Method and apparatus for calibrating a reference oscillator

A method for modifying the frequency of an signal created by a reference frequency generator within a wireless communication device to generate a reference signal at a reference frequency, the method comprising:

• initiating operation of an oscillator within a reference frequency generator, the oscillator capable of generating a signal at a frequency other than the reference frequency;
• receiving at the reference frequency generator a correction factor;
• utilizing the correction factor within the reference frequency generator to modify the signal generated by the oscillator;
• and
• responsive to the modifying, outputting from the reference frequency generator a reference signal at the reference frequency.

A method of generating an offset value for use within a wireless communication device comprising:

• generating an oscillator signal within a wireless communication device at an oscillator frequency, the oscillator frequency different than a desired reference frequency;
• outputting an output signal from the wireless communication device, the frequency of the output signal related to the oscillator frequency;
• receiving the output signal at a test equipment that is external to the wireless communication device;
• generating an external reference signal with a signal generator;
• comparing the output signal to an external reference signal;
• responsive to the comparing, generating an offset value;
• providing the offset value to the wireless communication device;
• and
• storing the offset value in the wireless communication device.

A reference frequency generation system in a wireless communication device comprising:

• a reference oscillator configured to generate an oscillator signal at an oscillator frequency, the oscillator frequency different than a desired reference frequency;
• a voltage controlled oscillator configured to generate a mixer input based the reference frequency;
• a memory in communication with the reference oscillator, the memory configured to store a correction factor;
• wherein the reference oscillator utilizes the correction factor to adjust the frequency of the oscillator signal from the oscillator frequency to the reference frequency.