US 7,746,179 B1 · Method and apparatus for selecting a frequency generating element

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting an optimum VCO from an array of VCOs is disclosed. Each VCO in the array has an output range and a limit. In one embodiment, a search set of VCOs is designated as all VCOs in a system. The limit is compared to a tuning value which corresponds to a desired calibration frequency. The comparison divides the array of VCOs into a searched set and a non-searched set. The process is repeated until the non-searched set comprises only one VCO. In another embodiment, the VCOs are ordered such that there is a middle VCO. A VCO in the middle of the array is selected. The limit of the middle VCO is compared to a tuning limit. Based on the comparison, another VCO is selected. The process repeats N times, where N is the logarithm, base 2, of the total number of VCOs to be searched. at the end of the search, an optimum VCO will be found.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method of selecting a frequency generating element from an array of M frequency generating elements, each element having an output frequency range, the range having an upper frequency limit and a lower frequency limit, wherein the upper frequency limit is higher than the lower frequency limit, corresponding to an input tuning voltage range having an upper tuning limit and a lower tuning limit comprising:

a. arranging the frequency generating elements into an order by their output frequencies, such that there is a middle frequency generating element;
b. determining a reference tuning voltage corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
c. determining a reference frequency corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
d. starting a binary search by selecting the middle frequency generating element and assigning a search variable, having an initial value of M/2;
e. comparing the reference tuning voltage to the upper tuning limit of the frequency generating element that has been selected, thereby determining a next frequency generating element to be selected;
f. dividing the search variable by two if the search variable does not equal one, thereby determining a new value for the search variable;
and
g. repeating the steps of comparing and dividing for a number of iterations.

5 more elements

A method of selecting an optimum frequency generating among an array of M frequency generating elements, each frequency generating element having a range of output frequencies having an upper tuning frequency and a lower tuning frequency, wherein the upper tuning frequency is higher than the lower tuning frequency, corresponding to an input tuning voltage range having an upper tuning limit and a lower tuning limit, the method comprising:

a. arranging the frequency generating elements into an order by their output frequencies, such that there is a middle frequency generating element;
b. determining a reference tuning voltage corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
c. determining a reference frequency corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
d. starting a binary search by selecting the middle frequency generating element and assigning a search variable, having an initial value of M/2;
e. comparing the reference tuning voltage to the lower tuning limit of the frequency generating element that has been selected, thereby determining a next frequency generating element to be selected;
f. dividing the search variable by two if the search variable does not equal one, thereby determining a new value for the search variable;
and
g. repeating the steps of comparing and dividing for a number of iterations.

5 more elements

An electric circuit for selecting a frequency generating element from an array of M frequency generating elements, each element having an output frequency range, the range having an upper frequency limit and a lower frequency limit, wherein the upper frequency limit is higher than the lower frequency limit corresponding to an input tuning voltage range having an upper tuning limit and a lower tuning limit, comprising:

a. means for arranging the frequency generating elements into an order by their output frequencies, such that there is a middle frequency generating element;
b. means for determining a reference tuning voltage corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
c. means for determining a reference frequency corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
d. means for starting a binary search by selecting the middle frequency generating element and assigning a search variable, having an initial value of M/2;
e. means for comparing the tuning voltage to the upper tuning limit of the frequency generating element that has been selected, thereby determining a next frequency generating element to be selected;
f. means for dividing the search variable by two if the search variable does not equal one, thereby determining a new value for the search variable;
and
g. means for repeating the steps of comparing and dividing for a number of iterations.

5 more elements

An electric circuit for selecting an optimum frequency generating among an array of M frequency generating elements, each element having an output frequency range, the range having an upper frequency limit and a lower frequency limit, wherein the upper frequency limit is higher than the lower frequency limit corresponding to an input tuning voltage range having an upper tuning limit and a lower tuning limit, comprising:

a. means for arranging the frequency generating elements into an order by their output frequencies, such that there is a middle frequency generating element;
b. means for determining a reference tuning voltage corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
c. means for determining a reference frequency corresponding to a lowest practical gain of a frequency generating element;
d. means for starting a binary search by selecting the middle frequency generating element and assigning a search variable, having an initial value of M/2;
e. means for comparing the tuning voltage to the lower tuning limit of the frequency generating element that has been selected, thereby determining a next frequency generating element to be selected;
f. means for dividing the search variable by two if the search variable does not equal one, thereby determining a new value for the search variable;
and
g. means for repeating the steps of comparing and dividing for a number of iterations.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for selecting a frequency generating element

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for selecting a frequency generating element

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32