Frequency tuning for a phase locked loop FM demodulator

• US 5,446,411 A
• Filed: 12/30/1993
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SGS Thomson Microelectronics Ltd (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: SGS Thomson Microelectronics Ltd (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Horsfall, Wayne L., Shipton, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimm, Siegfried H.
• Application Number:
  US08/176,342
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 331/10, 331/11, 331/14, 331/16, 331/17, 331/25, 329/325, 329/326, 455/208, 455/260
• US Class Current: 329/325
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 3/244 combined with means for obtaining automatic gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/113 using frequency discriminator

Abstract

Apparatus for setting up the tuning frequency of a phase locked loop is provided which utilises the voltage controlled oscillator of the phase locked loop itself. The apparatus includes signal translation circuitry which can provide a control voltage to the VCO of the phase locked loop dependent on a tuning voltage which is alterable in response to the frequency of the signal output by the VCO.

Claims

1. Apparatus for setting up the tuning frequency of a phase locked loop including a voltage controlled oscillator, the apparatus comprising:

signal translation circuitry having a first input connected to receive a first voltage and a second input connected to receive a tuning voltage, the signal translation circuitry providing a control voltage to the voltage controlled oscillator which is dependent on the first voltage and the tuning voltage;

frequency detection circuitry for comparing a frequency of a first signal output by the voltage controlled oscillator in response to said control voltage with a reference frequency and generating an output, wherein said tuning voltage is altered in response to the output of the frequency detection circuitry;

a switch through which the tuning voltage is supplied and which is disconnected when the correct tuning voltage has been established; and

a phase comparator connected to receive an FM modulated carrier wave as an input signal to the phase locked loop;

wherein the voltage controlled oscillator has a second output which is supplied to said phase comparator to provide a voltage dependent on the phase difference between the second output of the voltage controlled oscillator and the input signal to the phase locked loop, the signal translation circuit providing to the voltage controlled oscillator a control voltage dependent on the voltage representative of the phase difference add on the preset tuning voltage when said switch is disconnected wherein said first voltage represents a demodulated output derived from said FM modulated carrier wave.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frequency detection circuitry comprises first and second current sources connected in series between respective voltage rails and an output node and being selectively switchable in response to a phase comparator connected to receive the first signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator and the reference frequency signal.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the output node supplies current which provides the tuning voltage via a capacitor, said capacitor maintaining the tuning voltage on the second input of the signal translation circuitry.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, during tuning, the first voltage is a reference voltage set at a predetermined level.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signal translation circuit comprises a series resistance network having a resistance between the first input and the output providing the control voltage which is substantially greater than the resistance between the output providing the control voltage and the second input.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes circuitry for preventing drift of the tuning voltage after it has been set.

7. Apparatus for setting up the tuning frequency of a phase locked loop including a voltage controlled oscillator, the apparatus comprising:

signal translation circuitry having a first input connected to receive a first voltage and a second input connected to receive a tuning voltage, the signal translation circuitry providing a control voltage to the voltage controlled oscillator which is dependent on the first voltage and the tuning voltage;

frequency detection circuitry for detecting a frequency of a first signal output by the voltage controlled oscillator in response to said control voltage, wherein said tuning voltage is altered in response to the frequency detected by the frequency detection circuitry;

a phase comparator connected to receive an FM modulated carrier wave as an input signal to the phase locked loop;

wherein the voltage controlled oscillator has a further output which is supplied to said phase comparator to provide a voltage dependent on the phase difference between the further output of the voltage controlled oscillator and the input signal to the phase locked loop, the signal translation circuit providing to the voltage controlled oscillator a control voltage dependent on the voltage representative of the phase difference and on the preset tuning voltage;

wherein the frequency detection circuitry comprises first and second current sources connected in series between respective voltage rails and an output node and being selectively switchable in response to a phase comparator connected to receive the signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator and a reference frequency signal, said frequency detection circuit being selectively disconnected from said second input when the correct tuning voltage has been established.

8. A method of operating a phase locked loop to provide a demodulated output derived from an FM modulated carrier wave provided as an input to the phase locked loop, the phase locked loop including a voltage controlled oscillator and the method comprising the steps of:

(i) tuning the phase locked loop to operate at a predetermined frequency by supplying a tuning voltage to a signal translation circuit which provides a control voltage for the voltage controlled oscillator, detecting the frequency output from the voltage controlled oscillator and setting the tuning voltage at the predetermined frequency; and

(ii) after setting the tuning voltage, using the voltage controlled oscillator to provide an output to a phase comparator of the phase locked loop, said phase comparator providing a voltage dependent on the phase difference between the output of the voltage controlled oscillator and the FM modulated carrier wave to generate said demodulated output.

9. A method according to claim 8 which includes the step of providing a reference voltage to the signal translation circuit during said tuning step so that the control voltage is a function of the tuning voltage and the reference voltage.

10. A method of operating a phase locked loop according to claim 8 wherein the step of detecting the frequency output from the voltage controlled oscillator comprises selectively switching first and second current sources connected in series between respective voltage rails and an output node in response to a phase comparator connected to receive the frequency output from the voltage controlled oscillator and a reference frequency.

11. A method of operating a phase locked loop according to claim 8 wherein the step of setting the tuning voltage comprises applying a correct tuning voltage to the signal translation circuit from a frequency detection circuit and then disconnecting the frequency detection circuit from the signal translation circuit.

12. A method of operating a phase locked loop according to claim 8 wherein the FM modulated carrier wave is modulated by an audio signal.

13. A method of operating a phase locked loop according to claim 8 wherein a plurality of FM modulated carrier waves of different frequencies and amplitudes are provided as an input to the phase locked loop and wherein the phase locked loop is tuned to one of said frequencies by said tuning step.