Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A fractional synthesis approach and arrangement are presented which achieve fine frequency resolution with low phase noise while at the same time retaining a high phase comparison frequency/fast frequency changing speed. An output signal having a desired output frequency is generated by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). An output divider divides the output frequency by an output divisor N to produce an output pulse train. The output divisor N may be equal to an output integer N or the output integer plus one N+1, for example, and may change during the generation of a single output frequency. For different desired output frequencies, the value of the output integer N may be varied. A reference divider divides a reference frequency by a reference divisor M to produce a reference pulse train. The reference divisor M may be equal to a reference integer M or the reference integer plus one M+1, for example, and may change during the generation of a single output frequency. A fractional controller may vary the value of the divisor M between successive pulses from the reference divider to produce a mean output pulse frequency having a non-integral relationship to the reference frequency. A phase error detector compares the pulse trains and generates a phase error signal. This signal, which may be filtered or other wise processed, controls the VCO to produce the output signal at the desired output frequency.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim