Clock generation circuit and clock generation control circuit
View Patent ↗According to a preferred embodiment, a clock signal generation circuit includes an oscillating circuit configured to output a clock signal having a clock frequency corresponding to a control signal, a counter configured to generate a count value by counting a pulse number of the clock signal outputted from the oscillating circuit during a predetermined time period, a subtracting circuit configured to produce differential data by subtracting the count value from a preset value previously set based on a predetermined clock frequency, a control signal correcting circuit configured to generate a correcting control signal by correcting a value of the control signal based on the differential data, and a digital-analog converter circuit configured to convert the correcting control signal into an analog correcting control signal and output the converted analog correcting control signal to the oscillating circuit. This clock signal generation circuit can prevent increasing of the circuit size or the system size due to a resistor, a capacitor element, etc., used in a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) without using a central processing unit.
1. A clock signal generation circuit, comprising:
an oscillating circuit configured to output a clock signal having a clock frequency corresponding to a control signal;
a counter configured to generate a count value by counting a pulse number of the clock signal outputted from the oscillating circuit during a predetermined time period;
a subtracting circuit configured to produce differential data by subtracting the count value from a preset value previously set based on a predetermined clock frequency;
a control signal correcting circuit configured to generate a correcting control signal by correcting a value of the control signal based on the differential data;
a digital-analog converter circuit configured to convert the correcting control signal into an analog correcting control signal and output the converted analog correcting control signal to the oscillating circuit;
a timing control circuit for controlling count operation of the counter, wherein the counter counts the pulse number of the clock signal within the predetermined time period in accordance with control of the timing control circuit; and
a switch connected between the oscillating circuit and the counter, wherein the switch is configured to be on/off-controlled based on a timing signal outputted from the timing control circuit and output the clock signal inputted during an ON-state of the switch to the counter.
2. The clock signal generation circuit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the timing control circuit controls initiation/termination of count operation of the counter.
3. The clock signal generation circuit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a frequency setting circuit that stores the preset value, the frequency setting circuit being connected to the subtracting circuit,
wherein the subtracting circuit is configured to produce the differential data by subtracting the count value from the preset value stored in the frequency setting circuit.
4. An electronic circuit system equipped with a clock signal generation circuit, a peripheral circuit connected to the clock signal generation circuit and a central processing unit for controlling the peripheral circuit,
wherein the clock signal generation circuit comprises:
an oscillating circuit configured to output a clock signal having a clock frequency corresponding to a control signal;
a counter configured to generate a count value by counting a pulse number of the clock signal outputted from the oscillating circuit during a predetermined time period;
a subtracting circuit configured to produce differential data by subtracting the count value from a preset value previously set based on a predetermined clock frequency;
a control signal correcting circuit configured to generate a correcting control signal by correcting a value of the control signal based on the differential data;
a digital-analog converter circuit configured to convert the correcting control signal into an analog correcting control signal and output the converted analog correcting control signal to the oscillating circuit;
a timing control circuit for controlling count operation of the counter; wherein the counter counts the pulse number of the clock signal within the predetermined time period in accordance with control of the timing control circuit; and
a switch connected between the oscillating circuit and the counter, wherein the switch is configured to be on/off-controlled based on a timing signal outputted from the timing control circuit and output the clock signal inputted during an ON-state of the switch to the counter,
whereby the clock signal generation circuit executes frequency control of the clock signal without using the central processing unit.
5. A clock signal generation control circuit to be connected to an oscillating circuit for outputting a clock signal having a clock frequency corresponding to a control signal and a frequency control circuit for generating the control signal,
wherein the clock signal generation control circuit comprises:
a counter configured to count a pulse number of the clock signal outputted from the oscillating circuit during a predetermine time period and change an output level of a count control signal when a count value becomes equal to a preset value corresponding to the clock frequency;
an error detection circuit configured to detect a timing error between a timing signal indicating the predetermined time period and the count control signal and output an error detection signal; a timing control circuit configured to control count operation of the counter and output a timing signal to the error detection circuit, wherein the counter is configured to initiate counting of the pulse number of the clock signal in accordance with control of the timing control circuit; and
a switch connected between the oscillating circuit and the counter, wherein the switch is configured to be on/off-controlled based on a timing signal outputted from the timing control circuit and output the clock signal inputted during an ON-state of the switch to the counter,
wherein the frequency control circuit generates the control signal based on the error detection signal.
6. The clock signal generation control circuit as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a frequency setting circuit connected to the counter, the frequency setting circuit storing the preset value,
wherein the counter is configured to output the count control signal when the count value becomes equal to the preset value.
7. The clock signal generation control circuit as recited in claim 6 , wherein the counter initiates countdown operation starting from the preset value as the starting value stored in the frequency setting circuit, and outputs the count control signal when a countdown value becomes “0”.
8. The clock signal generation control circuit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the oscillating circuit is a circuit equipped with a voltage-controlled oscillator.
9. The clock signal generation control circuit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the timing control circuit controls initiation/termination of count operation of the counter.
10. The clock signal generation control circuit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the frequency control circuit generates the control signal for controlling the clock frequency of the clock signal generated by the oscillating circuit, based on the error detection signal outputted from the error detection circuit, and outputs the control signal to the oscillating circuit.
11. The clock signal generation control circuit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the frequency control circuit comprises a charge pump circuit and a low pass filter.
12. An electrical circuit system equipped with a clock signal generation circuit including a clock signal generation control circuit, a peripheral circuit connected to the clock signal generation circuit and a central processing unit for controlling the peripheral circuit,
wherein the clock signal generation control circuit is connected to an oscillating circuit for outputting a clock signal having a clock frequency in accordance with a control signal and a frequency control circuit for generating the control signal,
wherein the clock signal generation control circuit comprises:
a counter configured to count a pulse number of the clock signal outputted from the oscillating circuit in a predetermine time period and change an output level of a count control signal when the counted value becomes equal to a preset value corresponding to the clock frequency;
an error detection circuit configured to detect a timing error between a timing signal indicating the predetermine time period and the count control signal and output an error detection signal;
a timing control circuit configured to control count operation of the counter and output a timing signal to the error detection circuit, wherein the counter is configured to initiate counting of the pulse number of the clock signal in accordance with control of the timing control circuit; and
a switch connected between the oscillating circuit and the counter, wherein the switch is configured to be on/off-controlled based on a timing signal outputted from the timing control circuit and output the clock signal inputted during an ON-state of the switch to the counter,
wherein the frequency control circuit generates the control signal based on the error detection signal,
whereby the clock signal generation control circuit executes frequency control of the clock signal without using the central processing unit.