Differential current controlled oscillator with variable load

Abstract

A phase locked loop circuit includes a phase/frequency detector which uses a divider circuit and feedback from a clock distribution tree to generate INC and DEC pulses which have no "dead zone". A pair of charge pumps receives the INC and DEC pulses. One charge pump is a differential pump and has voltage controlled common mode feedback circuit to maintain a common mode controlled voltage. A differential current is outputted to a loop filter capacitor by this charge pump. The other charge pump is a single-ended output pump which supplies current to a current controlled oscillator which also receives input from a voltage to current converter. The current controlled oscillator includes a variable resistance load which varies inversely with the magnitude of the input current. A jitter control circuit is provided which reduces jitter in the current controlled oscillator output in the locked phase. Also, a lock indicator is provided which is time independent, and provides a lock indication when the loop enters the locked condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.