Automatic frequency control circuit

Abstract

An AFC circuit stabilizes the frequency of an intermediate frequency signal to be applied to a demodulation circuit. A frequency conversion circuit responds to a local oscillation signal generated from a voltage-controlled oscillation circuit to convert the frequency of a digital modulation signal and applies the converted frequency to the demodulation circuit. A carrier reproduction circuit in the demodulation circuit reproduces the carrier of the intermediate frequency signal to output a synchronizing detection signal. The frequency of the reproduced carrier is frequency-divided by a frequency dividing circuit. A frequency division output thereof is counted by a counter for a definite period. Data is outputted from a microprocessor in response to a count output of the counter and the synchronizing detection signal, and the data is then converted into an AFC voltage by a D/A converter. The converted voltage is supplied as a control voltage to the voltage-controlled oscillation circuit. A stable intermediate frequency signal can be obtained by frequency-dividing the frequency of the carrier and counting the frequency division output thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.