US3848199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frequency generating device utilizing a phase locked loop including a voltage control oscillator
Assignee: Kustom Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-16
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1993-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A frequency generating device has a phase-locked loop that is operable to cause an associated VCO to lock at the arithmetic means of two input frequencies applied to the loop. By mixing the frequency of the VCO with the two input frequencies in separate mixers, the mixer outputs may be used as inputs to a phase detector. The output of the phase detector is then utilized to lock the VCO output to said arithmetic mean as the difference frequencies from the mixers are only equal at that particular mean value. However, by using dividers located between mixers and the phase detector inputs, it is possible to lock the VCO to some frequency other than the arithmetic mean so long as its value is somewhere between the two input frequencies.
Inventors
- 👤 C Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:37
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/16; H03L7/22; H03L7/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A signal generating device for generating a plurality of test signals for avionics equipment, the device comprising: a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a frequency control input and an output corresponding to said test signals, and phase locked loop means interconnected with said VCO control input for setting said VCO output frequency to a value equal to a predetermined integral multiple of the average value of at least two loop input reference frequencies, the phase locked loop comprising: a first harmonic signal mixer means for generating a first loop input reference frequency and for utilizing same to produce a first plurality of difference frequencies by producing a plurality of harmonics of said first loop input reference frequency and mixing said harmonics with said VCO frequency, a second harmonic signal mixer means for generating a second loop input reference frequency having a frequency greater than said first loop input reference frequency and for utilizing said second loop input reference frequency to produce a second plurality of difference frequencies by producing a plurality of harmonics of said second loop input reference frequency and mixing said last mentioned harmonics with said VCO frequency, first low pass filter means interconnected with said first harmonic signal mixer means for filtering said first plurality of difference frequencies, said filter means having an output, second low pass filter means interconnected with said second harmonic signal mixer means for filtering said second plurality of difference frequencies, said second filter means having an output, and phase comparator means for comparing said first filter means output with said second filter means output, said phase comparator means interconnected to said VCO frequency control input and operable to lock said VCO to a predetermined frequency such that the frequency of said first filter means output is the same as the frequency of saiD second filter means output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
A signal generating device for generating a plurality of test signals for avionics equipment, the device comprising: a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a frequency control input and an output corresponding to said test signals, and phase locked loop means interconnected with said VCO control input for setting said VCO output frequency to a value equal to a predetermined integral multiple of the average value of at least two loop input reference frequencies, the phase locked loop comprising: a first harmonic signal mixer means for generating a first loop input reference frequency and for utilizing same to produce a first plurality of difference frequencies by producing a plurality of harmonics of said first loop input reference frequency and mixing said harmonics with said VCO frequency, a second harmonic signal mixer means for generating a second loop input reference frequency having a frequency greater than said first loop input reference frequency and for utilizing said second loop input reference frequency to produce a second plurality of difference frequencies by producing a plurality of harmonics of said second loop input reference frequency and mixing said last mentioned harmonics with said VCO frequency, first low pass filter means interconnected with said first harmonic signal mixer means for filtering said first plurality of difference frequencies, said filter means having an output, second low pass filter means interconnected with said second harmonic signal mixer means for filtering said second plurality of difference frequencies, said second filter means having an output, and phase comparator means for comparing said first filter means output with said second filter means output, said phase comparator means interconnected to said VCO frequency control input and operable to lock said VCO to a predetermined frequency such that the frequency of said first filter means output is the same as the frequency of saiD second filter means output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination as in claim 1 wherein said first and second harmonic signal mixer means comprise: oscillator means for generating a loop input reference frequency, harmonic generation means interconnected with said oscillator means for outputting a plurality of harmonics of said loop input reference frequency, and mixer means for generating a plurality of difference frequencies by mixing said harmonics outputted by said harmonic generation means with said VCO output.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as in claim 1 including means for varying said VCO frequency by varying the predetermined integral multiple of the average value of said loop input reference frequencies to which said VCO operating frequency corresponds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination as in claim 3 wherein said means for varying said VCO frequency comprises: means for dividing down the output frequency of said second low pass filter means to thereby generate a divided frequency output, means for comparing said divided frequency output with an externally generated reference input frequency, and means actuated by said frequency comparing means for selecting a VCO operating frequency such that the frequency of said divided frequency output equals the frequency of said externally generated reference input frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as in claim 2, including means for varying the operating frequency of said loop input reference oscillators to thereby change the VCO operating frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as in claim 3, including means for varying the operating frequency of said loop input reference oscillators to thereby change the VCO operating frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |