US5111162A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Digital frequency synthesizer having AFC and modulation applied to frequency divider
Assignee: Quarterhill Inc
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Filing: 1991-05-03
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Granted: 1992-05-05
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Expires: 2011-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A fractional-N synthesizer realizes automatic frequency control by adding (509) a digital representation of a determined frequency offset to a digital representation of applied modulation to create the modulus control of a programmable frequency divider (203).
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander W. Hietala
- 👤 Patrick J. Marry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:51
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03C; H03C3/00; H03C3/02; H03C3/09; H03C3/0908; H03C3/0916; H03C3/0933; H03C3/0925; H03D; H03D7/00; H03D7/16; H03D7/161; H03D7/163; H03L; H03L7/00; H03L7/06; H03L7/16; H03L7/18; H03L7/197; H03L7/1974; H03L7/1976
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A digital frequency synthesizer with automatic frequency control (AFC) and the capability of modulating an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency, comprising: means for dividing the carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; means for converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; means for generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and a predetermined frequency; and means for adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers whereby said divisor value may be selected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A digital frequency synthesizer with automatic frequency control (AFC) and the capability of modulating an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency, comprising: means for dividing the carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; means for converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; means for generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and a predetermined frequency; and means for adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers whereby said divisor value may be selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A digital frequency synthesizer in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: second means for dividing the frequency of the carrier signal by a second divisor value; and means, coupled to said second means for dividing, for generating a signal essentially equal in frequency to said carrier signal frequency divided by said second divisor value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
A digital frequency synthesizer having the capability of modulating an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency and of controlling the carrier signal frequency relative to a predetermined frequency, comprising: means for generating the carrier signal; means, coupled to said means for generating the carrier signal, for dividing the carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; means for converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; means for generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and the predetermined frequency; and means for adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers to produce a control signal which is coupled to said means for dividing to select said divisor value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
A digital frequency synthesizer having the capability of modulating an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency and of controlling the carrier signal frequency relative to a predetermined frequency, comprising: means for generating the carrier signal; means, coupled to said means for generating the carrier signal, for dividing the carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; means for converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; means for generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and the predetermined frequency; and means for adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers to produce a control signal which is coupled to said means for dividing to select said divisor value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A digital frequency synthesizer in accordance with claim 3 further comprising: second means for dividing the frequency of the carrier signal by a second divisor value; and means, coupled to said second means for dividing, for generating a signal essentially equal in frequency to said carrier signal frequency divided by said second divisor value.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of digital frequency synthesis employing automatic frequency control (AFC) and the capability of modulating an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency, comprising the steps of: dividing the carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and a predetermined frequency; and adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers whereby said divisor value may be selected.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of digital frequency synthesis employing automatic frequency control (AFC) and the capability of modulating an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency, comprising the steps of: dividing the carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and a predetermined frequency; and adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers whereby said divisor value may be selected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method in accordance with the method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: dividing the frequency of the carrier signal by a second divisor value; and generating a signal essentially equal in frequency to said carrier signal frequency divided by said second divisor value.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of digital frequency synthesis employing the modulating of an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency and the controlling of the carrier signal frequency relative to a predetermined frequency, comprising the steps of: generating the carrier signal; dividing the generated carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and the predetermined frequency; and adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers to produce a control signal which is coupled to said means for dividing to select said divisor value.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of digital frequency synthesis employing the modulating of an input signal on a carrier signal having a frequency and the controlling of the carrier signal frequency relative to a predetermined frequency, comprising the steps of: generating the carrier signal; dividing the generated carrier signal frequency by a selected divisor value; converting the input signal to one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers; generating an offset number corresponding to a difference between the frequency of the carrier signal and the predetermined frequency; and adding said offset number to said one of a predetermined plurality of representative numbers to produce a control signal which is coupled to said means for dividing to select said divisor value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method in accordance with the method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of: dividing the frequency of the carrier signal by a second divisor value; and generating a signal essentially equal in frequency to said carrier signal frequency divided by said second divisor value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-05 | 1995-11-04 | 1996-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-05 | 1999-11-04 | 2000-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-05 | 2003-11-04 | 2004-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |