Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A frequency synthesizer for generating an analog waveform of a predetermined frequency from accumulated digital frequency words which, as accumulated, represent the phase of a cyclic waveform of said predetermined frequency, comprising a c-bit coarse-component accumulator (48) for accumulating coarse phase components of the digital frequency words; means (50) for accumulating fine phase components of the digital frequency words; means (40) for incrementing the coarse-component accumulator in response to the accumulated fine phase components exceeding a predetermined value; a c-bit non-linear digital-to-analot converter (42) for converting the c bits accumulated in the coarse-component accumulator into an analog waveform of said predetermined frequency; and means (40) for suppressing the generation of spurious frequency components in the analog waveform by randomly dithering the rate at which the coarse component accumulator is incremented by said incrementing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A frequency synthesizer for generating an analog waveform of a predetermined frequency from accumulated digital frequency words which, as accumulated, represent the phase of a cyclic waveform of said predetermined frequency, comprising a c-bit coarse-component accumulator (48) for accumulating coarse phase components of the digital frequency words; means (50) for accumulating fine phase components of the digital frequency words; means (40) for incrementing the coarse-component accumulator in response to the accumulated fine phase components exceeding a predetermined value; a c-bit non-linear digital-to-analot converter (42) for converting the c bits accumulated in the coarse-component accumulator into an analog waveform of said predetermined frequency; and means (40) for suppressing the generation of spurious frequency components in the analog waveform by randomly dithering the rate at which the coarse component accumulator is incremented by said incrementing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
A frequency synthesizer according to Claim 1, wherein "c" equals four.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A frequency synthesizer according to Claim 1, further comprising sample and hold means (44) coupled to the output of the nonlinear digital-to-analog converter (42) for mitigating any glitch errors induced in the nonlinear digital-to-analog converter by sampling the analog waveform at such times as when glitch-induced errors are not present.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
A frequency synthesizer for generating an analog waveform of a predetermined frequency from accumulated digital frequency words which, as accumulated, represent the phase of a cyclic waveform of said predetermined frequency, comprising m-bit accumulating means (40) for accumulating phase components of the digital frequency words; and an n-bit non-linear digital-to-analog converter (42) for converting only the n most significant bits accumulated in the m-bit accumulating means into an analog waveform of said predetermined frequency, wherein "n" is at least two and m is greater than n.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
A frequency synthesizer for generating an analog waveform of a predetermined frequency from accumulated digital frequency words which, as accumulated, represent the phase of a cyclic waveform of said predetermined frequency, comprising m-bit accumulating means (40) for accumulating phase components of the digital frequency words; and an n-bit non-linear digital-to-analog converter (42) for converting only the n most significant bits accumulated in the m-bit accumulating means into an analog waveform of said predetermined frequency, wherein "n" is at least two and m is greater than n.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A frequency synthesizer according to Claim 4, wherein "n" equals four.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A frequency synthesizer according to Claim 4, further comprising sample and hold means (44) coupled to the output of the nonlinear digital-to-analog converter (42) for mitigating any glitch errors induced in the nonlinear digital-to-analog converter by sampling the analog waveform at such times as when glitch-induced errors are not present.