Frequency synthesizer with temperature compensation and frequency multiplication and method of providing the same

• US 5,604,468 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gillig, Steven F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIS, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US08/635,487
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 331/1 A, 331/16, 331/18, 331/23, 331/25, 331/66, 331/176, 331/177 R, 331/179, 327/105-107, 327/156-159, 455/260
• US Class Current: 331/176
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 1/026 by using a memory for digitally storing correction values H03L1/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 1/027 by using frequency conversion means which is variable with temperature, e.g. mixer, frequency divider, pulse add/substract logic circuit H03L1/023, H03L1/026 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/185 using a mixer in the loop H03L7/187 - H03L7/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/197 a time difference being used for locking the loop, the counter counting between numbers which are variable in time or the frequency divider dividing by a factor variable in time, e.g. for obtaining fractional frequency division H03L7/1806 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/1976 using a phase accumulator for controlling the counter or frequency divider

Abstract

A frequency synthesizer (200) with temperature compensation and frequently multiplication. The synthesizer (200) having a temperature uncompensated frequency oscillator (202) coupled to a phase locked loop (206) including at least one temperature compensating and frequency multiplication element (208). The element (208) preferably being a multi-modulus divider. The element (208) is programmed by a control circuit (210) to vary as a function of temperature and to vary as a function of a fractional frequency multiplication factor. The element (208) also may provide adjustment of the nominal frequency of the frequency oscillator (202). The frequency oscillator (202) and preferably all the elements of the synthesizer (200) are temperature compensated by the element (208) to produce a temperature stable multiplied output frequency (238).

Claims

1. A frequency synthesizer with temperature compensation and frequency multiplication, comprising:

a temperature dependent frequency oscillator;

at least one frequency multiplication element, the element programmed to vary as a function of a temperature variation of the frequency oscillator and to vary as a function of a frequency multiplication factor;

at least one locked loop circuit chosen from the group consisting of a phase locked loop, a frequency locked loop and a delay locked loop; and

the oscillator and element being coupled to the locked loop circuit such that a temperature independent multiplied frequency is provided.

2. The frequency synthesizer of claim 1, wherein the at least one frequency multiplication element is a frequency divider.

3. The frequency synthesizer of claim 2, wherein the divider is a multi-modulus divider.

4. The frequency synthesizer of claim 3, wherein the divider is a dual-modulus divider.

5. The frequency synthesizer of claim 2, wherein the divider is connected in a feedback path of the loop circuit.

6. The frequency synthesizer of claim 2, wherein the divider is connected in a signal path of the oscillator.

7. The frequency synthesizer of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit including a temperature sensor and a memory being coupled to a temperature compensation controller, the controller of the control circuit being coupled to the element and for controlling the element.

8. The frequency synthesizer of claim 7, further comprising a noise-shaping digital modulator connected in a control signal path of the control circuit.

9. The frequency synthesizer of claim 1, wherein the element is programmed to vary as a function of a fractional frequency multiplication factor.

10. The frequency synthesizer of claim 1, wherein the locked loop circuit is a phase locked loop including a phase detector being coupled to a loop filter which is coupled to a voltage controlled oscillator having an output, the output being coupled back to a first input of the phase detector through the element, the oscillator being coupled to a second input of the phase detector.

11. The frequency synthesizer of claim 1, wherein the locked loop circuit is a frequency locked loop including a frequency detector being coupled to a loop filter which is coupled to a voltage controlled oscillator having an output, the output being coupled back to a first input of the frequency detector through the element, the oscillator being coupled to a second input of the frequency detector.

12. The frequency synthesizer of claim 1, wherein the locked loop circuit is a delay locked loop including a delay detector being coupled to a loop filter which is coupled to a voltage controlled oscillator having an output, the output being coupled back to a first input of the delay detector through the element, the oscillator being coupled to a second input of the delay detector.

13. The frequency synthesizer with temperature compensation and frequency multiplication, comprising:

a temperature dependent frequency oscillator;

at least one multi-modulus frequency divider, the divider programmed to vary as a function of a temperature variation of the frequency oscillator and to vary as a function of a frequency multiplication factor;

at least one phase locked loop including a phase detector being coupled to a loop filter which is coupled to a voltage controlled oscillator having an output, the output being coupled back to a first input of the phase detector through at least one feedback path, the oscillator being coupled to a second input of the phase detector through at least one signal path;

a control circuit including a temperature sensor and a memory being coupled to a temperature compensation controller, the controller of the control circuit being coupled to the divider and for controlling the divider; and

the divider being coupled to the phase locked loop such that a temperature independent multiplied output frequency is obtained.

14. The frequency synthesizer of claim 13, further comprising a noise-shaping digital modulator, the modulator being coupled between the controller and the divider.

15. The frequency synthesizer of claim 14, wherein the divider is connected in the at least one feedback path of the phase locked loop.

16. The frequency synthesizer of claim 14, wherein the divider is connected in the at least one signal path of the oscillator.

17. The frequency synthesizer of claim 13, further comprising at least one mixer and a second phase locked loop circuit, the at least one mixer being coupled to the at least one feedback path and the second phase locked loop circuit such that a frequency resolution of the phase locked loop is increased.

18. The frequency synthesizer of claim 14, further comprising at least one mixer and at least one feed forward path for the phase locked loop, the at least one mixer being coupled to the at least one feed forward path and the at least one feedback path such that a frequency resolution of the phase locked loop is increased.

19. The frequency synthesizer of claim 18, wherein the divider is connected in the at least one feed forward path.

20. The frequency synthesizer of claim 18, wherein the divider is connected in the at least one feedback path of the phase locked loop.

21. The frequency synthesizer of claim 18, wherein the divider is connected in the at least one signal path of the oscillator.

22. The frequency synthesizer of claim 14, wherein the divider is programmed to vary as a function of a fractional frequency multiplication factor.

23. A method of temperature compensating and multiplying a frequency output in a frequency synthesizer, comprising the steps of:

providing a temperature dependent frequency oscillator coupled to at least one frequency multiplication element being programmed to vary as a function of a temperature variation of the frequency oscillator and to vary as a function of a frequency multiplication factor;

measuring an ambient temperature value in proximity to the oscillator;

searching a lookup table for a predetermined temperature dependent control signal corresponding to the ambient temperature value and the frequency multiplication factor; and

applying the control signal to the at least one frequency multiplication element such that a desired temperature compensated and multiplied output frequency is obtained from the synthesizer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the providing step includes the at least one frequency multiplication element having a noise-shaping digital modulator and being coupled to the at least one looked loop circuit selected from the group consisting of a phase locked loop, a frequency locked loop and a delay locked loop.