System and method for oscillator self-calibration using AC line frequency

• US 20050080579A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cahill-O'Brien, Barry, Cornwall, Mark K.
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/106
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/085 concerning mainly the frequency- or phase-detection arrangement including the filtering or amplification of its output signal H03L7/10 takes precedence; circuits for comparing the phase or frequency of two mutually-independent oscillations H03D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/181 a numerical count result being used for locking the loop, the counter counting during fixed time intervals H03L7/1806 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-calibrating radio frequency transmitter includes an adjustable oscillator, a first frequency counter, a second frequency counter, and a comparer. The radio frequency transmitter is powered by an AC power line, which presents a line frequency. The transmitter contains an adjustable frequency oscillator that oscillates at an oscillator frequency and has a desired operating frequency. The first frequency counter counts the oscillator frequency while the second frequency counter counts the line frequency. The comparer compares the counted oscillator frequency to the counted line frequency and produces an output representative of the difference between the counted line frequency and the counted oscillator frequency. This difference in frequency indicates a deviation in the oscillator frequency from the desired operating frequency. The output from the comparer is input to the oscillator to adjust the oscillator frequency back to the desired operating frequency.

Claims

1. A self-calibrating radio frequency transmitter wherein said transmitter is powered by an AC power line and wherein said AC power line presents a line frequency, comprising:

an adjustable oscillator wherein said oscillator oscillates at an oscillator frequency, and has a desired operating frequency;

a first frequency counter, wherein said first frequency counter counts said oscillator frequency;

a second frequency counter, wherein said second frequency counters counts said line frequency; and

a comparer, wherein said comparer compares the counted oscillator frequency against the counted line frequency and produces an output representative of the difference between said counted oscillator frequency and said counted line frequency, wherein said difference indicates a deviation in said oscillator frequency from said desired operating frequency, and wherein said output is input to said adjustable oscillator to adjust said oscillator frequency back to said desired operating frequency.

2. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein said comparer comprises a microprocessor.

3. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein said difference indicates a deviation of said oscillator frequency from said desired operating frequency of greater than 0.5 parts per million.

4. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a frequency divider, wherein said frequency divider divides down said oscillator frequency.

5. The transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a digital to analog converter, wherein said output is a digital output and wherein said digital to analog converter converts said digital output to an analog output suitable for input to said adjustable oscillator.

6. The transmitter of claim 1, wherein said first frequency counter and said second frequency counter are simultaneously restarted on a pre-defined periodic basis.

7. A method for self-calibration of a radio frequency transmitter wherein said transmitter includes an oscillator having both an oscillator frequency and a desired operating frequency, and wherein said transmitter is powered by an AC power line and wherein said AC power line presents a line frequency, the method comprising the steps of:

counting said oscillator frequency;

counting said line frequency;

comparing the counted oscillator frequency to the counted line frequency to produce a difference in frequency, wherein said difference in frequency indicates a deviation of said oscillator frequency from said desired operating frequency; and

adjusting said oscillator frequency back to said desired operating frequency according to said difference in frequency.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of comparing is performed by a microprocessor.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said difference in frequency comprises a deviation of said oscillator frequency from said desired operating frequency of greater than 0.5 parts per million.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of dividing said oscillator frequency to a level suitable for counting.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of converting said difference in frequency to a signal suitable for input to said oscillator.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of counting said oscillator frequency and said step of counting said line frequency are simultaneously restarted on a pre-defined periodic basis.

13. A self-calibrating radio frequency transmitter wherein said transmitter includes an oscillator having both an oscillator frequency and a desired operating frequency, and wherein said transmitter is powered by an AC power line and wherein said AC power line presents a line frequency, comprising:

means for counting said oscillator frequency;

means for counting said line frequency;

means for comparing the counted oscillator frequency to the counted line frequency to produce a difference in frequency, wherein said difference in frequency indicates a deviation of said oscillator frequency from said desired operating frequency; and

means for adjusting said oscillator frequency back to said desired operating frequency according to said difference in frequency.

14. The transmitter of claim 13, wherein said means for comparing comprises a microprocessor.

15. The transmitter of claim 13, wherein said difference in frequency comprises a deviation of said oscillator frequency from said desired operating frequency of greater than 0.5 parts per million.

16. The transmitter of claim 13, further comprising means for dividing said oscillator frequency to a level suitable for counting.

17. The transmitter of claim 13, further comprising means for converting said difference in frequency to a signal suitable for input to said oscillator.

18. The transmitter of claim 13, wherein said means for counting said oscillator frequency and said means for counting said line frequency are simultaneously restarted on a periodic basis.