Radio frequency carrier generation architecture

A transceiver, comprising:

• a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive a reference frequency signal and output a carrier frequency signal based on the reference frequency signal, wherein the carrier frequency signal is mixed with a communication signal in a signal path;
• and
• a time-to-digital converter (TDC) module coupled to the PLL, the TDC module configured to:
• receive the carrier frequency signal and the reference frequency signal;
• determine a first and second time differences between the carrier frequency signal and the reference frequency signal;
• convert the first time difference to a first corresponding phase value and the second time difference to a second corresponding phase value based on an operating frequency of the PLL;
• determine a phase difference between the first corresponding phase value and the second corresponding phase value;
• and
• adjust the communication signal with the phase difference independent of the signal path to maintain phase continuity in the signal path between duty cycles.

A transceiver, comprising:

• a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive a reference frequency signal and provide a carrier frequency signal based on the reference frequency signal, wherein the carrier frequency signal is mixed with a communication signal in a signal path;
• a modem coupled to the PLL and configured to receive or transmit the baseband signal in the signal path;
• and
• a time-to-digital converter (TDC) module coupled to the PLL and the modem, the TDC module configured to:
• receive the carrier frequency signal from the PLL and the reference frequency signal;
• determine a first and second time differences between the carrier frequency signal and the reference frequency signal;
• convert the first time difference to a first corresponding phase value and the second time difference to a second corresponding phase value based on an operating frequency of the PLL;
• determine a phase difference between the first corresponding phase value and the second corresponding phase value;
• and
• adjust the communication signal with the phase difference independent of the signal path to maintain phase continuity in the signal path between duty cycles.