Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A digital phase-locked loop circuit comprising: a reference clock generator for generating an M, where M is an integer of 2 or more, number of reference clock inputs having a frequency substantially the same as N times, where N is an integer, the frequency of an input signal and sequentially phase-shifted by 2π/M radians; an M number of counters for frequency dividing the M number of reference clock inputs, the respective counters being sequentially operated upon receipt of a selection signal and each delivering a first, second and third output signal in a predetermined timing relation; a phase detector for making a phase comparison between the first output signal of a selected one of said M number of counters and said input signal and producing one of a first signal representing a phase delay of said first output signal of said selected counter and a second signal representing a phase advance of said first output signal of said selected counter; and a selection circuit for receiving the signals of said phase detector and the output signals of said M number of counters and sequentially delivering the selection signal in a cyclic fashion in a predetermined direction to said M number of counters to decrease the phase difference between both the signals supplied to said phase detector so that the first output signal of the selected counter is used as a synchronization output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A digital phase-locked loop circuit comprising: a reference clock generator for generating an M, where M is an integer of 2 or more, number of reference clock inputs having a frequency substantially the same as N times, where N is an integer, the frequency of an input signal and sequentially phase-shifted by 2π/M radians; an M number of counters for frequency dividing the M number of reference clock inputs, the respective counters being sequentially operated upon receipt of a selection signal and each delivering a first, second and third output signal in a predetermined timing relation; a phase detector for making a phase comparison between the first output signal of a selected one of said M number of counters and said input signal and producing one of a first signal representing a phase delay of said first output signal of said selected counter and a second signal representing a phase advance of said first output signal of said selected counter; and a selection circuit for receiving the signals of said phase detector and the output signals of said M number of counters and sequentially delivering the selection signal in a cyclic fashion in a predetermined direction to said M number of counters to decrease the phase difference between both the signals supplied to said phase detector so that the first output signal of the selected counter is used as a synchronization output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The digital phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1, in which said selection circuit is so operated that when it receives both the first signal from said phase detector and a second output signal from a currently-operated counter it selects a counter supplied with a reference clock whose phase is advanced by 2π/M radians ahead that of the reference clock input which is supplied to said currently-operated counter and that when it receives both the second signal from said phase detector and the third output signal from said currently-operated counter it selects a counter supplied with a reference clock whose phase is delayed by 2π/M radians behind the reference clock input which is supplied to said currently-operated counter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
The digital phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1, in which: said first output signal from the selected counter appears from when a start of a counting operation of the selected counter until the reference clock is counted N/2 times; said second output signal from the selected counter appears from when the reference clock has been counted N times until the selection signal supplied to the selected counter stops; and said third output signal from the selected counter appears from when the reference clock has been counted (N+1) times until the selection signal supplied to the selected counter stops.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The digital phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1, in which said first signal representing said phase delay of said first output signal of said selected counter is an up-count signal and said second signal representing said phase delay of said first output signal of said selected counter is a down-count signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The digital phase-locked loop circuit according to claim 1, in which said predetermined direction is a direction in which said input reference clocks are sequentially phase-advanced with respect to the said counters when said phase comparator delivers the first signal representing said phase delay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The digital phase locked loop circuit according to claim 1, in which said predetermined direction is a direction in which said input reference clocks are sequentially phase-delayed with respect to said counters when said comparator delivers the second signal representing said phase-advance.