Synchronizing circuit

Abstract: In a synchronizing circuit (22), an oscillator (34) provides an output signal at a frequency that is a higher integral multiple than that of a synchronizing input signal. A control circuit (24), responsive to the input signal and a feedback signal representative of the output signal, generates a control signal that is indicative of a difference in phase or frequency between the input and output signals. The oscillator is responsive to the control signal for synchronized tracking of the output signal to the input signal. The control signal exhibits a periodic variation which tends to result in a deviation of the oscillator output signal from its synchronized tracking condition in accordance with the periodic variation. The phase of the output signal is offset (by means of 142) relative to a corresponding phase of the periodic variation of the control signal for counteracting this deviation.

Description: The invention relates to phase locking a voltage controlled oscillator to a synchronizing input signal. Raster scanning circuits of television receivers are synchronized to the synchronizing component or sync of the received video signal, which includes horizontal and vertical synchronizing components delineating horizontal lines and vertical fields. The standard NTSC video signal, for example, is defined by two successive fields of 262.5 horizontal lines each, at a horizontal line frequency of 15,734 Hz, designated fH or 1fH or 1H. The horizontal lines of the two fields are interlaced by successive display to form a complete 525 line video frame that recurs at a 29.97 Hz rate. Efforts to improve the picture quality of television receivers have included the development of progressively scanned or noninterlaced display systems in which a full frame of 525 lines is displayed during the time allotted for one 262.5 line field in the video signal. This requires that the horizontal lines be scanned at a display frequency equal to twice the video signal frequency, or 2fH, while operating in sync with the video signal. It is necessary for such a television receiver to generate a horizontal triggering signal at a display frequency that is twice the horizontal frequency of the video signal, effectively inserting horizontal triggering pulses precisely between the pulses obtained from the input sync signal. Similarly, one. might display a 1fH video signal at some other multiple of the video signal frequency. For example, a 1fH or 2fH video signal could be displayed at a 4fH display scanning frequency, or another multiple could be used. A circuit for generating a display frequency signal advantageously involves a multiplying phase locked loop that tracks the synchronizing component of the received input signal. In a multiplying phase locked loop, for example, to develop horizontal triggering signals locked to a received video signal, a voltage controlled oscillator is typically operated at a frequency that is some multiple of the input signal. The output of the voltage controlled oscillator is counted down by that multiple, namely to 1fH, for example, using one or more counters or flip-flops as a frequency divider. The counted down 1fH signal from the frequency divider is fed back to a phase comparator that is responsive to the synchronizing component of the video signal and generates an output voltage as a function of the phase alignment between the synchronizing component of the video signal and the oscillator. The output of the phase comparator provides a tuning voltage for controlling the frequency of the oscillator, enabling the television receiver to seek and lock onto the synchronizing component of the video signal. Assuming the input video signal is stable, the phase comparator generates a tuning voltage when the loop is locked, where the average or direct current component of the tuning voltage is stable. The tuning voltage, however, may vary periodically at the rate of the synchronizing signal, e.g. in a ramp or sawtooth manner, depending upon the circuit used to filter the tuning voltage. The sawtooth modulates the oscillator output frequency within the period of the synchronizing input signal, even though the counted down 1fH signal is held correctly in phase with the video synchronizing signal. A triggering signal can be generated from such a circuit at a multiple of the 1fH signal by tapping at a point in the frequency divider chain that produces an output at a frequency higher than the 1fH feedback signal that is the basis of phase locking control. Undesirably, pulses at such higher frequency will not occur symmetrically between pulses at the controlled 1fH frequency because of the sawtooth modulation of the oscillator frequency introduced by the AC component of the tuning voltage. The effect of such periodic variations in the oscillator frequency may be appreciated in connection with an example wherein the voltage controlled oscillator operates at 32fH. The oscillator output is frequency divided by 32 to produce a 1fH feedback signal to the phase comparator. The