阅读说明：本技术 锁相环和用于其的方法 (Phase locked loop and method therefor ) 是由 库什尼尔·伊加尔 于 2017-07-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了一种锁相环。该锁相环包括第一环路,该第一环路包括受控振荡器和相位检测器。受控振荡器被配置为生成振荡信号。相位检测器被配置为生成指示参考信号和振荡信号之间的定时差异的第一信号。另外,锁相环包括第二环路,该第二环路被配置为生成指示振荡信号的循环时间的定时误差的第二信号,并且基于第二信号生成校正信号。锁相环还包括组合器,该组合器被配置为通过将校正信号和从第一信号得出的第三信号组合来为受控振荡器生成控制信号。(A phase locked loop is provided. The phase locked loop includes a first loop including a controlled oscillator and a phase detector. The controlled oscillator is configured to generate an oscillating signal. The phase detector is configured to generate a first signal indicative of a timing difference between the reference signal and the oscillation signal. In addition, the phase locked loop includes a second loop configured to generate a second signal indicative of a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillation signal, and generate a correction signal based on the second signal. The phase locked loop further comprises a combiner configured to generate a control signal for the controlled oscillator by combining the correction signal and a third signal derived from the first signal.)

1. A phase locked loop (100), comprising:

a first loop (110) comprising a controlled oscillator (130) and a phase detector (140), wherein the controlled oscillator (130) is configured to generate an oscillation signal (131), and wherein the phase detector (140) is configured to generate a first signal (141), the first signal (141) being indicative of a timing difference between a reference signal (101) and the oscillation signal (131);

a second loop (120) configured to generate a second signal (121) based on the oscillation signal (131), and to generate a correction signal (122) based on the second signal (121), the second signal (121) being indicative of a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillation signal; and

a combiner (150) configured to generate a control signal (151) for the controlled oscillator (130) by combining the correction signal (122) and a third signal (161) derived from the first signal (141).

2. The phase locked loop of claim 1, wherein the controlled oscillator (130) is configured to generate the oscillating signal (131) based on the control signal (151).

3. A phase locked loop as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second loop (120) comprises:

a time-to-digital converter configured to generate a fourth signal based on the oscillating signal (131) and a delayed replica of the oscillating signal (131), the fourth signal indicating an actual cycle time of the oscillating signal.

4. A phase locked loop as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sampling frequency of the time-to-digital converter is at least 20 times lower than the oscillation frequency of the oscillating signal.

5. A phase locked loop as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second loop (120) further comprises:

a delay element configured to generate a delayed replica of the oscillation signal (131) by delaying the oscillation signal (131).

6. A phase locked loop as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second loop (120) further comprises:

a second combiner configured to generate the second signal (121) by combining the fourth signal and a fifth signal, the fifth signal being indicative of a nominal cycle time of the oscillating signal.

7. The phase locked loop of claim 6 wherein the second loop (120) further comprises:

an integrator configured to generate the correction signal (122) by continuously integrating the second signal (121).

8. The phase locked loop of claim 6 wherein the second loop (120) further comprises:

a third combiner configured to generate a sample of the correction signal (122) by combining the second signal (121) with a previous sample of the correction signal (122).

9. The phase locked loop of claim 8 wherein the second loop (120) further comprises:

a second delay element coupled between the output and the input of the third combiner, wherein the delay element is configured to delay a previous sample of the correction signal (122).

10. The phase locked loop of claim 7 wherein the second loop (120) further comprises:

a filter configured to band-pass filter the correction signal (122).

11. The phase locked loop of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first loop (110) further comprises a loop filter configured to generate the third signal (161) by filtering the first signal (131).

12. A phase locked loop as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the phase detector (140) is a time to digital converter.

13. A phase locked loop as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controlled oscillator (130) is a numerically controlled oscillator.

14. A phase locked loop as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controlled oscillator (130) is a voltage controlled oscillator.

15. A transmitter (1030) comprising a phase locked loop (1010) according to any of claims 1 to 14.

16. The transmitter of claim 15, further comprising:

a mixing circuit configured to up-convert a baseband transmit signal using a signal derived from the oscillating signal.

17. A receiver (1040) comprising a phase locked loop (1010) according to any of claims 1 to 14.

18. The receiver of claim 17, further comprising:

a mixing circuit configured to down-convert a radio frequency receive signal using a signal derived from the oscillating signal.

19. A mobile device (1000) comprising at least one of a transmitter (1030) according to any one of claims 15 and 16 and a receiver (1040) according to any one of claims 17 and 18.

20. A method (1100) for a phase-locked loop comprising a first loop and a second loop, wherein the first loop comprises a controlled oscillator and a phase detector, the method comprising:

generating (1102) an oscillating signal using the controlled oscillator;

generating (1104), using the phase detector, a first signal indicative of a timing difference between a reference signal and the oscillation signal;

generating (1106) a second signal using the second loop, the second signal indicating a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillating signal;

generating (1108), using the second loop, a correction signal based on the second signal; and

generating (1110) a control signal for the controlled oscillator by combining the correction signal and a third signal derived from the first signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein generating (1102) the oscillating signal is based on the control signal.

22. The method of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein generating (1106) the second signal comprises: generating a fourth signal based on the oscillating signal and a delayed replica of the oscillating signal, the fourth signal indicating an actual cycle time of the oscillating signal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein generating (1106) the second signal further comprises generating a delayed replica of the oscillating signal by delaying the oscillating signal.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein generating (1106) the second signal further comprises combining the fourth signal and a fifth signal, the fifth signal indicating a nominal cycle time of the oscillating signal.

25. The method of claim 20 or claim 21, further comprising:

generating the third signal by filtering the first signal.

Technical Field

Examples relate to an analog or digital Phase-Locked Loop (PLL), and a method therefor.

Background

In a conventional PLL (e.g. analog or digital PLL, DPLL), the phase noise is determined by the phase noise of the components of the PLL (e.g. voltage controlled oscillator, VCO; digitally controlled oscillator, DCO; phase detector such as time-to-digital converter, TDC) and the reference frequency.

In the transmitter, the phase noise of the PLL affects the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) of the transmission signal and the reception signal. Therefore, there is a higher drive to improve the phase noise of the PLL.

Conventionally, attempts have been made to improve the phase noise of a PLL by improving the phase noise of the basic components of the PLL (e.g., DCO, TDC, or reference frequency source). In some cases, it is not practical or possible at all to further improve the phase noise of the basic components of the PLL. Furthermore, the improvement in phase noise performance of the basic components generally results in higher cost and power consumption.

Thus, there may be a need for improved phase noise reduction within a PLL.

Drawings

Some examples of apparatus and/or methods will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 illustrates an example of a PLL;

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a PLL;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a self-triggering TDC;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a flash TDC implementation of the self-triggering TDC of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an oscillating signal and its delayed replica input from a triggered TDC;

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of a PLL;

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another example of a PLL;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of phase noise attenuation with frequency;

fig. 9 illustrates an example of a comparison between a conventional PLL and a PLL according to the proposed architecture;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a mobile device including a PLL; and is

Fig. 11 illustrates a flow chart of an example of a method for a PLL.

Detailed Description

Various examples will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some examples are shown. In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

Accordingly, while additional examples are possible with various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. However, this detailed description does not limit the additional examples to the particular forms described. Further examples may cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like reference numerals refer to like or similar elements throughout the description of the figures, which may be implemented identically or in modified form when compared with each other, while providing the same or similar functionality.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, the elements may be directly connected or coupled or connected or coupled via one or more intervening elements. If two elements a and B are combined using an "or", it is understood that all possible combinations are disclosed, i.e. only a, only B and a and B. An alternative expression for the same combination is "at least one of a and B". The same applies to combinations of more than 2 elements.

The terminology used herein to describe particular examples is not intended to be limiting of additional examples. Further examples may also use multiple elements to achieve the same functionality whenever a singular form such as "a," "an," and "the" is used and the use of a single element is neither explicitly nor implicitly limited to being mandatory. Similarly, when functionality is subsequently described as being implemented using multiple elements, further examples may implement the same functionality using a single element or processing entity. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," and/or "including," "includes" and/or "including," when used, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, procedures, actions, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, procedures, actions, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are used herein in their ordinary meaning in the art to which examples pertain.

