Frequency multiplier system with multi-transition controller

A frequency multiplier system, comprising:

• a first frequency multiplier circuit to generate a first signal having a first frequency, the first frequency multiplier circuit including
• a first post-divider circuit to divide the first frequency of the first signal to a first output frequency within a bounded first range of frequencies,
• a programmable frequency transition controller to control a transitioning frequency relationship between the first signal having the first frequency and a target signal having a desired target frequency;
• a second frequency multiplier circuit, if a target output frequency based on the target signal is outside the bounded first range of frequencies, to generate a second signal having a second frequency, the second frequency multiplier circuit including a second post-divider circuit configured to divide the second frequency of the second signal to a second output frequency within a bounded second range of frequencies that is different than the bounded first range of frequencies;
• an output circuit to provide a selected output signal from either one of the first frequency multiplier circuit or the second frequency multiplier circuit based on a control signal;
• and
• a multi-transition controller coupled to both the first frequency multiplier circuit and the second frequency multiplier circuit, the multi-transition controller, upon a desired change from the first output frequency to the target output frequency, to selectively generate the control signal to switch the output circuit from receiving the first output signal having the first output frequency from the first post-divider circuit to receiving the second output signal having the second output frequency from the second divider circuit.

A method of operating a frequency multiplier system, comprising:

• generating a first signal having a first frequency with a first frequency multiplier circuit;
• dividing the first frequency of the first signal to a first output frequency within a bounded first range of frequencies,
• controlling a transitioning frequency relationship between the first signal having the first frequency and a target signal having a desired target frequency;
• generating a second signal having a second frequency with a second frequency multiplier circuit;
• dividing the second frequency of the second signal to a second output frequency within a bounded second range of frequencies;
• controlling a transitioning frequency relationship between the second signal having the second frequency and the target signal having the desired target frequency;
• and
• upon a desired change from the first output frequency to the target output frequency, selecting one of the first output frequency or the second output frequency as a system output frequency.