Phase-accurate multi-phase wide-band radio frequency local oscillator generator
AssigneeRF Magic, Inc.
InventorsCarl De Ranter, Peter Shah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A local oscillator (LO) generator for driving a bank of mixers that provides precise phase relationship between multi-phase LO outputs comprises a shift register using slave-master-slave flip-flop elements. The LO generator can be used over a wide operating frequency range. The LO generator is suitable for driving a multi-phase LO clock input to a harmonic suppression mixer. A pattern generator produces a pattern signal and a reclocking signal that determines the frequency of the LO signals and the phase delay between the LO output phases.
Claims6
A multi-phase local oscillator (LO) generator for generating a plurality of digital LO signals for use with a multi-mixer tuner comprising:
- a pattern generator that divides an input clock signal to create a pattern signal and a reclocking signal, the frequency of the pattern signal determines a selecting frequency for the tuner and the frequency ratio of the reclocking signal and pattern signal determines the phase of the LO signals;
- and
- a shift register with a data input and a clock input, the shift register accepting the pattern signal as a data input and the reclocking signal as the clock input, and with digital LO signals output;
- whereby the LO signals outputted drive mixer LO inputs.
A phase-accurate multi-phase wide-band radio frequency local oscillator (LO) generator for generating a plurality of LO signals comprising:
- a shift register comprising a plurality of flip-flops each with a data input, LO signal output, a coupling output, and clock input, the coupling outputs of the flip-flops connected in series and each flip-flop clock input driven by a common clock signal, the first flip-flop data input connected to a pattern signal;
- each flip-flop comprising a first slave stage, a master stage, and a second slave stage connected in series;
- wherein the slave stages and the master stage are driven by opposite edges of the clock input signal and the second slave stage drives the LO signal output;
- wherein each flip-flop outputs an LO signal from the second slave stage to drive a mixer and the master stage of each flip-flop drives the coupling output to a next flip-flop in the series connection.
A local oscillator (LO) generator comprising:
- means for producing an LO pattern signal;
- means for producing a reclocking signal;
- shift register means for producing a plurality of LO signals with a common pattern determined by the LO pattern signal and staggered phase determined by the reclocking signal;
- whereby a plurality of LO signals are generated for use with a multi-mixer tuner.
A radio frequency local oscillator generator for driving a bank of mixers comprising:
- a shift register comprising a plurality of flip-flops connected in series and each flip-flop driven by a common clock signal;
- each flip-flop comprising a first slave stage, a master stage, and a second slave stage;
- wherein the slave stages and the master stage are driven by opposite edges of the clock signal;
- wherein each flip-flop outputs a local oscillator (LO) signal from the second slave stage to drive a mixer;
- each flip-flop further drives a next flip-flop in the series connection;
- the next flip-flop connection is output from the master stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.