Rc time based locked voltage controlled oscillator
AssigneeSemiconductor Components Industries, LLC
InventorsJan Plojhar, Lucas Emiel Elie Vander Voorde, Pavel Mares
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Circuits and processes for locking a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) at a high frequency signal are described. A circuit may include a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a high frequency signal based on a control signal, a dummy load parallel to the voltage-controlled oscillator and configured to receive the control signal via a switch, and a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator where the control signal is generated based on an output of the digital-to-analog converter.
Claims17
A circuit, comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a high frequency signal based on a control signal;
- a dummy load parallel to the voltage-controlled oscillator and configured to receive the control signal via a switch, the dummy load being configured to dissipate energy in the control signal when the voltage-controlled oscillator is in an OFF state;
- and
- a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator, the control signal being generated based on an output of the digital-to-analog converter.
A circuit, comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a high frequency signal based on a control signal:
- a dummy load parallel to the voltage-controlled oscillator and configured to receive the control signal via a first switch;
- a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator, the control signal being generated based on an output of the digital-to-analog converter;
- and
- a second switch disposed between the voltage-controlled oscillator and the digital-to-analog converter.
A circuit, comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a high frequency signal based on a control signal;
- a dummy load parallel to the voltage-controlled oscillator and configured to receive the control signal via a switch;
- and
- a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator, the control signal being generated based on an output of the digital-to-analog converter, the voltage-controlled oscillator being switchably coupled within a feedback loop with the digital-to-analog converter.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator included in a timing circuit and configured to generate a high frequency signal based on a control signal;
- a dummy load switchably coupled within the timing circuit;
- and
- a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator and configured to cause an adjustment of the control signal, the voltage-controlled oscillator having an impedance substantially equal to an impedance of the dummy load.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator included in a timing circuit and configured to generate a high frequency signal based on a control signal;
- a dummy load switchably coupled within the timing circuit;
- a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator and configured to cause an adjustment of the control signal;
- and
- a digital filter configured to transmit a switching signal to the voltage-controlled oscillator and the dummy load.
A method, comprising:
- enabling a voltage-controlled oscillator within a timing circuit to receive a control signal, the voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a high frequency signal based on the control signal;
- switchably disconnecting a dummy load within the timing circuit such that the dummy load is isolated from the control signal;
- adjusting the control signal using a digital-to-analog converter coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator;
- switchably disconnecting the voltage-controlled oscillator such that the voltage-controlled oscillator is isolated from the control signal;
- and
- enabling the dummy load to receive the control signal such that the dummy load dissipates energy in the control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.