Fig. 1 illustrates a PLL 100. The PLL100 comprises a first loop 110, the first loop 110 comprising a controlled oscillator 130 and a phase detector 140. The controlled oscillator 130 is configured to generate an oscillation signal 131. The phase detector 140 is configured to generate a first signal 141, the first signal 141 being indicative of a timing difference between the reference signal 101 and the oscillation signal 131. In addition, the PLL100 includes a second loop 120, and the second loop 120 is configured to generate a second signal 121 indicating a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillation signal, and generate a correction signal 122 based on the second signal 121. The PLL100 further comprises a combiner 150, the combiner 150 being configured to generate the control signal 151 for the controlled oscillator 130 by combining the correction signal 122 and a third signal 161 derived from the first signal 131.

The PLL100 includes an additional second loop 120 to achieve phase noise cancellation with high accuracy compared to a conventional PLL. In the case where the controlled oscillator 130 generates the oscillation signal 131 based on the control signal 151, the phase noise of the PLL100 can be compensated by adjusting the control signal 151 via the correction signal 122. Thus, the second loop 120 may allow phase noise of the PLL100 to be improved without improving the phase noise performance of the basic components of the PLL100 (i.e., without improving the phase noise performance of the first loop 110). The additional second loop 120 may thus enable the PLL100 to operate with reduced power consumption and improved phase compared to PLLs with conventional phase noise reduction. Furthermore, the proposed phase noise cancellation can be achieved without increasing the chip area required for the PLL and without increasing the manufacturing cost compared to a conventional PLL.

The PLL100 may be an analog PLL as well as a DPLL. Thus, the phase detector 140 and the controlled oscillator 130 may be analog components or digital components. For example, the phase detector 140 may be a TDC. The controlled oscillator may be a VCO or a DCO.

The frequency of the oscillating signal 131 may range from a few Hz to tens or even hundreds of GHz.

The first loop 110 may additionally include additional elements of a conventional PLL. For example, the first loop 110 may additionally include a frequency divider (feedback divider) coupled between the output of the controlled oscillator 130 and the phase detector 140. In addition, the first loop 110 may further comprise a loop filter configured to generate the third signal 161 by (loop) filtering the first signal 131.

The second loop 120 estimates the timing error of the cycle time of the oscillation signal, i.e., the difference between the actual cycle time of the oscillation signal and the nominal (reference) cycle time of the oscillation signal. Accordingly, the second loop 120 may include a TDC (not shown) configured to generate a fourth signal indicative of an actual cycle time of the oscillation signal based on the oscillation signal 131 and the delayed replica of the oscillation signal 131.

The delayed replica of the oscillation signal 131 may be generated by a delay element of the second loop 120, which is configured to delay the oscillation signal 131 (by a predetermined delay time, which may be adjustable).

The sampling frequency of the TDC may be substantially equal to the oscillation frequency of the oscillating signal 131 in some examples. However, the sampling frequency of the TDC may be much lower than the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131. For example, the sampling frequency of the TDC may be more than 20 times lower than the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131. Although the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131 may be very high (GHz range), the TDC may be performed at a low duty cycle (e.g., sampling/gating rate between 40 and 100 MHz) because most phase noise power densities are below 10 MHz. Thus, the phase noise estimation by the TDC may consume only little power.

The second loop 120 may further include a second combiner (not shown) configured to generate the second signal 121 by combining the fourth signal output by the TDC and a fifth signal indicative of a nominal cycle time of the oscillation signal 131. The fifth signal may be generated in a number of different ways. For example, the fifth signal may be based on an average output of the TDC over a predetermined number of oscillation cycles of the oscillation signal 131. The phase noise is cancelled over the number of oscillation cycles so that the average output of the TDC indicates the TDC output for the nominal cycle time of the oscillation signal 131. Alternatively, the reference output of the TDC for each oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131 may be determined in calibration.

Different schemes may also be used to generate the correction signal 122 from the second signal 121. For example, the second loop 120 may include an integrator (not shown) configured to generate the correction signal 122 by continuously integrating the second signal 121. Thus, the estimated timing errors of the cycle times of the oscillation signals are continuously summed.

