first current signal based on a comparison between the reference signal and the first feedback signal;
• generating a second current signal based on a comparison between the reference signal and the second feedback signal;
• adjusting a current ratio between the first and second current signals;
• and
• generating the control signal based on the adjusted current ratio of first and second current signals.