Fast-settling clock generator
OwnerGuido Droege, Uwe Zillmanninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clock generator with a fast settling time features a coarse-tuning circuit that is executed a single time, and a fine-tuning circuit that is executed periodically. The fine-tuning circuit sends an analog voltage to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The coarse-tuning circuit sends a load capacitance parameter to the VCO. The analog voltage and the load capacitance are used to program the VCO, which generates a clock signal. The coarse-tuning circuit and the fine-tuning circuit include registers that store the load capacitance and analog voltage information, respectively, in digital form. When switching of the oscillator occurs, the clock generator quickly produces a clock signal in accordance with the stored digital values.
Claims19
A clock generator, comprising:
- an oscillator to receive a first parameter and a second parameter, the oscillator to generate a clock signal based on the first parameter and the second parameter, the oscillator comprising a fast settling time;
- a coarse-tuning circuit comprising a coarse-tuning register, wherein the coarse-tuning circuit:
- generates the first parameter;
- and
- stores the first parameter in the coarse-tuning register;
- a fine-tuning circuit comprising a fine-tuning register, wherein the fine-tuning circuit:
- generates the second parameter;
- and
- stores the second parameter in the fine-tuning register.
A method, comprising:
- calibrating an oscillator, the oscillator to receive a first parameter and a second parameter, the oscillator to generate a clock signal;
- disabling the oscillator;
- and
- programming the oscillator using the first parameter and the second parameter when the oscillator is enabled.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- obtaining the first parameter once during calibration of the oscillator.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- obtaining the second parameter periodically during operation of the oscillator.
A system, comprising:
- a processor to execute instructions, a memory to store the instructions;
- and a chipset, the chipset comprising:
- a power management unit to drive a battery;
- and
- a clock generator, comprising:
- an oscillator to receive a first parameter and a second parameter, the oscillator to generate a clock signal based on the first parameter and the second parameter, the oscillator comprising a fast settling time;
- a coarse-tuning circuit comprising a coarse-tuning register, wherein the coarse-tuning circuit generates the first parameter and stores the first parameter in the coarse-tuning register;
- a fine-tuning circuit comprising a fine-tuning register, wherein the fine-tuning circuit generates the second parameter and stores the second parameter in the fine-tuning register.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.