# US 5,708,383 A · Integrated circuit frequency controlled modulator for use in a phase lock loop

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- Number: US 5,708,383 A
- Document ID: US5708383A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/638,553
- Filed: 1996-04-26
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-26
- Inventors: Johnny Chuang-Li Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708383A

## CPC

- H03C 3/0983: {containing in the loop a mixer other than for phase detection}
- H03D 7/1441: {using field-effect transistors (H03D7/145 takes precedence)}
- H03D 7/1458: {Double balanced arrangements, i.e. where both input signals are differential}
- H03L 7/0995: {the oscillator comprising a ring oscillator}
- H03D 7/14: Balanced arrangements
- H03D 2200/0033: Current mirrors
- H03D 2200/0043: Bias and operating point
- H03D 2200/0084: Lowering the supply voltage and saving power
- H03C: MODULATION (masers or lasers H01S; coding, decoding or code conversion H03M)
- H03D: DEMODULATION OR TRANSFERENCE OF MODULATION FROM ONE CARRIER TO ANOTHER (masers, lasers H01S; circuits capable of acting both as modulator and demodulator H03C; details applicable to both modulators and frequency-changers H03C; demodulating pulses H03K9/00; transforming types of pulse modulation H03K11/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M; repeater stations H04B7/14; demodulators adapted for AC systems of digital information transmission H04L27/00; synchronous demodulators adapted for colour television H04N9/66)
- H03L: AUTOMATIC CONTROL, STARTING, SYNCHRONISATION OR STABILISATION OF GENERATORS OF ELECTRONIC OSCILLATIONS OR PULSES (generation of oscillations H03B)

## Abstract

A circuit for modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M. The circuit includes N number of limited swing driver circuits. Each limited swing driver circuit has generator means for generating one phase of a third waveform in response to one phase of the first waveform so that the third waveform has a frequency F.sub.O and a voltage swing that is less than a voltage swing of the first waveform. The circuit also includes N number of multiplier circuits. Each multiplier circuit is coupled to one of the limited swing driver circuits and has multiply means for multiplying one phase of the third waveform with one phase of the second waveform and for generating first and second currents having a difference which is proportional to a product of the one phase of the third waveform and the one phase of the second waveform. A load circuit is coupled to the multiplier circuits and has a first node into which the first currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a first summation current and a second node into which the second currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a second summation current. The load circuit has a comparing stage for comparing which of the first and second summation currents is larger and for generating a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents. A method of modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A circuit for modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M, comprising:
N number of multiplier circuits, each multiplier circuit having multiply means for multiplying one phase of the first waveform with one phase of the second waveform and for generating first and second currents having a difference which is proportional to a product of the one phase of the first waveform and the one phase of the second waveform;
a load circuit, coupled to the multiplier circuits, having a first node into which the first currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a first summation current and a second node into which the second currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a second summation current, the load circuit having a comparing stage for comparing which of the first and second summation currents is larger and for generating a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents; and
N number of limited swing driver circuits, each limited swing driver circuit being coupled to a different one of the multiplier circuits and having generator means, responsive to one phase of a third N-phase waveform, for generating the one phase of the first waveform to have a voltage swing that is less than a voltage swing of the third waveform.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the comparing stage of the load circuit comprises:
a first transistor coupled to the first node for conducting a first portion of the first summation current;
a second transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a first portion of the second summation current; and
a current difference amplifier coupled to the first and second transistors for converting a difference between the first portion of the first summation current and the first portion of the second summation current into the first clock signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the load circuit further comprises:
an amplifier stage coupled to the comparing stage for amplifying the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal having an increased amplitude.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multiply means of each multiplier circuit comprises:
first, second, third and fourth transistors which each have a gate, drain and source, the gates of the first and second transistors being coupled together, the gates of the third and fourth transistors being coupled together, the sources of the first and third transistors being coupled together, and the sources of the second and fourth transistors being coupled together;
wherein the one phase of the second waveform is applied between the gates of the first and third transistors and the one phase of the first waveform is applied between the sources of the first and second transistors;
wherein the drains of the first and fourth transistors conduct the first current and the drains of the second and third transistors conduct the second current.

### Claim 5

A circuit for modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M, comprising:
N number of multiplier circuits, each multiplier circuit having multiply means for multiplying one phase of the first waveform with one phase of the second waveform and for generating first and second currents having a difference which is proportional to a product of the one phase of the first waveform and the one phase of the second waveform; and
a load circuit, coupled to the multiplier circuits, having a first node into which the first currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a first summation current and a second node into which the second currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a second summation current, the load circuit having a comparing stage for comparing which of the first and second summation currents is larger and for generating a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents;
wherein the comparing stage of the load circuit includes,
a first transistor coupled to the first node for conducting a first portion of the first summation current;
a second transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a first portion of the second summation current; and
a current difference amplifier coupled to the first and second transistors for converting a difference between the first portion of the first summation current and the first portion of the second summation current into the first clock signal;
wherein the current difference amplifier includes,
a third transistor having a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor and forming a first current mirror with the first transistor;
a fourth transistor having a gate coupled to a gate of the second transistor and forming a second current mirror with the second transistor;
a fifth transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the third transistor; and
a sixth transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the fourth transistor and a gate coupled to a gate of the fifth transistor and forming a third current mirror with the fifth transistor, wherein the first clock signal is generated at the drains of the fourth and sixth transistors.