Alternatively, the second loop 120 may comprise a third combiner configured to generate samples of the correction signal 122 by combining the second signal 121 with previous samples of the correction signal 122. For example, a second delay element may be coupled between the output and the input of the third combiner, such that the second delay element delays a previous sample of the correction signal 122 such that it may be combined with a current (subsequent) sample of the second signal 121.

Further, second loop 120 may include a filter configured to band pass filter correction signal 122. Accordingly, the correction signal 122 may be band pass filtered to limit the bandwidth of the correction signal 122. This may allow for improved phase noise cancellation within the PLL 100. For example, the filter may be configured to low pass filter the correction signal 122. Therefore, the high frequency component of the correction signal 122 can be removed. This may allow for improved phase noise attenuation within the PLL 100.

Next, a number of more detailed implementation examples of the PLL100 as schematically illustrated in fig. 1 will be discussed in connection with fig. 2 to 7.

Fig. 2 illustrates a further PLL 200 implemented as a DPLL. The PLL 200 includes a first loop 210, the first loop 210 having a DCO 230 as a controlled oscillator, a TDC 240 as a phase detector, and a digital loop filter 260.

Initially, the second loop 220 used to compensate for the phase noise of the PLL 200 is ignored. Then, the output frequency of the DPLL, i.e. the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131, is:

wherein ω is_DPLLThe angular frequency is represented by the angular frequency,

represents the phase constant and pn (t) represents the phase noise of PLL 200.

Thus, the instantaneous phase Θ of the PLL 200_instI.e. the oscillation signal 131 is:

and the instantaneous DCO cycle time T_{DPLL_inst}I.e. the period time of the oscillation signal 131 is:

T_{DPLL_inst}＝T_{DPLL_nominal}+ΔT_PN(t) (3),

wherein T is_{DPLL_nominal}Represents the nominal PLL cycle time (i.e., the nominal cycle time of the oscillator signal 131), and Δ T_PN(t) denotes a phase noise timing error (i.e., a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillation signal 131), which is different for each oscillation cycle of the oscillation signal 131 (i.e., each DCO cycle).

Using the proposed architecture, the DCO timing error Δ T_PN(t) is measured and subtracted from the DCO output. Thus, the PLL 200 includes a second loop 220, a phase noise cancellation loop, in addition to the first loop 210 (which is a conventional DPLL). Thus, the PLL 200 has two loops: a basic DPLL loop 210, which is slow and controls the accuracy of the DPLL output frequency (because it is locked to the reference frequency 101), and a second fast inner loop 220 for phase noise cancellation.

The second loop 220 includes a TDC 270. TDC270 receives as inputs oscillating signal 131 and a delayed replica of oscillating signal 131 (which is provided by delay element 275 based on oscillating signal 131). Thus, the TDC270 is self-triggering. Since the TDC270 is self-triggering, the measurement is not affected by any external phase noise (e.g., from a reference source providing a reference signal).

A more detailed view of the self-triggering TDC270 is illustrated in figure 3. The period of oscillation D [ n ] of the oscillating signal 131 is the first input to the TDC 270. The oscillation period D [ n ] is further delayed by k TDC periods via a delay element 275. The delayed oscillation period D [ n-k ] is the second input to the TDC 270.

Examples of the oscillation period D [ n ] and the delayed oscillation period D [ n-k ] of the oscillation signal 131 are illustrated in fig. 5. The oscillation period D [ n ] and the delayed oscillation period D [ n-k ] are substantially equal in shape-only shifted by k TDC periods. Fig. 5 also illustrates a fine grid of TDCs 270, which allows the actual cycle time of the oscillating signal 131 to be determined with high accuracy.

Based on the above two quantities, the TDC270 outputs an estimate M [ n ] of the DCO period, which is the actual period time of the oscillating signal 131.

An exemplary implementation of the TDC270 as a flash TDC 470 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The flash TDC 470 includes a delay line 410 having a plurality of delay elements 415-1,415-2, …, 415-n. The plurality of delay elements 415-1,415-2, …,415-n iteratively delay the oscillation period D [ n ] of the oscillation signal 131 to generate a delayed oscillation period of the oscillation signal 131.

