Patent ID: 8054137
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: H03C

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit for controlling a voltage-controlled oscillator (“VCO”), the integrated circuit comprising: a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) receiving a first digital data representing a modulation frequency for the VCO, the DAC converting the first digital data to a first analog signal having a signal component and a conversion error component; a filter removing the conversion error component from the first analog signal to form a first filtered analog signal; a second DAC receiving a second digital data representing a center frequency and converting the second digital data to a second analog signal; a summer combining the first filtered analog signal and the second analog signal to form a combined output signal, the combined output signal defining the center frequency and the modulation frequency for the VCO; and a bridge circuit receiving the combined output signal and producing a capacitance value that is a variable function of an input signal, the capacitance value controlling the VCO by using a capacitance-voltage characteristic having two different slopes; wherein the integrated circuit defines a solid-state device.