Phase-locked loop circuit, semiconductor integrated circuit, electronic device, and control method of phase-locked loop circuit

• US 20110215875A1
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yagishita, Yuki, Tsukuda, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 8,253,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 331/34
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 2207/06 Phase locked loops with a controlled oscillator having at least two frequency control terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/00 Automatic control of frequency or phase; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/0891 the up-down pulses controlling source and sink current generators, e.g. a charge pump
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/099 concerning mainly the controlled oscillator of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/0995 the oscillator comprising a ring oscillator
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/113 using frequency discriminator
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/18 using a frequency divider or counter in the loop H03L7/20, H03L7/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/183 a time difference being used for locking the loop, the counter counting between fixed numbers or the frequency divider dividing by a fixed number H03L7/1806 takes precedence

Abstract

A phase-locked loop circuit includes: a phase and frequency comparing section configured to compare a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generate an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison; an oscillating section configured to generate an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to the error signal; a frequency dividing section configured to generate the comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing the internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio; an oscillator control section configured to generate an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of the internal clock signal output from the oscillating section on a basis of the error signal; and a frequency divider control section configured to generate a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of the frequency dividing section on a basis of the error signal.

Claims

1. A phase-locked loop circuit comprising:

a phase and frequency comparing section configured to compare a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generate an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison;

an oscillating section configured to generate an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal;

a frequency dividing section configured to generate said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio;

an oscillator control section configured to generate an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating section on a basis of said error signal; and

a frequency divider control section configured to generate a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing section on a basis of said error signal;

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that said oscillation control signal and said frequency division control signal respond having a predetermined relation to each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

2. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1,

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that control response of said oscillation control signal and control response of said frequency division control signal, the control response of said oscillation control signal and the control response of said frequency division control signal being based on said error signal, have a predetermined correlation to each other both in the pull-in process and at the time of locking.

3. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 2,

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that the control response of said oscillation control signal and the control response of said frequency division control signal, the control response of said oscillation control signal and the control response of said frequency division control signal being based on said error signal, have a linear relation to each other both in the pull-in process and at the time of locking.

5. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1,

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section sets relation between the respective control signals such that a maximum operating frequency of said frequency dividing section, the maximum operating frequency corresponding to an arbitrary value of said error signal both in the pull-in process and at the time of locking, is always higher than frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating section.

6. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1,

wherein said frequency divider control section is configured such that said frequency division control signal at the time of locking sets, in said frequency dividing section, a bias current lower than a bias current based on said error signal corresponding to a maximum frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating section in the pull-in process.

7. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1,

wherein said oscillating section is configured to operate on a basis of said oscillation control signal in a current mode,

said frequency dividing section is configured to operate on a basis of said frequency division control signal in the current mode, and

said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured to generate the respective control signals in the current mode by current copy operation on a basis of said error signal.

8. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 7, further comprising a current source section configured to generate a current signal by source degeneration on a basis of said error signal,

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured to generate the respective control signals in the current mode by the current copy operation on a basis of the current signal generated by said current source section.

9. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 8,

wherein said current source section is configured to compare said error signal with the generated said current signal and perform feedback operation.

10. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 7,

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section have a current source section configured to generate a current on a basis of said error signal, and

at least one of said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section has a plurality of said current source sections of an identical configuration, and are configured to generate said control signal by a combination of current signals generated in the respective current source sections.

11. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 7,

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section have a transistor element for generating a current on a basis of said error signal, and

at least one of said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section

includes a switch connected to each finger of said transistor element,

is configured such that an opposite side of said switch from said finger is connected to a common connection point, and a current on a side of the common connection point is set as said control signal, and

is configured such that magnitude of said control signal is adjustable by adjusting a number of switches turned on.

12. The phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 7,

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section have a current source section configured to generate a current on a basis of said error signal, and

at least one of said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section

includes a plurality of said current source sections of an identical configuration,

includes a switch connected to an output of each current source section,

is configured such that an opposite side of said switch from said current source section is connected to a common connection point, and a current on a side of the common connection point is set as said control signal, and

is configured such that magnitude of said control signal is adjustable by adjusting a number of switches turned on.