### Claim 6

A circuit for modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M, comprising:
N number of multiplier circuits, each multiplier circuit having multiply means for multiplying one phase of the first waveform with one phase of the second waveform and for generating first and second currents having a difference which is proportional to a product of the one phase of the first waveform and the one phase of the second waveform; and
a load circuit, coupled to the multiplier circuits, having a first node into which the first currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a first summation current and a second node into which the second currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a second summation current, the load circuit having a comparing stage for comparing which of the first and second summation currents is larger and for generating a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents;
wherein the comparing stage of the load circuit includes,
a first transistor coupled to the first node for conducting a first portion of the first summation current;
a second transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a first portion of the second summation current;
a current difference amplifier coupled to the first and second transistors for converting a difference between the first portion of the first summation current and the first portion of the second summation current into the first clock signal;
a third transistor coupled to the first node for conducting a second portion of the first summation current; and
a fourth transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a second portion of the second summation current.

### Claim 7

A circuit for modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M, comprising:
N number of multiplier circuits, each multiplier circuit having multiply means for multiplying one phase of the first waveform with one phase of the second waveform and for generating first and second currents having a difference which is proportional to a product of the one phase of the first waveform and the one phase of the second waveform;
a load circuit, coupled to the multiplier circuits, havin a first node into which the first currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a first summation current and a second node into which the second currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a second summation current, the load circuit having a comparing stage for comparing which of the first and second summation currents is larger and for generating a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequecy of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents; and
N number of limited swing driver circuits, each limited swing driver circuit having generator means for generating the one phase of the first waveform in response to one phase of a third N-phase waveform having a frequency F.sub.O and for generating the one phase of the first waveform to have a voltage swing that is less than a voltage swing of the third waveform.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A circuit in accordance with claim 7, wherein the generator means of each limited swing driver circuit comprises:
a first CMOS inverter having an output at which the one phase of the first waveform is generated; and
means for partially turning on the first CMOS inverter in response to the one phase of the third waveform being high.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A circuit in accordance with claim 8, wherein the means for partially turning on the first CMOS inverter comprises:
a first transistor coupled between the output of the first CMOS inverter and an input of the first CMOS inverter;
a second transistor coupled to the input of the first CMOS inverter for pulling the input of the first CMOS inverter high;
a comparator stage coupled to the first and second transistors for turning the first transistor on in response to the one phase of the third waveform being high and for turning the second transistor on in response to the one phase of the third waveform being low.

### Claim 10

A circuit for modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M, comprising:
N number of limited swing driver circuits, each limited swing driver circuit having generator means for generating one phase of a third waveform in response to one phase of the first waveform so that the third waveform has a frequency F.sub.0 and a voltage swing that is less than a voltage swing of the first waveform;
N number of multiplier circuits, each multiplier circuit coupled to one of the limited swing driver circuits and having multiply means for multiplying one phase of the third waveform with one phase of the second waveform and for generating first and second currents having a difference which is proportional to a product of the one phase of the third waveform and the one phase of the second waveform; and
a load circuit, coupled to the multiplier circuits, having a first node into which the first currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a first summation current and a second node into which the second currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a second summation current, the load circuit having a comparing stage for comparing which of the first and second summation currents is larger and for generating a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A circuit in accordance with claim 10, wherein the comparing stage of the load circuit comprises:
a first transistor coupled to the first node for conducting a first portion of the first summation current;
a second transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a first portion of the second summation current; and
a current difference amplifier coupled to the first and second transistors for converting a difference between the first portion of the first summation current and the first portion of the second summation current into the first clock signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A circuit in accordance with claim 11, wherein the current difference amplifier comprises:
a third transistor having a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor and forming a first current mirror with the first transistor;
a fourth transistor having a gate coupled to a gate of the second transistor and forming a second current mirror with the second transistor;
a fifth transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the third transistor; and
a sixth transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the fourth transistor and a gate coupled to a gate of the fifth transistor and forming a third current mirror with the fifth transistor, wherein the first clock signal is generated at the drains of the fourth and sixth transistors.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A circuit in accordance with claim 11, wherein the comparing stage of the load circuit further comprises:
a third transistor coupled to the first node for conducting a second portion of the first summation current; and
a fourth transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a second portion of the second summation current.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

A circuit in accordance with claim 10, wherein the load circuit further comprises:
an amplifier stage coupled to the comparing stage for amplifying the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal having an increased amplitude.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

A circuit in accordance with claim 10, wherein the multiply means of each multiplier circuit comprises:
first, second, third and fourth transistors which each have a gate, drain and source, the gates of the first and second transistors being coupled together, the gates of the third and fourth transistors being coupled together, the sources of the first and third transistors being coupled together, and the sources of the second and fourth transistors being coupled together;
wherein the one phase of the second waveform is applied between the gates of the first and third transistors and the one phase of the third waveform is applied between the sources of the first and second transistors;
wherein the drains of the first and fourth transistors conduct the first current and the drains of the second and third transistors conduct the second current.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

