Method and system for use of TSPC logic for high-speed multi-modulus divider in PLL

• US 8,045,674 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Dandan
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/618,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 331/1.A, 331/34, 331/25, 327/115, 327/117, 327/118, 327/156, 327/157, 327/159, 377/47, 377/48
• US Class Current: 377/47
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 13/004 the logic means delivering pulses at more than one terminal, e.g. up and down pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 23/486 with a base which is a non-integer
• 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 7/093 using special filtering or amplification characteristics in the loop H03L7/087 - H03L7/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/1976 using a phase accumulator for controlling the counter or frequency divider

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for use of true single phase clock (TSPC) logic for a high-speed multi-modulus divider in a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided. A fractional-N PLL synthesizer may comprise a divider that generates a divider signal from a VCO output reference signal. The divider may comprise at least one divider stage that utilizes true single phase clock (TSCP) logic D flip-flops. The first divider stage may operate at substantially the same frequency as that of the VCO signal. The divider may also re-synchronize the VCO signal and the divider signal by using at least two re-synchronization stages that utilize a TSCP logic D flip-flop and a stage for adjusting duty-duty cycle of the divider signal. The TSCP logic D flip-flops circuitry may be integrated with a two-input NAND gate or a three-input NAND gate to speed up the operation of the divider.

Claims

1. A method for signal processing, the method comprising:

in a fractional-N phase-locked-loop (PLL) synthesizer that comprises a divider and a VCO, generating a divider signal in said divider from an output reference signal generated from said VCO, wherein said divider comprises at least one divider stage that utilizes true single phase clock (TSPC) logic D flip-flops for dividing said VCO output reference signal, wherein said TSPC logic D flip-flops comprise a NAND gate coupled to a D input of said D flip-flops;

re-synchronizing said VCO output reference signal and said divider signal, wherein said divider comprises at least two re-synchronization stages that utilize a TSPC logic D flip-flop; and

feeding back said generated divider signal within said fractional-N PLL synthesizer to produce said VCO output reference signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising operating a first of said at least one divider stage at substantially the same frequency as that of the VCO output reference signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising disabling at least one of said at least one divider stage.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising adjusting a duty cycle of said divider signal between a first and a second of said at least two re-synchronization stages.

5. A system for signal processing, the system comprising:

a fractional-N phase-locked-loop (PLL) synthesizer that comprises a divider and a VCO;

said divider enables generation of a divider signal from an output reference signal generated from said VCO, wherein said divider comprises at least one divider stage that utilizes true single phase clock (TSPC) logic D flip-flops for dividing said VCO output reference signal, wherein said TSPC logic comprises a NAND gate coupled to a D input of said D flip-flops;

said divider enables re-synchronization of said VCO output reference signal and said divider signal, wherein said divider comprises at least two re-synchronization stages that utilize a TSPC logic D flip-flop; and

said divider feeds back said generated divider signal within said fractional-N PLL synthesizer to produce said VCO output reference signal.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein a first of said at least one divider stage in said divider enables operation at substantially the same frequency as that of the VCO output reference signal.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said fractional-N PLL synthesizer enables disabling at least one of said at least one divider stage.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein said divider enables adjustment of a duty cycle of said divider signal between a first and a second of said at least two re-synchronization stages.

9. A system for signal processing, the system comprising:

a D flip-flop integrated within at least one divider stage in a divider utilized by a fractional-N phased-locked-loop (PPL) synthesizer;

said D flip-flop utilizes true single phase clock (TCPC) logic comprising a NAND gate coupled to a D input of said D flip-flop; and

said D flip-flop enables communication of a received clock signal to at least a p-type transistor in a first D flip-flop circuit stage and an n-type transistor in a final D flip-flop circuit stage, wherein a source of said p-type transistor is not directly connected to Vdd and a source of said n-type transistor is not directly connected to ground.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said NAND gate comprises a two-input NAND gate.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said NAND gate comprises a three-input NAND gate.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said D flip-flop is integrated within a first of said at least one divider stage.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein said D flip-flop is integrated within a second of said at least one divider stage.

14. A system for signal processing, the system comprising:

a D flip-flop integrated within at least one re-synchronization stage in a divider utilized by a fractional-N phased-locked-loop (PLL) synthesizer;

said D flip-flop utilizes true single phase clock (TCPC) logic comprising a NAND gate coupled to a D input of said D flip flop; and

said D flip-flop enables communication of a received clock signal to at least a p-type transistor in a first D flip-flop circuit stage and an n-type transistor in a final D flip-flop circuit stage, wherein a source of said p-type transistor is not directly connected to Vdd and a source of said n-type transistor is not directly connected to ground.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said D flip-flop is integrated with a two-input AND gate.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said D flip-flop is integrated within a first of said at least one re-synchronization stage.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said D flip-flop is integrated within a second of said at least one re-synchronization stage.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said D flip-flop is integrated with a delay.