oscillator frequency is divided by 16 to provide a 2fH signal for controlling deflection circuitry used for noninterlaced horizontal scanning. When the 32fH output frequency varies during a 1fH cycle due to tuning voltage modulation, alternate horizontal lines at 2fH will be of unequal length. A tearing effect is produced in the display because alternate lines are of different lengths and are not vertically aligned. Resonance effects of the deflection circuitry tend to enhance this tearing effect, which is highly undesirable in a noninterlaced display. The phase comparator output is typically coupled to the oscillator through a low pass filter that can reduce the extent to which the oscillator output frequency is modulated at a 1fH rate. However, extensive filtering reduces the response and tracking ability of the phase locked loop. Additionally, a plurality of phase locked loops may be cascaded, where a first phase locked loop generates a 2fH triggering signal from the synchronizing input signal and a second phase locked loop associated with the deflection circuit synchronizes scanning to the generated 2fH triggering signal. However, there are conflicting requirements on the two phase locked loops, and sufficient attenuation of the 1fH component may not be achievable without sacrificing some other system parameter. The invention is defined by the subject-matter of claims 1 and 27. FIGURE 1 is a block diagram schematic showing the elements of the inventive synchronizing circuit as applied to a television receiver. FIGURES 2(a) and 2(b) are timing diagrams comparing the video synchronization and horizontal scanning triggering signals in a noninterlaced display television receiver. FIGURES 3(a) through 3(h) are timing diagrams comparing the horizontal synchronizing signal, tuning voltage, oscillator output and triggering signals developed by the circuit of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 4 is a display diagram showing a raster splitting effect. FIGURES 5(a) and 5(b) are frequency spectra, respectively, illustrative of the signals as shown in FIGURE 3(d), and as corrected according to an inventive feature. FIGURE 6 is a detailed circuit diagram showing an exemplary circuit for offsetting the phase of a 2fH triggering signal relative to the video synchronizing signal. FIGURE 7 is a logic table showing the output of the circuit according to FIGURE 6. FIGURE 8 is a block diagram illustrating a delay alignment circuit, for repositioning the phase of the 2fH triggering signal. FIGURE 9 is a block diagram illustrating a first inventive configuration of a synchronizing circuit, with a first delay in a feedback path and a second delay at an output. FIGURE 10 is a block diagram showing a second inventive configuration having a delay in a feedback path leading to a frequency divider. FIGURE 11 is a block diagram showing a third inventive configuration that includes the combination of a low pass filter and a delay. FIGURES 12(a) through 12(f) are timing diagrams comparing the horizontal synchronizing signal, tuning voltage, oscillator output and triggering signals developed by the circuits of FIGURES 9 and 10. In a synchronizing circuit, an oscillator provides an output signal at a frequency that is a higher integral multiple than that of a synchronizing input signal. A control circuit, responsive to the input signal and a feedback signal representative of the output signal, generates a control signal that is indicative of a difference in phase or frequency between the input and output signals. The oscillator is responsive to the control signal for synchronized tracking of the output signal to the input signal. The control signal exhibits a periodic variation which tends to result in a deviation of the oscillator output signal from its synchronized tracking condition in accordance with the periodic variation. The phase of the output signal is offset relative to a corresponding phase of the periodic variation of the control signal for counteracting this deviation. FIGURE 1 illustrates a synchronizing circuit 22, especially for a television receiver, according to an exemplary inventive embodiment. Synchronizing circuit 22 includes a first phase locked loop 24 that is responsive to a synchronizing input signal 26 at a sync frequency, and a second phase locked loop 54 that is responsive to an output 167 from first phase locked loop 24. Synchronizing input signal 26 may be the horizontal scanning component or sync of a standard video signal, recurring at a frequency 1fH. In order to provide noninterlaced scanning, synchronizing circuit 22 develops a triggering output 32 at a multiple of the input sync frequency, for example at twice the sync frequency, or at a 2fH frequency. For this purpose, a controllable oscillator 34 or VCO generates an output signal at a first, relatively higher multiple of the sync frequency, such as 32fH. At least one divider 42 counts down the output of oscillator 34 over a division period, to provide a triggering signal at a different multiple of the sync frequency, such as 2fH in the example shown. Other specific multiples of the sync frequency may be used for scanning or other purposes in the television receiver. Two frequency dividers 42, 44 are provided in the embodiment illustrated. A phase selectable divider 42 has a loadable counter 74 dividing by 16 to develop a 2fH signal from the 32fH output of oscillator 34. The other divider 44 divides by 32 by means of a counter 72, to provide a 1fH signal 48 that is fed back for phase comparison with input signal 26 in phase locked loop 24. Output signal 32 at 2fH is coupled to deflection circuit 52 of the television receiver, for example, providing a triggering or reference signal for second phase locked loop 54, associated with the horizontal deflection winding and the flyback transformer, not illustrated, of the television receiver. Synchronizing input signal 26 and the fed back phase locking signal 48 developed by dividing the frequency of oscillator output 36, provide inputs to a phase comparator 58 operable to compare phase locking signal 48 and synchronizing signal 26. Phase locked loop 24 produces a tuning voltage 62 having an average value representing the extent of phase alignment of the two inputs. Phase comparator 58 and filter 68 generate an output waveform shown in FIGURE 3(b), with a periodic component at the sync frequency, and a direct current component or average value 65. If the two input signals 26, 48 remain aligned in phase and frequency, direct current component 65 remains constant. If one or the other of signals 26, 48 leads or trails the other in phase or frequency, direct current component 65 changes. The phase comparator tuning voltage 62 is generated by means of a filter 68 having a transfer function G(s), generally a low pass function, to provide control of oscillator 34. In this manner phase locked loop 24 seeks and maintains a lock or tracking of oscillator frequency and phase with input synchronizing signal 26. Frequency dividers 42, 44 each have a division period through which they cycle repetitively. Divide-by-16 divider 42 has a four bit binary counter 74. Divide-by-32 frequency divider 44 includes a five bit binary counter 72. The divide-by-32 counter is synchronized to 1fH input signal 26 by action of phase comparator 58 and oscillator 34, but divide-by-16 counter 74 must be preset in order to ensure that the division cycles of the two counters begin on the same period of 32fH oscillator 36. This preset may be accomplished by coupling the 1fH output of divide-by-32 counter 72 to counter 74, or directly connecting 1fH line 49 and counter preset trigger line 152 in FIGURE 1. The division period of counter 74 then begins at the same 32fH period as the division period of counter 72, although divide-by-16 counter 74 cycles through two division periods for every division period of divide-by-32 counter 72. This could lead to the 1fH modulation problem discussed above. In carrying out an inventive feature, counter 74 is parallel loadable, and a phase offsetting circuit 142 is provided to offset the phase of the division period of divide-by-16 counter 74 and thus adjust the phase of 2fH period used to develop triggering signal 32, relative to a phase of synchronizing signal 26. This is advantageous for eliminating modulation of the 2fH counted down output 32 of synchronizing circuit 22, at the 1fH input frequency. Output signal 32 is then adjusted by a delay alignment block 160 to provide a drive signal 167 with the correct phase relationship to original sync input 26. The 2fH drive signal 167 is used as the synchronizing input to the following phase locked loop 54. Phase locked loop 54 is conventional and comprises a phase comparator 258, a low pass filter 268, a controlled oscillator 234 for driving deflection circuit 52, and a 2fH flyback feedback to phase comparator 258 from deflection circuit 52. A further delay block 264 may be inserted in the feedback signal, for example, to adjust the phase for horizontal picture centering. Operation of synchronizing circuit 22 may be appreciated from the timing diagrams of FIGURES 2(a), 2(b) and 3(a) through 3(h). A standard video signal arranged for interlaced video fields contains successive first and second fields during successive vertical intervals. In FIGURE 2(a), every other horizontal line m, m+2 is transmitted between 1fH pulses on synchronizing input signal 26, and the fields of even and odd numbered lines are interleaved by successive display during alternating vertical periods, to provide a complete frame. For noninterlaced scanning, however, the horizontal scanning rate must be twice as fast as the video horizontal sync rate, as illustrated in FIGURE 2(b) by driving signal 167. As shown in FIGURES 2(a) and 2(b), the 1fH pulses and the 2fH pulses are aligned. These signals are idealized, and it may also be appropriate in a particular embodiment to offset the phase of the 2fH signal relative to the 1fH input, for example, as a means to horizontally center the video in the display. The horizontal triggering pulses for the deflection circuit should be separated by the same interval between pulses. However, phase comparator 58 produces a tuning voltage 62, illustrated in FIGURE 3(b) that varies periodically at a 1fH rate around an average value 65. Filter 68 may reduce the periodic component generated by operation of the phase comparator but normally will not completely remove the periodic component. Moreover, extensive filtering would undesirably change the response of the phase locked loop. Tuning voltage 62 thus causes a periodic 1fH variation in the pulse width of output 36 of oscillator 34, shown in exaggerated manner in FIGURE 3(c). Pulses 102 at the output 36 of oscillator 34, for example, are wider than the average pulse width over a 1fH period, when tuning voltage 62 is relatively higher than its average 65. Pulses 104, occurring when tuning voltage 62 is relatively lower than the average, are narrower. The variation does not adversely affect the period of the divide-by-32 counter 72, which operates to keep phase locked loop 24 in sync with synchronizing input signal 26 at 1fH because over the period of signal 26 the longer and shorter pulses average out over the 32 cycles. If divide-by-16 counter 74 were to be operated on a counting cycle that begins at the beginning of the counting cycle of divide-by-32 counter 72, then divide-by-16 counter 74 will be affected by the 1fH variation in pulse width, because the variation period spans more than one division cycle of counter 74. Counter 74 predominantly counts pulses 102 of a longer than average period over a first 2fH division period and then shorter than average pulses 104 in the next division period. Although phase locked loop 24 is accurately locked at 1fH, signal 32 at 2fH is not symmetrical, as shown in FIGURE 3(d), where the interval Δtl is shorter than the interval Δt2. Using a signal 32 that has the characteristic shown in FIGURE 3(d) to trigger horizontal scanning has the result shown in FIGURES 4 and 5(a). Successive 2fH horizontal scanning lines L1 and L2 are unequal in duration and display position. The frequency spectrum as shown in FIGURE 5(a) produces in addition to the desired 2fH signal, unwanted frequency components at 1fH and 3fH. The practical effect, as shown in FIGURE 4, is to split the raster, line by line. Referring to FIGURE 1, according to an inventive aspect, raster line splitting is alleviated by providing a phase offsetting circuit 142 to offset the phase of the divide-by-16 frequency division period relative to a phase of synchronizing input signal 26. More particularly, the divide-by-16 period during which counter 74 counts through a division cycle is shifted relative to 1fH signals 26, 48, and relative to the division period of the divide-by-32 counter, which is synchronized by operation of phase locked loop 24 to input signal 26. The amount of this shift is sufficient to move the divide-by-16 division period relative to 1fH signals 26, 48 to a point where some longer 32fH pulses 102 and some shorter 32fH pulses 104 fall into every division period, such that successive 2fH division periods are substantially equal in time, as shown by output signal 32 in FIGURE 3(e). Stated another way, the 2fH division period is shifted sufficiently, relative to tuning voltage 62 and feedback signal 48, so that the average value of tuning voltage 62 around its AC zero voltage line 65, is the same during each successive divide-by-16 counting cycle or division period. In Figures 3a-3h, this phase or time shift is represented by the interval t1-t2. The extent of phase shifting of the divide-by-16 period relative to the 1fH period may be set to a predetermined counted number of 32fH cycles. This number is selected for obtaining the optimal phase relationship between the divide-by-16 period and the 1fH synchronizing signal period. As shown in FIGURE 5(b), selecting the phase to the 32fH period or count that is nearest to optimum phase was found to reduce 1fH modulation of the 2fH horizontal triggering frequency by as much as 18dB. FIGURE 1 in conjunction with FIGURES 6-8 illustrate an inventive embodiment where the phase of the division periods of divide-by-16 counter 74 may be shifted by a specific counted number of 32fH cycles relative to the division period of divide-by-32 counter 72, and relative to input sync signal 26. Phase offsetting circuit 142 includes a timing circuit 110 coupled between 1fH signal 49 from counter 72 and a preset input 152 of divide-by-16 counter 74. Phase offsetting circuit 142 provides a count at which divide-by-16 counter 74 produces an output pulse on 2fH triggering signal 32, thus determining the phase of the division cycle. In the embodiment shown, the count is set from an output of a - microprocessor or controller 115 of the television receiver, via timing circuit 110, for example, by preloading a count into divide-by-16 counter 74 at an edge of the 1fH signal. Counter 74 is then allowed to cycle through two division periods or two progressions of 16 counts until preloaded again. Any particular count is capable of being preloaded