IP Library Granted Patent US 8,487,675
Granted Patent B2
US 8,487,675 · App. 13/297,195 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Phase-locked loop

Inventors: Ming-Yu Hsieh (ChuPei, TW); Shih-Chieh Yen (ChuPei, TW)
Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,487,675
App. No.
13/297,195
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A phase-locked loop (PLL) including an active filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), two phase detectors, a charge pump and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is provided. The VCO generates an oscillation signal according to a control signal provided at an output of the active filter. The first phase detector generates a phase difference signal according to a reference signal and a feedback signal associating with the oscillation signal. The charge pump provides a charging current to a first input of the active filter according to the phase difference. The second phase detector generates a digital reference signal according to the phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal. The DAC converts the digital reference signal to an analog reference voltage and provides the analog reference voltage to the second input of the active filter.

Claims (27)

1. A phase-locked loop (PLL), comprising:

an active filter, comprising a first input, a second input, and an output for providing a control signal;

a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates an oscillation signal according to the control signal;

a first phase detector that generates a phase difference signal according to a reference signal and a feedback signal, the feedback signal associated with the oscillation signal;

a charge pump that provides a charging current to the first input of the active filter according to the phase difference signal;

a second phase detector that generates a digital reference signal according to a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal, the second phase detector generating the digital reference signal with differently valued multi-segment digital unit values as input; and

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that converts the digital reference signal to an analog reference signal which is fed to the active filter.

2. The PLL according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a capacitor, coupled to the second input of the active filter;

a switch, coupled between the second input and the DAC; and

a switch module that controls the switch to disconnect a link between the DAC and the second input.

3. The PLL according to claim 1 , wherein the digital reference signal is fixed at a predetermined voltage when the phase difference is greater than a threshold.

4. The PLL according to claim 1 , wherein the active filter comprises an operational amplifier, a capacitor, and a resistor, wherein two inputs of the operational amplifier are respectively the first input and the second input, and wherein the capacitor and the resistor are connected in parallel between the first input and the output.

5. The PLL according to claim 1 , wherein the second phase detector comprises an accumulator that generates the digital reference signal, and wherein a positive/negative signal of the phase difference corresponds to a positive/negative signal of an input signal of the accumulator.

6. The PLL according to claim 5 , wherein a change in a speed of the digital reference signal corresponds to a magnitude of the input signal of the accumulator.

7. The PLL according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a frequency divider, coupled to the VCO, that frequency-divides the oscillation signal to generate the feedback signal.

8. A method for controlling a phase-locked loop (PLL), comprising:

providing a control signal by an active filter;

generating an oscillation signal according to the control signal;

generating a phase difference signal according to a reference signal and a feedback signal, the feedback signal associated with the oscillation signal;

providing a charging current to a first input of the active filter according to the phase difference signal;

generating a digital reference signal with differently valued multi-segment digital unit values as input according to a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal; and

converting the digital reference signal to an analog reference signal which is fed to the active filter.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the digital reference signal is fixed at a predetermined voltage when the phase difference is greater than a threshold.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the digital reference signal is generated by an accumulator, and wherein a positive/negative signal of the phase difference corresponds to a positive/negative signal of an input signal of the accumulator.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a change in a speed of the digital reference signal corresponds to a magnitude of the input signal of the accumulator.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.; EVAULT, INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 070363/0903 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2024
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT INC
Reel/Frame 068457/0076 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 8, 2019
From: MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: MEDIATEK INC.
Reel/Frame 050665/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2012
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT, INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 029127/0527 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2012
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT, INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029253/0585 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2011
From: HSIEH, MING-YU; YEN, SHIH-CHIEH
To: MSTAR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 027232/0848 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 99139438 A · Nov 16, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120119801A1 · May 17, 2012