A circuit in accordance with claim 10, wherein the generator means of each limited swing driver circuit comprises:
a first CMOS inverter having an output at which the one phase of the third waveform is generated; and
means for partially turning on the first CMOS inverter in response to the one phase of the first waveform being high.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A circuit in accordance with claim 16, wherein the means for partially turning on the first CMOS inverter comprises:
a first transistor coupled between the output of the first CMOS inverter and an input of the first CMOS inverter;
a second transistor coupled to the input of the first CMOS inverter for pulling the input of the first CMOS inverter high;
a comparator stage coupled to the first and second transistors for turning the first transistor on in response to the one phase of the first waveform being high and for turning the second transistor on in response to the one phase of the first waveform being low.

### Claim 18

A modulation circuit, comprising:
N number of limited swing driver circuits, each limited swing driver circuit having a first CMOS inverter having an output at which one phase of a first N-phase waveform having a frequency F.sub.O is generated, each limited swing driver circuit having means for partially turning on the first CMOS inverter in response to one phase of an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.O in order to generate the one phase of the first N-phase waveform so that it has a voltage swing that is less than a voltage swing of the one phase of the N-phase second waveform;
N number of multiplier circuits, each multiplier circuit coupled to one of the limited swing driver circuits and having multiply means for multiplying one phase of the first N-phase waveform with one phase of a third N-phase waveform having a frequency F.sub.M and for generating first and second currents having a difference which is proportional to a product of the one phase of the first N-phase waveform and the one phase of the third N-phase waveform; and
a load circuit, coupled to the multiplier circuits, having a first node into which the first currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a first summation current and a second node into which the second currents generated by each of the multiplier circuits are summed together to form a second summation current, the load circuit having a first transistor coupled to the tirst node for conducting a tirst portion of the first summation current, a second transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a first portion of the second summation current, and a current difference amplifier coupled to the first and second transistors for converting a difference between the first portion of the first summation current and the first portion of the second summation current into a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A circuit in accordance with claim 18, wherein the current difference amplifier comprises:
a third transistor having a gate coupled to a gate of the first transistor and forming a first current mirror with the first transistor;
a fourth transistor having a gate coupled to a gate of the second transistor and forming a second current mirror with the second transistor;
a fifth transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the third transistor; and
a sixth transistor having a drain coupled to a drain of the fourth transistor and a gate coupled to a gate of the fifth transistor and forming a third current mirror with the fifth transistor, wherein the first clock signal is generated at the drains of the fourth and sixth transistors.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

A circuit in accordance with claim 18, wherein the load circuit further comprises:
a third transistor coupled to the first node for conducting a second portion of the first summation current; and
a fourth transistor coupled to the second node for conducting a second portion of the second summation current.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

A circuit in accordance with claim 18, wherein the load circuit further comprises:
an amplifier stage coupled to the comparing stage for amplifying the first clock signal to generate a second clock signal having an increased amplitude.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

A circuit in accordance with claim 18, wherein the multiply means of each multiplier circuit comprises:
first, second, third and fourth transistors which each have a gate, drain and source, the gates of the first and second transistors being coupled together, the gates of the third and fourth transistors being coupled together, the sources of the first and third transistors being coupled together, and the sources of the second and fourth transistors being coupled together;
wherein the one phase of the third N-phase waveform is applied between the gates of the first and third transistors and the one phase of the first N-phase waveform is applied between the sources of the first and second transistors;
wherein the drains of the first and fourth transistors conduct the first current and the drains of the second and third transistors conduct the second current.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

A circuit in accordance with claim 18, wherein the means for partially turning on the first CMOS inverter comprises:
a first transistor coupled between the output of the first CMOS inverter and an input of the first CMOS inverter;
a second transistor coupled to the input of the first CMOS inverter for pulling the input of the first CMOS inverter high;
a comparator stage coupled to the first and second transistors for turning the first transistor on in response to the one phase of the second waveform N-phase being high and for turning the second transistor on in response to the one phase of the second N-phase waveform being low.

### Claim 24

A method of modulating an N-phase first waveform having a frequency F.sub.O with an N-phase second waveform having a frequency F.sub.M, comprising the steps of:
generating an N-phase third waveform having a frequency F.sub.O and a voltage swing that is less than a voltage swing of the first waveform;
multiplying each phase of the third waveform with each respective phase of the second waveform;
generating first and second currents with respect to each phase of the multiplied third and second waveforms having a difference which is proportional to a product of the respective phases of the third and second waveforms;
summing together the first currents generated with respect to each phase of the multiplied third and second waveforms to form a first summation current;
summing together the second currents generated with respect to each phase of the multiplied third and second waveforms to form a second summation current;
comparing which of the first and second summation currents is larger; and
generating a first clock signal having a frequency approximately equal to a frequency of a change in magnitude of the first and second summation currents.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the step of generating the first clock signal comprises the step of:
converting a difference between the first and second summation currents into the first clock signal.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the step of generating an N-phase third waveform comprises
partially turning on a first CMOS inverter in response to the one phase of the first waveform being high.