as necessary to obtain the desired phase shift of the 2fH signal, to a resolution of one part in 16. Divide-by 16 counter 74 is thus reset with every cycle of the 1fH signal, keeping counter 74 in sync with counter 72, and, at the same time, the 2fH output signal 32 is made symmetrical due to the phase shift. Use of mocroprocessor 115 to set the preload count is only one alternative. Hardwire jumpers, circuit switches or other means also are possible means to provide a phase selection input 132 to inputs 153 of counter 74. FIGURE 6 shows phase offsetting circuit 142 in more detail, for offsetting the phase of the 2fH division period relative to a phase of synchronizing signals 26 or 48, such that the average value of tuning voltage 62 is equal during successive periods of 2fH output signal 32. Timing circuit 110 is synchronous with the 32fH signal and preloads counter 74 during each 1fH cycle. Oscillator output signal 36 at 32fH is coupled through an inverter, driver 117 to the clock inputs of two cascaded D-flipflops 121, 123 and to the clock input of four bit binary counter 74. Counter 74 is parallel loaded or preset by microprocessor 115 over a four bit bus 132, coupled to parallel input 153 of counter 74. A serial bus configuration is an alternative possibility, not illustrated. The D-input of the first flipflop 121 is coupled via an inverter 119 to the fed back synchronizing input signal 49 at 1fH, such that a change of state at the 1fH frequency appears on the output of flipflop 121 at the following period of the 32fH signal, and is coupled to the D-input of the next flipflop 123 in cascade. The output of second flipflop 123 is coupled to an input of a NAND gate 134, whose other input is coupled to the D-input of the flipflop via an inverter 136. On the 32nd count, the output of divide-by-32 counter 72 goes high, shown as signal 49 in FIGURES 3(h) and 6, and the input to the first flipflop 121 goes low, as does the output of NAND gate 134 one count later. Binary counter 74 is then loaded from bus 132 with a preselected starting count. The 1fH signal 49 does not change state for a number of 32fH cycles, but the counter load signal goes high after one 32fH clock cycle, permitting binary counter 74 to count 32fH pulses from the voltage controlled oscillator. Counter 74 counts for 32 pulses, namely through two division periods at 2fH, until preloaded again at the next rising edge of 1fH signal 49. Binary counter 74 operates as the divide-by-16 counter according to this embodiment. The four outputs of binary counter 74 are coupled as inputs to a gating circuit 143 that provides a pulse output during at least one, but typically a number of adjacent clock cycles at 32fH. Gating circuit 143 includes a NAND gate 144 and a NOR gate 148, the outputs of which are coupled to a further NAND gate 154. In addition to providing an output at a divide-by-16 or 2fH rate from the counted output of 32fH oscillator 34, gating circuit 143 provides a 2fH output pulse that is low for three 32fH clock cycles during each 2fH period. This pulse width is obtained due to the logic arrangement as shown in the table of FIGURE 7. Binary counter 74 may be loaded to any four bit number and still continuously cycle. By choosing the starting count loaded into binary counter 74 from bus 132, the phase position of the three low cycles during each 2fH period may be placed anywhere in the 16 count positions at 32fH that occur during the 2fH division period. As part of a television receiver setup function, a desired phase offset is selected for the timing edge of the 2fH output signal 32 relative to the timing edge of synchronizing signal 26, such that the average value of tuning voltage 62 is equal over successive 2fH periods of triggering signal 32. Individual 32fH pulses of oscillator 34 are permitted to vary in width, but the 2fH division periods are equal in time because the longer and shorter pulses 102, 104 are distributed roughly equally in successive periods, rather than longer pulses being counted predominantly during one period and shorter pulses predominantly during the next. As a result, the duration of each successive 2fH period is substantially the same. As shown in FIGURE 5(b), the frequency spectrum of output signal 32 is substantially corrected of undesirable modulation. Although modulation at the 1fH frequency is eliminated as explained above, the phase position of transitions on 2fH signal 32 have been displaced relative to the 1fH period. It may be advantageous to maintain a particular phase relationship between the 2fH signal and the synchronizing input signal, e.g., with the 2fH pulses aligned with the 1fH signal, such that deflection circuit 52 coupled to second phase locked loop 54 operates in step with synchronizing input signal 26. According to another inventive feature, the phase relationship of 2fH output signal 32 is adjustable relative to synchronizing input signal 26 by a delay alignment circuit 160, as shown generally in FIGURE 1 and in a specific embodiment in FIGURE 8. In FIGURE 8, the delay is set