Multiple Frequency Source System and Method of Operation

In a multiple frequency source system having a tunable frequency source operable to tune to a predefined target frequency, and at least two additional frequency sources, a first of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a low frequency signal at a frequency lower than the target frequency, and a second of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a high frequency signal at a frequency higher than the target frequency, the tunable frequency source including one or more oscillators for tuning to the target frequency, a method for tuning the tunable frequency source to the target frequency during concurrent generation of the low and high frequency signals, the method comprising:

• determining a median point between the high and low frequency signals;
• selecting an oscillator of the tunable frequency source for tuning to the target frequency, the selected oscillator having a tuning range which includes the median point and the target frequency, the selected oscillator having a low frequency tuning point, a midband tuning point, and a high frequency tuning point;
• determining whether the median point between high and low frequency signals is located higher or lower in frequency than the midband tuning point of the selected oscillator;
• selecting as a start frequency for the selected oscillator, an interpolated value of (i) the high frequency and midband tuning points of the selected oscillator, if the midband tuning point of the selected oscillator is higher than the median point between the high and low frequency signals, or (ii) the midband and low frequency tuning points of the selected oscillator, if the midband tuning point of the selected oscillator is lower than the median point between the high and low frequency signals;
• and
• controlling the selected oscillator to tune from the selected start frequency to the target frequency.

In a multiple frequency source system having a tunable frequency source operable to tune to a predefined target frequency, and a plurality of additional frequency sources, a first of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a low frequency signal operating at a frequency lower than the target frequency, and a second of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a high frequency signal at a frequency higher than the target frequency, the tunable frequency source including one or more oscillators for tuning to the target frequency, a method for tuning the tunable frequency source to the target frequency during concurrent generation of the high and low frequency signals, the method comprising:

• identifying one or more oscillators of the tunable frequency source which have (i) a minimum tunable frequency which is lower than the low frequency signal, or (ii) a maximum tunable frequency which is higher than the high frequency signal;
• selecting, from the one or more identified oscillators, an oscillator having the greatest offset, either as measured from each of the oscillators' lowest tunable frequency to the low frequency signal, or from each of the oscillators' highest tunable frequency to the high frequency signal;
• and
• controlling the selected oscillator to tune to the target frequency.

A multiple frequency source system, comprising:

• a tunable frequency sources operable to tune to a target frequency within a frequency spectrum of the multiple frequency source system;
• and
• a second frequency source operable to generate a second signal at a frequency which is either higher or lower than the target frequency within the frequency spectrum of the multiple frequency source system,
• wherein the tunable frequency source is operable to tune to the target frequency during generation of the second signal.

A computer program product, resident on a computer readable medium for operation with a multiple frequency source system having a tunable frequency source operable to tune to a predefined target frequency, and at least two additional frequency sources, a first of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a low frequency signal at a frequency lower than the target frequency, and a second of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a high frequency signal at a frequency higher than the target frequency, the tunable frequency source including one or more oscillators for tuning to the target frequency, the computer program product operable to tune the tunable frequency source to the target frequency during concurrent generation of the low and high frequency signals, the computer program product comprising:

• instruction code to determine a median point between the high and low frequency signals;
• instruction code to select an oscillator of the tunable frequency source for tuning to the target frequency, the selected oscillator having a tuning range which includes the median point and the target frequency, the selected oscillator having a low frequency tuning point, a midband tuning point, and a high frequency tuning point;
• instruction code to determine whether the median point between high and low frequency signals is located higher or lower in frequency than the midband tuning point of the selected oscillator;
• instruction code to select as a start frequency for the selected oscillator, an interpolated value of (i) the high frequency and midband tuning points of the selected oscillator, if the midband tuning point of the selected oscillator is higher than the median point between the high and low frequency signals, or (ii) the midband and low frequency tuning points of the selected oscillator, if the midband tuning point of the selected oscillator is lower than the median point between the high and low frequency signals;
• and
• instruction code to control the selected oscillator to tune from the selected start frequency to the target frequency.

A computer program product, resident on a computer readable medium for operation with a multiple frequency source system having a tunable frequency source operable to tune to a predefined target frequency, and a plurality of additional frequency sources, a first of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a low frequency signal operating at a frequency lower than the target frequency, and a second of the additional frequency sources operable to generate a high frequency signal at a frequency higher than the target frequency, the tunable frequency source including one or more oscillators for tuning to the target frequency, the computer program product operable to tune the tunable frequency source to the target frequency during concurrent generation of the high and low frequency signals, the computer program product comprising:

• instruction code to identify one or more oscillators of the tunable frequency source which have (i) a minimum tunable frequency which is lower than the low frequency signal, or (ii) a maximum tunable frequency which is higher than the high frequency signal;
• instruction code to select, from the one or more identified oscillators, an oscillator having the greatest offset, either as measured from each of the oscillators' lowest tunable frequency to the low frequency signal, or from each of the oscillators' highest tunable frequency to the high frequency signal;
• and
• instruction code to control the selected oscillator to tune to the target frequency.