In addition, the flash TDC 470 includes a plurality of flip-flop circuits 420-1,420-2, …, 420-n. Each of the plurality of flip-flop circuits 420-1,420-2, …,420-n receives one of the delayed oscillation period D n-k and the delayed oscillation period of the oscillation signal 131.

The plurality of flip-flop circuits 420-1,420-2, …,420-n output binary values based on respective time differences between the delayed oscillation period D [ n-k ] and one of the delayed oscillation periods of the oscillation signal 131. These binary values are provided to decoder 430, decoder 430 being configured to generate an output signal indicative of the actual cycle time of oscillation signal 131.

Instead of one flip-flop circuit per delay element, a plurality of flip-flop circuits may also be used, respectively. Thus, a random flash TDC is provided, which may further increase the time resolution of the TDC.

However, it is noted that the TDC270 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is not shown as a flash TDC. In general, any TDC technique (architecture) may be used for the TDC 270.

As noted above, the sampling frequency of the TDC270 may be substantially equal to the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131, or much lower than the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131 in order to achieve low power consumption of the TDC 270.

Referring back to fig. 2, the second loop 220 further includes a combiner 280 (e.g., an adder), the combiner 280 combining the TDC output signal with another signal 102 indicative of the nominal cycle time of the oscillation signal 131 to generate a signal 121 indicative of the timing error of the cycle time of the oscillation signal 131.

This signal is then continuously integrated by the integrator 290 to generate the correction signal 122.

A combiner (adder) 250 combines the output signal 161 of the loop filter 260 with the correction signal 122 to generate the control signal 151 for the DCO 250.

Combining the first (conventional) DPLL 210 and the second phase noise cancellation loop 220 yields the following DCO cycle times, i.e. the actual cycle times of the oscillator signal 131:

T_{DPLL_inst}＝T_{DPLL_nominal}+ΔT_PN(t)-ΔT_PN(t-τ)+ΔT_{TDC_Q}(t) (4)，

wherein Δ T_PN(T- τ) represents a delayed phase noise timing error (i.e., a delayed timing error of a cycle time of the oscillation signal 131), τ represents a phase noise cancellation delay (i.e., a delay of the second loop 220), and Δ T_{TDC_Q}(t) represents the quantization error from triggering the TDC 270.

As is apparent from expression (4), the effectiveness of phase noise cancellation is not determined by the level of phase noise (in the first loop 210), but by the quantization of the self-triggered TDC270 and the delay of the phase noise cancellation loop 220.

Based on expression (4), the output frequency of the DPLL, i.e., the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal 131, is as follows:

where PN (t- τ) represents the delay estimate of the phase noise of the DPLL (i.e., the delayed phase noise of the first loop 210), and PN_{TDC_Q}(t) denotes TDC27 due to self-triggering0 quantization error.

This corresponds to the filtering of the phase noise by the high-pass filter:

PN(t)-PN(t-τ)+PN_{TDC_Q}(t)＝PN(t)·(δ(t)-δ(t-τ))+PN_{TDC_Q}(t)＝PN(t)*h(t，τ)+PN_{TDC_Q}(t) (6)

the magnitude of this filter is given by:

|H(f,τ)|²＝|1-e^-j2πfτ|²＝2·(1-cos(2πfτ)) (8)

an exemplary filter response is illustrated in fig. 8. Fig. 8 illustrates phase noise attenuation of the oscillation frequency with the oscillation frequency. In the example of fig. 8, a phase noise cancellation delay (i.e., the delay of the second loop 220) of τ ═ 20ns is assumed. It is apparent from fig. 8 that high attenuation is achieved for frequencies below 1MHz, where 1MHz is the bandwidth of the DPLL (i.e., the first loop 210).

Spectral density S of phase noise of PLL_θ(f) (i.e., the spectral density of the phase noise of the oscillation signal 131) is given by:

wherein S_PN(f) Represents the spectral density of the phase noise of the PLL 200 without the second loop 220, and S_{TDC_Q}(f) Representing the spectral density of the phase noise caused by the quantization error of the self-triggering TDC 270.