in a manner coordinated with the setting of the preload count in divide-by-16 counter 74 by using, for example, the same four bit data signal coupled as inputs 153 to counter 74. Delay alignment circuit 160 comprises two one shots 164, 166 in cascade. The first one shot 164 controls the time shift or delay between edges of 2fH output signal 32 and 2fH driving signal 167 that is supplied to second phase locked loop 54. The second one shot 166 controls the width of the pulses of driving signal 167. One shot 164 provides a selectable delay, for example, controlled by microprocessor 115 via timing circuit 110 in FIGURE 1. The extent of the delay may be chosen as a setup function to coordinate with the number of 32fH cycles by which triggering output signal 32 was shifted by presettable binary counter 74. For example, the adjustable delay of one shot 164 is set to compensate for picture shift due to the delay introduced in divider 42. The pulse width of one shot 164 is determined by the time constant of a capacitor C1 and a selected one of resistors R1-Rn, coupled to one shot 164 via a switching matrix 165. In the example shown, one of sixteen resistors R1-Rn is selected by a four bit input from timing circuit 110. The pulse width of one shot 166 is fixed by the values of a capacitor C2 and a resistor Ra, to a width that is suitable for use in second, phase locked loop 54. In multiplying phase locked loop 24 as shown and described, output signal 32 and drive signal 167 are generated at a first multiple of the received video sync signal 26. Voltage controlled oscillator 34 provides clock signals 36 at a second multiple of the received signal frequency which is higher than the first multiple. By inserting a phase shift for the division period of divider 74 to obtain the described phase alignment, modulation of output signal 32 is prevented. The phase of drive signal 167 is then corrected to the required drive phase. FIGURES 1 and 9-11 represent alternative inventive configurations in which delay circuits and frequency dividers are coupled in different arrangements relative to one another and relative to the low pass filter and oscillator. FIGURES 12(a)-12(f) show the timing of signals A-F at the labelled points in FIGURES 9 and 10, comparable to FIGURES 3(a)-3(h) and FIGURE 1. In FIGURES 9 and 10, phase locked loops 210, 220 each have phase comparator 201, low pass filter 202 and VCO 203, serially coupled to a 1fH synchronizing signal D, with a feedback path to phase comparator 201 including a frequency divider 204, and a delay 205 needed to assure symmetrical oscillator output. Advantageously, VCO 203 operates at the same frequency as the scanning circuit, not shown, and produces a symmetrical 2fH drive signal, synchronized to 1fH synchronizing signal D. Output E of phase comparator 201 is coupled to low pass filter 202, whose output F is the control signal or tuning voltage for VCO 203. The output A of VCO 203 in each case is a symmetrical 2fH signal where the durations of alternating cycles, ta-tb and tb-tc, are the same. In FIGURE 9, delay alignment block 206 adjusts output A to achieve the drive phase needed for driving further circuits such as the second phase locked loop 54 of FIGURE 1. FIGURES 9-11 use the same reference numbers to identify corresponding circuit elements. The inventive circuit in FIGURE 10 provides the same delay and feedback functions in a 2fH phase locked loop 220, but requires only one delay, namely the delay 205 inserted in the feedback path. By placing delay 205 upstream of frequency divider 204, the output signal coupled to the second phase lock loop circuit 54 is phase correct, and at the same time feedback signal B2 may be properly adjusted in phase relative to output A of VCO 203, to obtain symmetrical oscillator operation. As shown in FIGURES 12(a)-12(f), output A of VCO 203 is in each case symmetrical, but is out of phase, by e.g. the interval tc-td, with synchronizing input D and with tuning voltage F for VCO 203. In FIGURES 9 and 12(d), feedback signal B at 1fH is out of phase with synchronizing input D. In FIGURES 10 and 12(c), feedback signal B2 is not only symmetrical, but is in phase with synchronizing input D. Frequency divider 204 then divides down the oscillator frequency for input to phase comparator 201. By operating VCO 203 out of phase with signals C or B2 along the feedback loop, both circuits provide a symmetrical 2fH signal, i.e., without 1fH modulation, and both circuits provide a phase comparison signal C to phase comparator 201 that keeps the circuit locked. A further inventive configuration, as shown in a phase locked loop 230 of FIGURE 11, provides a delay in the path of the tuning voltage or control signal F rather than in the feedback path, for operating the VCO with a symmetrical output. In FIGURE 11, analog delay 207 is coupled to the output of low pass filter 202 for this purpose. The low pass and delay functions may, for example, be produced in a single analog circuit having a multipole transfer function. In all the inventive configurations