IP Library Granted Patent US 10,516,401
Granted Patent B2
US 10,516,401 · App. 16/214,179 · Granted Dec 24, 2019

Wobble reduction in an integer mode digital phase locked loop

Inventors: Jayawardan Janardhanan (Issaquah, WA); Eric Paul Lindgren (Bonney Lake, WA); Henry Yao (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
H03L7/081H03L7/104
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 10,516,401
App. No.
16/214,179
Granted
Dec 24, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A circuit includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) to produce an output signal that is a function of a time difference between a first input clock to the TDC and a second input clock to the TDC. A first delay line is also included to add a time delay to a third clock to produce the first input clock. A pseudo random binary sequence generator generates a pseudo random binary bit sequence to be used to vary the amount of time delay added by the first delay line to the third clock.

Claims (38)

1. A circuit, comprising:

a time-to-digital converter (TDC) to produce an output signal that is a function of a time difference between a first input clock to the TDC and a second input clock to the TDC;

a first delay line to add a time delay to a third clock to produce the first input clock; and

a pseudo random binary sequence generator to generate a pseudo random binary bit sequence to be used to vary the amount of time delay added by the first delay line to the third clock.

2. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first delay line includes a comparator and a ramp generator circuit.

3. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first delay line includes a resistive digital-to-analog converter (RDAC) a comparator, and ramp generator circuit, and a flip-flop.

4. The circuit of claim 3 , wherein the ramp generator circuit includes a current source device, a capacitor and a transistor switch, the transistor connected in parallel to the capacitor.

5. The circuit of claim 3 , wherein the flip-flop includes a clock input that is coupled to an output of the comparator, and the flip-flop also includes a data input that is coupled to receive the third clock.

6. The circuit of claim 5 , wherein the flip-flop includes an output that is coupled to the ramp generator circuit.

7. The circuit of claim 1 , wherein:

the first delay line includes a resistive digital-to-analog converter (RDAC), a comparator and a ramp generator circuit;

the RDAC is coupled to an input of the comparator; and

the RDAC is to generate an analog voltage based on the pseudo random binary bit sequence.

8. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the ramp generator circuit is coupled to another input of the comparator, and the ramp generator is to generate a ramp signal responsive to an edge of the third clock.

9. The circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a second delay line to add a delay to the second clock.

10. The circuit of claim 9 , wherein the pseudo random binary bit sequence from the pseudo random binary sequence generator is to be used to vary the amount of time delay added by the second delay line to the second clock.

11. A digital phase-locked loop (DPLL), comprising:

an analog phase-lock loop to generate an output clock;

a time-digital converter (TDC) to produce an output signal that is a function of a time difference between an input reference clock and clock derived from the output clock;

a filter coupled to the TDC to filter an output signal from the TDC;

a first delay line to add a time delay to a third clock to produce the first input clock; and

a pseudo random binary sequence generator to generate a pseudo random binary bit sequence to be used to vary the amount of time delay added by the first delay line to the third clock.

12. The DPLL of claim 11 , wherein the first delay line includes a comparator and a ramp generator circuit.

13. The DPLL of claim 11 , wherein the first delay line includes a resistive digital-to-analog converter (RDAC), a comparator, and ramp generator circuit, and a flip-flop.

14. The DPLL of claim 13 , wherein the flip-flop includes a clock input that is coupled to an output of the comparator, and the flip-flop also includes a data input that is coupled to receive the third clock.

15. The DPLL of claim 11 , wherein:

the first delay line includes a resistive digital-to-analog converter (RDAC), a comparator and a ramp generator circuit;

the RDAC is coupled to an input of the comparator; and

the RDAC is to generate an analog voltage based on the pseudo random binary bit sequence.

16. The DPLL of claim 15 , wherein the ramp generator circuit is coupled to another input of the comparator, and the ramp generator is to generate a ramp signal responsive to an edge of the third clock.

17. The DPLL of claim 11 , further comprising a second delay line to add a delay to the second clock.

18. The DPLL of claim 17 , wherein the pseudo random binary bit sequence from the pseudo random binary sequence generator is to be used to vary the amount of time delay added by the second delay line to the second clock.

19. A circuit, comprising:

a time-to-digital converter (TDC) to produce an output signal that is a function of a time difference between a first input clock to the TDC and a second input clock to the TDC;

a first delay line to add a time delay to a third clock to produce the first input clock;

a second delay line to add a time delay to a fourth clock to produce the second clock; and

a circuit to generate a pseudo random value to be used to vary the amount of time delay added by the first delay line to the third clock and by the second delay line to the fourth clock.

20. The circuit of claim 19 , wherein the circuit to generate the pseudo random value comprises a multi-bit pseudo random binary sequence generator circuit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2018
From: JANARDHANAN, JAYAWARDAN; LINDGREN, ERIC PAUL; YAO, HENRY
To: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 047716/0526 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62640601 · Mar 9, 2018
Related Publication 20190280649A1 · Sep 12, 2019