PLL Phase Tracker for Real-Time Drift Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Phase locked loop circuits experience phase drift due to interruptions, such as changes in channel frequency or mode transitions, leading to performance degradation in other circuits that rely on known phase information, requiring time-consuming recalibration.

Innovation Solution

A phase tracking circuit that determines and tracks phase drift in real-time, providing the updated phase information to other circuits like spur cancellation circuits, thereby avoiding recalibration procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If phase locked loop circuits are interrupted for channel frequency changes or mode transitions, then adaptability is improved, but phase drift occurs causing performance degradation in other circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel frequency change capabilityVSAvoidphase information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The phase tracker circuit continuously tracks and stores phase information before interruptions occur. When channel frequency changes or mode transitions happen, the pre-tracked phase data is available immediately, preventing phase drift effects on other circuits while maintaining adaptability to frequency changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If recalibration procedures are performed to correct phase drift, then phase information accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase information accuracyVSAvoidrecalibration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The phase tracker circuit operates continuously to track phase information without interruption. This continuous tracking eliminates the need for periodic recalibration procedures, maintaining high phase information accuracy while preventing time loss that would otherwise be required for recalibration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The phase tracker provides real-time feedback on phase drift conditions to the system. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain accurate phase information dynamically without requiring time-consuming recalibration procedures, as the tracker continuously compensates for drift effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3001567B1Phase tracker for a phase locked loop

Publication Date: 2019.09.25 INTEL IP CORP

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AI summary

A phase locked loop includes a feedforward path receiving a reference signal having a reference frequency and outputting an output signal having an output frequency that is a function of the reference signal and a feedback signal. The phase locked loop further includes a feedback path having a divider circuit associated therewith that is configured to receive the output signal and generate the feedback signal having a reduced frequency based on a divide value of the divider circuit. The feedback signal is supplied to the feedforward path. The phase locked loop also includes a modulator circuit configured to receive modulation data and provide a divider control signal to the divider circuit to control the divide value thereof, and a phase tracker circuit configured to determine an amount of phase drift from an initial phase value of the output signal due to an interruption in a locked state of the phase locked loop.