The phase noise of the resulting PLL is illustrated in fig. 9 by line 910. For reference, the phase noise of a conventional PLL is also illustrated by line 920. It is evident from fig. 9 that the phase noise is greatly reduced (approximately 20dBc reduction) for frequencies below 1MHz, i.e. for frequencies below the bandwidth of the first loop. In this region, the phase noise of the PLL is mainly due to the quantization error of the self-triggered TDC 270. For higher frequencies, the phase noise is substantially equal to one of the conventional PLLs. This is due to the phase noise cancellation delay. To achieve better phase noise cancellation, the phase noise cancellation delay needs to be reduced.

In the example of fig. 9, it is assumed that second loop 220 additionally includes a filter for band-pass filtering the correction signal as shown in fig. 6. The PLL 600 shown in fig. 6 is substantially equal to the PLL 200 shown in fig. 2. However, second loop 220 additionally includes a filter 695 configured to band pass filter correction signal 122. For example, the filter 695 may be configured to low pass filter the correction signal. Thus, since the high frequency component is removed from the correction signal 122, improved phase noise cancellation can be achieved. The resulting filter correction signal 122' is combined with the output signal 161 of the loop filter 260.

Another alternative implementation of the second loop is illustrated in figure 7. The PLL 700 shown in fig. 7 is substantially equal to the PLL 200 shown in fig. 2. However, the second loop 720 of the PLL 700 includes an additional combiner 790 instead of the integrator 290. The combiner 790 is configured to generate a sample of the correction signal 122 by combining the signal 121 indicative of the timing error of the cycle time of the oscillation signal 131 with a previous sample of the correction signal 122.

As shown in fig. 7, an additional delay element 795 may be coupled between the output and the input of the combiner 790, such that the second delay element 795 delays the previous sample of the correction signal 122 so that it may be combined with the current (subsequent) sample of the signal 121.

The first loop 210 of the PLL described above may also include additional elements of a conventional PLL (e.g., a frequency divider). In addition, the DCO 230 may be replaced by a VCO. Where a VCO is used, the PLL may additionally include a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). A DAC may be disposed, for example, within the second loop 220 to convert the digital correction signal 122 to an analog representation. The analog correction signal may then be combined with the analog signal 161 from the loop filter of the first loop (i.e., the first loop is analog). Alternatively, a DAC may be arranged between the combiner 150 and the VCO, such that the DAC converts the digital control signal 151 output by the combiner 250 into an analog control voltage for the VCO. Utility functions like calibration or spur cancellation may also be added to the PLL. However, the basic principle of phase noise cancellation remains unchanged for these modified PLLs.

For all PLLs of the present disclosure, the phase noise is determined by the phase noise of the first loop, the quantization error of the self-triggered TDC, and the phase noise cancellation delay.

An example of an implementation using a PLL according to one or more aspects of the proposed architecture or one or more examples described above is illustrated in fig. 10. Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an example of a mobile device 1000 (e.g., a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a laptop) including a PLL1010 according to examples described herein.

For example, the transmitter 1030 may include the PLL 1010. Transmitter 1030 may additionally include mixing circuitry (not shown) configured to up-convert (up-convert) the baseband transmit signal using a signal derived from the oscillating signal (generated by PLL 1010).

Alternatively or additionally, the mobile device 1000 may include a receiver 1040, and the receiver 1040 may include a PLL 1010. Receiver 1040 additionally may include mixing circuitry (not shown) configured to down-convert (down-convert) a radio frequency receive signal using a signal derived from an oscillating signal (generated by PLL 1010).

In the case where the mobile device 1000 includes the transmitter 1030 and the receiver 1040, they may share a common PLL for generating the oscillation signal. The signals for their respective mixer circuits may be derived from the oscillation signal of the PLL, for example, by means of a frequency divider and/or one or more filters and delay circuits.

At least one antenna element 1020 of the mobile device 1000 may be coupled to a transmitter 1030 or to a receiver 1040.

To this end, a mobile device may be provided to implement transmit and/or receive signals with improved EVM resulting from the low noise oscillation signal provided by PLL 1010.

The proposed PLL is not limited to mobile devices. The proposed PLL may be used in any electronic device for generating an oscillation signal with improved phase noise.

