A time base generator and method for providing a first clock signal and a second clock signal

Abstract

To provide two clock signals (CLK1, CLK2) of slightly different frequencies (f1, f2) with defined time or phase delay, the first clock signal (CLK1) is generated at the first clock frequency (f1), the first clock frequency (f1) is divided by a first integer (K1) to produce a first auxiliary signal (CLK11), the second clock signal (CLK2) is divided by a second integer (K2) to produce a second auxiliary signal (CLK21), an error signal (ERR) is generated by individually weighting and comparing the cycle durations or phasing of the first and second auxiliary signals (CLK11, CLK21), and said second clock signal (CLK2) is generated by means of a voltage-controlled oscillator (17) controlled by said error signal (ERR).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a time base generator for providing a first clock signal and a second clock signal. [0002] The invention also relates to a method for providing such a first and a second clock signal. Background technique [0003] Pulse radar ranging systems, such as known in US 4,521,778, provide distance or level measurements based on direct measurement of the runtime of microwave pulses transmitted to and reflected from a target, such as the level of filling material in a container surface. Since runtimes for distances of a few meters are in the nanosecond range, specific time transformation procedures are required to enable these short time periods to be measured. Microwave pulses are transmitted to the target at the repetition rate or transmission clock frequency given by the transmission clock generator. In the signal mixer, the received echo pulses reflected from the target are sampled by correlating with a sampling pulse having the...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0011] Another disadvantage comes from the use of digital circuits that limit circuit operation to integers

Images