shown, the phase locked loop generates an oscillator control signal tuning voltage that is indicative of the difference in phase or frequency between the 1fH input horizontal sync signal and the oscillator output signal, where the output signal frequency is a higher integral multiple of the input signal frequency. The phase detector generates a tuning voltage, even after filtering, which exhibits a periodic variation, i.e. at a 1fH rate. The tuning voltage, when applied to the oscillator control input, tends to produce a deviation of the oscillator output signal from its synchronized tracking condition, i.e. from its average period. Thus, the 1fH cyclical variation in the tuning voltage produces a 1fH variation from the average period of the 2fH oscillator output. This variation could occur for other oscillators that provide scan drive at other, higher multiples of the synchronizing input signal. Due to the frequency control afforded by the phase locked loop, the average period of the oscillator output still tracks the average period of the input sync signal. By controlling the phase of the oscillator output signal relative to the phase of the periodic variation in the tuning voltage, the deviation of the oscillator output is counteracted. In Figure 1, this is accomplished by directly offsetting the phase of the 2fH output signal by selecting the appropriate cycle of the 32fH VCO 34 from which divider 42 begins its countdown. In Figures 9 and 10, the oscillator deviation is counteracted by offsetting the phase of the oscillator feedback signal, and in Figure 11, by directly offsetting the phase of the tuning voltage produced by phase detector 201.

Claims: A synchronizing circuit, comprising: a source of a synchronizing signal (SYNC) at an input frequency; an oscillator (34; 203) having an input coupled to said source of a synchronizing signal for providing an output signal at an output frequency that is a higher, integral multiple of the input frequency; means (24; 210; 220; 230) responsive to input signals comprising the synchronizing signal and a feedback signal representative of said output signal for generating a control signal that is indicative of a difference in phase or frequency between the input and output signals, said oscillator being responsive to said control signal for synchronized tracking of said oscillator output signal to said synchronizing signal, said control signal exhibiting a periodic variation which tends to result in a deviation of said oscillator output signal from its synchronized tracking condition in accordance with said periodic variation; characterized by means (142; 204, 205; 204, 207) for varying the phase relationship between said output signal and said input signals for counteracting said deviation. A circuit according to Claim 1, characterized in that said means (142; 204, 205; 204, 207) are connected to said oscillator for offsetting a phase of said output signal relative to a corresponding phase of the periodic variation of said control signal. A circuit according to Claim 1, characterized in that said phase offsetting means comprises a frequency divider (204) coupled to a time shifting circuit (205) in a path of said output signal generation, said feedback signal being developed at an output (B2) of said time shifting circuit. A circuit according to Claim 1, further characterized by a scanning circuit (52) being driven by said output signal at a frequency higher than said input signal but synchronized thereto. A circuit according to Claim 1, characterized in that said phase offsetting means comprises a frequency divider (204) coupled to a time shifting circuit (205) in a path of said feedback signal. A circuit according to Claim 5, characterized in that said output signal is obtained at an output (B2) of said time shifting circuit. A circuit according to Claim 1, characterized in that said oscillator (34; 203) develops an oscillatory signal at an oscillatory frequency higher than that of said output frequency and that is an integral multiple of the input frequency, and including a divider (42; 204) responsive to said oscillatory signal for generating said output signal. A circuit according to Claim 7, characterized in that said phase offsetting means (142) comprises means (110) for offsetting a phase of a division period of said divider relative to a phase of said synchronizing input signal. A circuit according to Claim 8, further characterized by means (160) for shifting a phase of said output signal to compensate for a phase offset generated by said phase offsetting means. The circuit of Claim 9, characterized in that the phase shifting means comprises a one-shot (164, 166). A circuit according to Claim 9, further characterized by a scanning circuit (52) being driven by the phase shifted output signal at a frequency higher than said input signal but synchronized thereto. A circuit according to Claim 1, further characterized by a scanning circuit (52) for a video display responsive to said oscillator output signal and having a scanning interval established