An example of a method 1100 for a PLL is illustrated by a flow chart in fig. 11. The PLL comprises a first loop and a second loop, wherein the first loop comprises a controlled oscillator and a phase detector. The method 1100 includes generating 1102 an oscillation signal using a controlled oscillator and generating 1104 a first signal indicative of a timing difference between a reference signal and the oscillation signal using a phase detector. Additionally, the method 1100 includes generating 1106 a second signal indicative of a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillating signal using a second loop. The method 1100 further includes generating 1108 a correction signal based on the second signal using the second loop. Additionally, the method 1100 includes generating 1110 a control signal for the controlled oscillator by combining the correction signal with a third signal derived from the first signal.

Further details and aspects of the method are mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more of the examples described above (e.g., fig. 1-10). The method may include one or more additional optional features corresponding to one or more aspects of the proposed concept or one or more examples described above.

Examples described herein may be summarized as follows:

example 1 is a phase locked loop, comprising: a first loop comprising a controlled oscillator and a phase detector, wherein the controlled oscillator is configured to generate an oscillating signal, and wherein the phase detector is configured to generate a first signal indicative of a timing difference between a reference signal and the oscillating signal; a second loop configured to generate a second signal indicating a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillation signal based on the oscillation signal, and generate a correction signal based on the second signal; and a combiner configured to generate a control signal for the controlled oscillator by combining the correction signal and a third signal derived from the first signal.

In example 2, a controlled oscillator in a phase locked loop as described in example 1 is configured to generate the oscillating signal based on the control signal.

In example 3, the second loop in the phase-locked loop of example 1 or example 2 includes a time-to-digital converter configured to generate a fourth signal indicative of an actual cycle time of the oscillating signal based on the oscillating signal and a delayed replica of the oscillating signal.

In example 4, the sampling frequency of the time-to-digital converter in the phase locked loop of example 3 is at least 20 times lower than the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal.

In example 5, the second loop in the phase-locked loop of example 3 or example 4 further includes a delay element configured to generate a delayed replica of the oscillating signal by delaying the oscillating signal.

In example 6, the second loop in the phase-locked loop of any of examples 3 to 5 further includes a second combiner configured to generate the second signal by combining the fourth signal and a fifth signal indicative of a nominal cycle time of the oscillating signal.

In example 7, the second loop in the phase-locked loop of example 6 further includes an integrator configured to generate the correction signal by continuously integrating the second signal.

In example 8, the second loop in the phase-locked loop of example 6 further includes a third combiner configured to generate samples of the correction signal by combining the second signal with previous samples of the correction signal.

In example 9, the second loop in the phase-locked loop of example 8 further includes a second delay element coupled between an output and an input of the third combiner, wherein the delay element is configured to delay a previous sample of the correction signal.

In example 10, the second loop in the phase-locked loop of any of examples 7 to 9 further includes a filter configured to band-pass filter the correction signal.

In example 11, the first loop in a phase locked loop of any preceding example further comprises a loop filter configured to generate the third signal by filtering the first signal.

In example 12, the phase detector in a phase locked loop as in any preceding example is a time-to-digital converter.

In example 13, the controlled oscillator in a phase-locked loop as in any preceding example is a numerically controlled oscillator.

In example 14, the controlled oscillator in the phase-locked loop of any of examples 1 to 12 is a voltage-controlled oscillator.

Example 15 is a transmitter comprising a phase locked loop according to any one of examples 1 to 14.

In example 16, the transmitter of example 15 further comprises a mixing circuit configured to up-convert a baseband transmit signal using a signal derived from the oscillating signal.

Example 17 is a receiver comprising a phase locked loop according to any one of examples 1 to 14.

In example 18, the receiver of example 17 further comprising a mixing circuit configured to down-convert the radio frequency receive signal using a signal derived from the oscillating signal.

Example 19 is a mobile device comprising at least one of the transmitter according to any one of examples 15 and 16 and the receiver according to any one of examples 17 and 18.

In example 20, the mobile device of example 19 further comprises at least one antenna element coupled to the transmitter or coupled to the receiver.

