Devices and methods for reducing noise in digitally controlled oscillators

A method operational at a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO), the method comprising:

• receiving an input DCO word;
• controlling, in part, an output frequency of the DCO using a variable capacitor having a variable capacitance value based on a first bank capacitance value provided by a first capacitor bank, a second bank capacitance value provided by a second capacitor bank, and an auxiliary bank capacitance value provided by an auxiliary capacitor bank;
• determining, prior to adjusting the variable capacitance value, that the received input DCO control word has transitioned between two boundary-sensitive control words at least one of a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined amount of time;
• and
• adjusting the variable capacitance value by adjusting the auxiliary bank capacitance value while maintaining at least one of the first bank capacitance value and/or the second bank capacitance value substantially unchanged.

A digitally controlled oscillator (DCO), comprising:

• means for receiving an input DCO control word;
• a variable capacitor having a variable capacitance value that controls, in part, an output frequency of the DCO, the variable capacitance value based on a first bank capacitance value provided by a first capacitor bank, a second bank capacitance value provided by a second capacitor bank, and an auxiliary bank capacitance value provided by an auxiliary capacitor bank;
• means for determining, prior to adjusting the variable capacitance value, that the received input DCO control word has transitioned between two boundary-sensitive control words at least one of a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined amount of time;
• and
• means for adjusting the variable capacitance value by adjusting the auxiliary bank capacitance value while maintaining at least one of the first bank capacitance value and/or the second bank capacitance value substantially unchanged.

A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having one or more instructions stored thereon that when executed by at least one processor causes the processor to:

• receive an input DCO control word;
• control, in part, an output frequency of the DCO using a variable capacitor having a variable capacitance value based on a first bank capacitance value provided by a first capacitor bank, a second bank capacitance value provided by a second capacitor bank, and an auxiliary bank capacitance value provided by an auxiliary capacitor bank;
• determine, prior to adjusting the variable capacitance value, that the received input DCO control word has transitioned between two boundary-sensitive control words at least one of a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined amount of time;
• and
• adjust the variable capacitance value by adjusting the auxiliary bank capacitance value while maintaining at least one of the first bank capacitance value and/or the second bank capacitance value substantially unchanged.