IP Library Granted Patent US 9,906,227
Granted Patent B2
US 9,906,227 · App. 15/236,369 · Granted Feb 27, 2018

Method and system for a sampled loop filter in a phase locked loop (PLL)

Inventors: Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan (Carlsbad, CA); Sheng Ye (Carlsbad, CA); Vamsi Paidi (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.
H03L7/085H03L7/093H03L7/099H03L7/1974H03L7/1976
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,906,227
App. No.
15/236,369
Granted
Feb 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for a sampled loop filter in a phase locked loop (PLL) may comprise a phase locked loop (PLL) comprising a phase frequency detector, a sampled loop filter comprising a plurality of capacitors and at least one switch, a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to said sampled loop filter, and a frequency divider. The PLL generates at least one clock signal, and the sampled loop filter samples an output signal from the phase frequency detector when an average of charge provided to a first of the plurality of capacitors in the sampled loop filter is zero. The frequency divider may be a fractional-N divider. A second switch in said sampled loop filter may have switching times that are non-overlapping with switching times of the at least one switch. Capacitors may be coupled to ground from each terminal of the second switch.

Claims (63)

1. A system, comprising:

a phase locked loop (PLL) for generating at least one clock signal, said PLL comprising:

a phase frequency detector;

a sampled loop filter comprising a plurality of capacitors and at least one switch, wherein a capacitor of said plurality of capacitors is coupled to ground from each terminal of said at least one switch;

a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to said sampled loop filter; and

a frequency divider,

wherein the sampled loop filter samples an output signal from the phase frequency detector when an average of charge provided to a first of the plurality of capacitors in the sampled loop filter is zero.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said frequency divider is a fractional-N divider.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a second switch in said sampled loop filter has switching times that are non-overlapping with switching times of said at least one switch.

4. The system of claim 3 , comprising a capacitor of said plurality of capacitors is coupled to ground from each terminal of said second switch.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said sampled loop filter provides a filtered output voltage for said plurality of VCOs.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a multiplexer coupled to said plurality of VCOs feeds back an output of one of said plurality of VCOs to said frequency divider.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one switch may be sub-sampled.

8. A method, comprising:

in a phase locked loop (PLL) comprising a phase frequency detector, a sampled loop filter comprising a plurality of capacitors and at least one switch, wherein a capacitor of said plurality of capacitors is coupled to ground from each terminal of said at least one switch, a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to said sampled loop filter, and a frequency divider:

generating at least one clock signal, wherein the sampled loop filter samples an output signal from the phase frequency detector when an average of charge provided to a first of the plurality of capacitors in the sampled loop filter is zero.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said frequency divider is a fractional-N divider.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein a second switch in said sampled loop filter has switching times that are non-overlapping with switching times of said at least one switch.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a capacitor of said plurality of capacitors is coupled to ground from each terminal of said second switch.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said sampled loop filter provides a filtered output voltage for said plurality of VCOs.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein a multiplexer coupled to said plurality of VCOs feeds back an output of one of said plurality of VCOs to said frequency divider.

14. The method of claim 8 , comprising sub-sampling said at least one switch.

15. A system, comprising:

a phase locked loop (PLL), said PLL comprising:

a phase frequency detector;

a sampled loop filter comprising a plurality of capacitors and at least one switch, wherein a capacitor of said plurality of capacitors is coupled to ground from each terminal of said at least one switch;

a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to said sampled loop filter; and

a frequency divider,

wherein said PLL is operable to :

sample an output signal from the phase frequency detector utilizing said at least one switch in said sampled loop filter when an average of charge provided to a first of the plurality of capacitors in the sampled loop filter is zero; and

generate a clock signal utilizing one of said plurality of VCOs that receives an output voltage from said sampled loop filter.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a second switch in said sampled loop filter has switching times that are non-overlapping with switching times of said at least one switch.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein said frequency divider is a fractional-N divider.

18. A system, comprising:

a phase locked loop (PLL) for generating at least one clock signal, said PLL comprising:

a phase frequency detector;

a sampled loop filter comprising a plurality of capacitors and at least one switch;

a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to said sampled loop filter; and

a frequency divider,

wherein the sampled loop filter samples an output signal from the phase frequency detector when an average of charge provided to a first of the plurality of capacitors in the sampled loop filter is zero and a second switch in said sampled loop filter has switching times that are non-overlapping with switching times of said at least one switch.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein said frequency divider is a fractional-N divider.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein a capacitor of said plurality of capacitors is coupled to ground from each terminal of said second switch.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein said sampled loop filter provides a filtered output voltage for said plurality of VCOs.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein a multiplexer coupled to said plurality of VCOs feeds back an output of one of said plurality of VCOs to said frequency divider.

23. The system of claim 18 , wherein said at least one switch may be sub-sampled.

24. A method, comprising:

in a phase locked loop (PLL) comprising a phase frequency detector, a sampled loop filter comprising a plurality of capacitors and at least one switch, a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to said sampled loop filter, and a frequency divider:

generating at least one clock signal, wherein the sampled loop filter samples an output signal from the phase frequency detector when an average of charge provided to a first of the plurality of capacitors in the sampled loop filter is zero and a second switch in said sampled loop filter has switching times that are non-overlapping with switching times of said at least one switch.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein said frequency divider is a fractional-N divider.

26. The method according to claim 24 , wherein a capacitor of said plurality of capacitors is coupled to ground from each terminal of said second switch.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein said sampled loop filter provides a filtered output voltage for said plurality of VCOs.

28. The method of claim 24 , wherein a multiplexer coupled to said plurality of VCOs feeds back an output of one of said plurality of VCOs to said frequency divider.

29. The method of claim 24 , comprising sub-sampling said at least one switch.

30. A system, comprising:

a phase locked loop (PLL), said PLL comprising:

a phase frequency detector;

a sampled loop filter comprising a plurality of capacitors and at least one switch, wherein a second switch in said sampled loop filter has switching times that are non-overlapping with switching times of said at least one switch;

a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) coupled to said sampled loop filter; and

a frequency divider,

wherein said PLL is operable to :

sample an output signal from the phase frequency detector utilizing said at least one switch in said sampled loop filter when an average of charge provided to a first of the plurality of capacitors in the sampled loop filter is zero; and

generate a clock signal utilizing one of said plurality of VCOs that receives an output voltage from said sampled loop filter.

31. The system of claim 30 , wherein said frequency divider is a fractional-N divider.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056816/0089 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; EXAR CORPORATION; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056656/0204 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 042453 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053115/0842 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2017
From: GOPALAKRISHNAN, SANGEETHA; BACHU, RAGHAVA MANAS; YE, SHENG; PAIDI, VAMSI
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 043431/0698 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 12, 2017
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC (F/K/A ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.); EXAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042453/0001 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62204826 · Aug 13, 2015
Provisional Application 62363627 · Jul 18, 2016
Related Publication 20170047932A1 · Feb 16, 2017