Example 21 is a method for a phase-locked loop including a first loop and a second loop, wherein the first loop includes a controlled oscillator and a phase detector, the method comprising: generating an oscillating signal using the controlled oscillator; generating a first signal indicative of a timing difference between a reference signal and the oscillating signal using the phase detector; generating a second signal indicative of a timing error of a cycle time of the oscillating signal using the second loop; generating a correction signal based on the second signal using the second loop; and generating a control signal for the controlled oscillator by combining the correction signal and a third signal derived from the first signal.

In example 22, the generating the oscillation signal in the method of example 21 is based on the control signal.

In example 23, generating the second signal in the method of example 21 or example 22 includes generating a fourth signal indicative of an actual cycle time of the oscillating signal based on the oscillating signal and a delayed replica of the oscillating signal.

In example 24, generating the second signal as in the method of example 23 further includes generating a delayed replica of the oscillating signal by delaying the oscillating signal.

In example 25, generating the second signal in the phase-locked loop of example 23 or example 24 further includes combining the fourth signal and a fifth signal indicative of a nominal cycle time of the oscillating signal.

In example 26, generating the correction signal in the method of example 25 further includes continuously integrating the second signal.

In example 27, the generating the correction signal in the method of example 25 further comprises generating samples of the correction signal by combining the second signal with previous samples of the correction signal.

In example 28, the generating the correction signal in the method of example 26 or example 27 further includes band-pass filtering the correction signal.

In example 29, the method of any preceding example further comprising generating the third signal by filtering the first signal.

Aspects and features mentioned and described in connection with one or more of the previously detailed examples and figures may also be combined with one or more other examples to replace or additionally introduce features to similar features of other examples.

Examples may also or may relate to a computer program having a program code for performing one or more of the above-described methods, when the computer program is executed on a computer or processor. The steps, operations or processes of the various methods described above may be performed by a programmed computer or processor. Examples may also cover program storage devices, such as digital data storage media, that are machine, processor, or computer readable and that encode machine-executable, processor-executable, or computer-executable programs of instructions. The instructions perform or cause the performance of some or all of the acts of the methods described above. The program storage device may include or may be, for example, a digital memory, a magnetic storage medium such as a magnetic disk and tape, a hard disk drive, or an optically readable digital data storage medium. Further examples may also cover a computer, processor or control unit programmed to perform the actions of the above-described method or a (field) programmable logic array (F) PLA or a (field) programmable gate array (F) PGA) programmed to perform the actions of the above-described method.

The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, all examples set forth herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

The functions of the various elements shown in the figures, including any functional blocks labeled as "means", "means for providing a sensor signal", "means for generating a transmission signal", etc., may be implemented in the form of dedicated hardware, such as "signal provider", "signal processing unit", "processor", "controller", etc., as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some or all of which may be shared. However, the term "processor" or "controller" is in no way limited to only hardware capable of executing software, and may include Digital Signal Processor (DSP) hardware, network processors, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Read Only Memories (ROMs) for storing software, Random Access Memories (RAMs), and non-volatile storage devices. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included.

The block diagram may illustrate, for example, a high-level circuit diagram implementing the principles of the present disclosure. Similarly, flowcharts, task diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and the like may represent various processes, operations, or steps which may, for example, be substantially represented in computer readable media and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. The methods disclosed in the specification or in the claims may be implemented by an apparatus having means for performing each of the individual acts of these methods.

It is to be understood that the disclosure of various actions, processes, operations, steps, or functions disclosed in the specification or claims may not be construed as sequential, in particular order, unless expressly or impliedly stated otherwise, for example for technical reasons. Thus, the disclosure of multiple acts or functions does not limit the acts or functions to a particular order unless such acts or functions are not interchangeable for technical reasons. Further, in some examples, a single action, function, procedure, operation, or step may include or may be decomposed into multiple sub-actions, sub-functions, sub-procedures, sub-operations, or sub-steps, respectively. Such sub-acts may be included in a portion of the disclosure of such single act unless explicitly excluded.

Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate example. Although each claim may stand on its own as a separate example, it is noted that although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a particular combination with one or more other claims, other examples may also include a combination of that dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent or independent claim. Such combinations are expressly set forth herein unless it is stated that a particular combination is not intended. Furthermore, it is intended to include features of one claim also to any other independent claim, even if this claim is not directly dependent on the independent claim.