IP Library Granted Patent US 7,920,665
Granted Patent B1
US 7,920,665 · App. 11/541,000 · Granted Apr 5, 2011

Symmetrical range controller circuit and method

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,920,665
App. No.
11/541,000
Granted
Apr 5, 2011
Kind
B1
Abstract

A symmetrical range controller for phase-locked loop circuits includes a first counter coupled to a first signal line, where the first counter is configured to count state transition edges of the first signal, inhibit logic coupled to the first counter, where the inhibit logic is configured to inhibit an output signal of a second counter in response to a predetermined count of the first counter, and reset logic coupled to the first counter, where the reset logic is configured to reset the second counter in response to a full count of the first counter.

Claims (10)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first counter coupled to a first signal line, the first counter configured to count state transition edges of the first signal;

inhibit logic coupled to the first counter, the inhibit logic configured to inhibit an output signal of a second counter in response to a predetermined count of the first counter; and

reset logic coupled to the first counter, the reset logic configured to reset the second counter in response to a full count of the first counter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first counter is further configured to generate an output signal in response to the full count of the first counter and a determination that the output signal is not inhibited.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising disable logic coupled to a first signal line, a second signal line, and the first and second counters, the disable logic configured to disable both counters upon detection of synchronization of a first frequency and phase of the first signal with a second frequency and phase of the second signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising detect logic coupled to the first signal line, the second signal line, and the first counter, the detect logic configured to detect the presence of the second signal prior to generation of the first output signal, wherein the first output signal is generated in response to a determination that the second signal is present.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising clear logic coupled to the first counter, the clear logic configured to clear previously set inhibit signals and reset signals of the first counter in conjunction with a counter reset operation of the second counter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first counter further comprises a fixed word-length counter, wherein the word-length corresponds to a predetermined sampling rate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising range logic coupled to a bit state signal output of the first counter, wherein the range logic is configured to determine a number of counts to be reached before generation of a first inhibit signal.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054486/0422 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2018
From: RPX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 046486/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2014
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031950/0752 →