by the period of said output signal and subject to the variation thereof. A circuit according to Claim 1, further characterized by said means (142; 204, 205; 204, 208) being coupled to said control signal generating means for offsetting a phase of said feedback signal relative to a corresponding phase of the output signal. A circuit according to Claim 13, characterized in that said deviation of said oscillator output signal comprises a variation of the period of said output signal about an average period. A circuit according to Claim 1, characterized by a phase comparator (58) operable to compare an oscillator output and the synchronizing signal for producing a tuning signal coupled to said oscillator for synchronizing the output signal to said synchronizing signal. The circuit of Claim 15, characterized in that the tuning signal has a periodic component at the sync frequency, and where the phase offsetting means provides a phase offset.that reduces a periodic component of the same frequency in the output signal. The circuit of Claim 16, characterized in that said phase offsetting means provides a phase offset such that the output signal has successive periods of substantially equal duration. The circuit of Claim 15, characterized in that said divider comprises a digital counter (74) and said phase offsetting means includes means (121, 123, 136, 134, 152, 143) for at least one of presetting a predetermined starting count of the counter and triggering an output at a predetermined count of the counter. The circuit of Claim 18, further characterized by means (115) for selecting the predetermined count, such that the phase of the division period is selectable relative to the phase of the synchronizing signal, for setting the average value of the tuning signal substantially equal during successive periods of the triggering signal The circuit of Claim 15, characterized in that said divider (42) comprises a first digital counter (74) operable to count the first multiple of the sync frequency down to the second multiple of the sync frequency and further including a second counter (72) operable to count down to the sync frequency. The circuit of Claim 20, characterized in that the first digital counter (74) is supplied with a load signal (at 152) such that the first digital counter is loaded to said preset count during each period of the synchronizing signal, wherein a controller (115) coupled to the first digital counter (74) for providing the preset count. The circuit of Claim 21, further characterized by a delay means (160) coupled to the output signal, where the delay means is settable to a predetermined delay by the controller (115). The circuit of Claim 21, further characterized by a delay means (160) coupled to the output signal for providing a drive signal at a settable delay relative to the output signal, and wherein the preset count of the first digital counter (74) and the settable delay are coordinated for aligning a phase of the drive signal relative to the synchronizing input signal. The circuit of Claim 13, further characterized by a phase locked loop (54) coupled to the scanning circuit, the phase locked loop being responsive to an output of the phase offsetting means (142). The circuit of Claim 9, characterized in that the phase shifting means (160) and the phase offsetting means (142) are coordinated to maintain the predetermined phase alignment with the synchronizing input signal The circuit according to Claim 25, characterized in that the phase offsetting means (142) comprises a digital counter (74) and the phase shifting means (160) comprises a one shot (164) with a selectable pulse width, a controller (115) being operable to select the predetermined count. A synchronizing circuit, comprising: a source of a synchronizing input signal (SYNC); a source (34) of clock signals; characterized by means (24) for synchronizing said clock signals to said input signal, said clock signals exhibiting a periodic variation in frequency within each period of said synchronizing input signal; a divider (42) coupled to said source of clock signals for dividing the frequency of said clock signals to obtain an output signal of frequency higher than that of said input signal; and means (142) for offsetting a phase of a division period of said divider relative to a phase of said synchronizing input signal in order to counteract said periodic variation in frequency. A circuit according to Claim 27, further characterized by means (160) for shifting a phase of said output signal to compensate for a phase offset generated by said phase offsetting means. A circuit according to Claim 28, further charactenzed by a scanning circuit (52) being driven by the phase shifted output signal at a frequency higher than said input signal but synchronized thereto.

Inventors: SAEGER TIMOTHY WILLIAM, WILLIS DONALD HENRY, SAEGER, TIMOTHY WILLIAM, WILLIS, DONALD HENRY
Applicants: THOMSON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, THOMSON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H04N5
IPC codes: H04N5, H03L7