4. A phase-locked loop circuit comprising:

a phase and frequency comparing section configured to compare a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generate an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison;

an oscillating section configured to generate an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal;

a frequency dividing section configured to generate said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio;

an oscillator control section configured to generate an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating section on a basis of said error signal; and

a frequency divider control section configured to generate a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing section on a basis of said error signal;

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that said oscillating section and said frequency dividing section perform interlocked operation on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

13. A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

a phase and frequency comparing section configured to compare a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generate an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison, an oscillating section configured to generate an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal, a frequency dividing section configured to generate said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio, an oscillator control section configured to generate an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating section on a basis of said error signal, and a frequency divider control section configured to generate a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing section on a basis of said error signal; and

a signal processing section configured to operate on a basis of said internal clock signal;

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that said oscillation control signal and said frequency division control signal respond having a predetermined relation to each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking, or

said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that said oscillating section and said frequency dividing section perform interlocked operation on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a phase and frequency comparing section configured to compare a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generate an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison, an oscillating section configured to generate an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal, a frequency dividing section configured to generate said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio, an oscillator control section configured to generate an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating section on a basis of said error signal, and a frequency divider control section configured to generate a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing section on a basis of said error signal; and

a signal processing section configured to operate on a basis of said internal clock signal;

wherein said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that said oscillation control signal and said frequency division control signal respond having a predetermined relation to each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking, or

said oscillator control section and said frequency divider control section are configured such that said oscillating section and said frequency dividing section perform interlocked operation on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

15. A control method of a phase-locked loop circuit, said control method comprising the steps of:

comparing a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generating an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison;

generating an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal;

generating said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio;

generating an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal on a basis of said error signal; and

generating a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of a circuit performing said frequency dividing on a basis of said error signal;

wherein said oscillation control signal and said frequency division control signal are made to respond having a predetermined relation to each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

16. A control method of a phase-locked loop circuit, said control method comprising the steps of:

comparing a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generating an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison;

generating an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal;

generating said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio;

generating an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal on a basis of said error signal; and

generating a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of a circuit performing said frequency dividing on a basis of said error signal;

wherein the step of generating said internal clock signal and the step of generating said comparison clock signal are operated so as to be interlocked with each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

17. A phase-locked loop circuit comprising:

phase and frequency comparing means for comparing a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generating an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison;

oscillating means for generating an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal;

frequency dividing means for generating said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio;

oscillator control means for generating an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating means on a basis of said error signal; and

frequency divider control means for generating a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing means on a basis of said error signal;

wherein said oscillator control means and said frequency divider control means are configured such that said oscillation control signal and said frequency division control signal respond having a predetermined relation to each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

18. A phase-locked loop circuit comprising:

phase and frequency comparing means for comparing a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generating an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison;

oscillating means for generating an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal;

frequency dividing means for generating said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio;

oscillator control means for generating an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating means on a basis of said error signal; and

frequency divider control means for generating a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing means on a basis of said error signal;

wherein said oscillator control means and said frequency divider control means are configured such that said oscillating means and said frequency dividing means perform interlocked operation on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

19. A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

phase and frequency comparing means for comparing a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generating an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison, oscillating means for generating an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal, frequency dividing means for generating said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio, oscillator control means for generating an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating means on a basis of said error signal, and frequency divider control means for generating a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing means on a basis of said error signal; and

signal processing means for operating on a basis of said internal clock signal;

wherein said oscillator control means and said frequency divider control means are configured such that said oscillation control signal and said frequency division control signal respond having a predetermined relation to each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking, or

said oscillator control means and said frequency divider control means are configured such that said oscillating means and said frequency dividing means perform interlocked operation on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.

20. An electronic device comprising:

phase and frequency comparing means for comparing a phase of an external reference clock signal with a phase of a comparison clock signal, and generating an error signal corresponding to a result of comparison, oscillating means for generating an internal clock signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to said error signal, frequency dividing means for generating said comparison clock signal by frequency-dividing said internal clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio, oscillator control means for generating an oscillation control signal for controlling frequency of said internal clock signal output from said oscillating means on a basis of said error signal, and frequency divider control means for generating a frequency division control signal for controlling a bias current of said frequency dividing means on a basis of said error signal; and

signal processing means for operating on a basis of said internal clock signal;

wherein said oscillator control means and said frequency divider control means are configured such that said oscillation control signal and said frequency division control signal respond having a predetermined relation to each other on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking, or

said oscillator control means and said frequency divider control means are configured such that said oscillating means and said frequency dividing means perform interlocked operation on a basis of said error signal both in a pull-in process and at a time of locking.