Patent Description:
This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.

In general, a phase-locked loop circuit ("PLL") is a negative feedback system where an oscillator-generated signal is phase and frequency locked to a reference signal. PLLs are used in most communication systems. For example, a PLL may be implemented as a frequency synthesizer to generate an output signal with a frequency that is a programmable rational multiple of an input frequency (e.g., multiplying a <NUM> reference clock signal to produce a <NUM> signal). Other PLL applications are for frequency modulation and demodulation (e.g., as implemented in wireless communication systems, or for spread-spectrum clocking), for clock recovery (e.g., extracting from an incoming data stream the clock frequency and optimum phase of high-speed sampling clocks), and for skew cancellation (e.g., phase aligning an internal clock to an I/O clock).

There are many ways of implementing a PLL, but they generally can be represented by the block diagram of the PLL <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The phase detector ("PD") <NUM> produces an output signal that is proportional to the phase difference between its two input signals: a reference signal (also referred to herein as the "REF signal") and a feedback signal (also referred to herein as the "FBK signal"). A low pass filter ("LPF") <NUM> may be included to reject a high frequency harmonic content of the output signal from the PD <NUM> and provide to the voltage controlled oscillator ("VCO") <NUM> a low frequency signal that controls the frequency of the output signal from the VCO <NUM> (identified in the figures as "OUT"). The feedback divider <NUM> generates the feedback signal FBK having a frequency that is N times smaller than the frequency of the output signal OUT from the VCO <NUM>.

The output of the phase detector <NUM>, once filtered by the LPF <NUM>, drives the frequency of the output signal OUT from the VCO <NUM> in a direction that reduces the phase error between the REF and FBK signals. A locked state of the PLL <NUM> is reached when both the following conditions are simultaneously satisfied:.

The number of integrators in the loop defines the type of the PLL. Since the oscillator behaves like an integrator (for the phase), the minimum PLL type is one (I). Higher PLL types are possible by adding an integrator in the LPF. However, the maximum PLL type is usually limited to two (II).

In a type-I PLL, the value of ΔΦLCK depends on the particular type of phase detector implemented within the PLL, but nevertheless it will be greater than zero. Typical ΔΦLCK values are <NUM> degrees (e.g., for an XOR gate-based phase detector or an analog multiplier such as a Gilbert cell) or <NUM> degrees (e.g., for a Set-Reset ("SR") latch-based phase detector).

For purposes of the present disclosure, the PLL phase error is defined as a difference between the reference signal (REF) and feedback signal (FBK) phase relationship and the locking phase relationship ΔΦLCK. For purposes of the present disclosure, the PLL frequency error is defined as the difference between the frequency of the reference signal (REF) and the frequency of the feedback signal (FBK). The PLL locking time (i.e., the time needed to reach the locked state) depends on the PLL bandwidth and on the initial PLL frequency and phase errors. The PLL bandwidth may not be chosen arbitrarily because it also impacts other aspect of the PLL, such as noise and spurs (spurious signals). Once the bandwidth has been chosen, the only parameters left for reducing the locking time are the initial frequency error and the initial phase error.

The initial frequency error is controlled by the VCO frequency calibration, and can be reduced as much as desired, depending on the calibration accuracy. As a result, also reducing the initial phase error would allow for a further reduction of the locking time.

<CIT> describes implementations feature systems and techniques for phase-locked loops (PLLs). Some implementations feature a system that has a PLL circuit including an oscillator and programmable reference frequency divider circuit or a programmable feedback frequency divider circuit. The PLL includes a control circuit to reduce a time required for a PLL settling time by programming a division value into the programmable reference frequency divider circuit and/or the programmable feedback frequency divider circuit to target the oscillator to operate outside of a system operating frequency range of the oscillator during start-up of PLL operations. The control circuit can program another division value into the programmable reference frequency divider circuit and/or the programmable feedback frequency divider circuit after stabilization of the variable oscillator.

<CIT> describes a wireless communication system, which is provided with a PLL circuit having a plurality of oscillators and is capable of processing two or more transmit and receive signal different in frequency band from one another according to the switching between the oscillators, has a reset means which resets a voltage applied to each of filter capacitors lying within the PLL circuit to a predetermined voltage when the switching between the oscillators is performed.

<CIT> describes a frequency divider having a reset function, in which a second clock of a frequency NxY times higher than that of a first clock is inputted. Upon receipt of a signal indicating that the stop of the input clock is detected by a start/stop detection circuit, the frequency divider having a reset function resets the dividing of a frequency. Then, upon receipt of a signal indicating that the resumption of the input clock is detected by the start/stop detection circuit, the frequency divider generates and inputs a third clock to a phase comparator by starting the dividing of a frequency.

<CIT> describes a frequency synthesizer including an edge-detection circuit for disabling elements of the frequency synthesizer prior to start-up. The edge-detection circuit detects a transition edge of a reference-clock signal of the frequency synthesizer and enables elements of the frequency synthesizer upon the detection of the transition edge.

According to an aspect, there is provided a type-I phase-locked loop ("PLL") as defined in appended claim <NUM>.

According to another aspect, there is provided a method of operating a type-I phase-locked loop ("PLL") as defined in appended claim <NUM>.

Further features according to embodiments of this disclosure are defined in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for reducing the initial phase error for PLLs in which the target locking phase is non-zero (i.e., ΔΦLCK><NUM>). For type-II or larger PLLs, the problem of reducing the initial phase error is generally much easier to solve since ΔΦLCK=<NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a simplified block diagram of a type-I PLL <NUM>, with more implementation-oriented details compared to the block diagram of <FIG>. An exemplary timing diagram for the PLL <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, wherein the phase detector <NUM> is a SR latch-based phase detector (i.e., with ΔΦLCK=<NUM>°) active on the rising edge of the input signals (i.e., REF and FBK).

Referring to the "PLL status" line in <FIG>, an initial "Power-up" period is followed by a VCO frequency calibration period ("VCO cal"), to ensure that the free-running frequency of the VCO <NUM> is as close as possible to the desired frequency of the output signal OUT of the PLL <NUM>. In this particular example illustrated in <FIG>, it is assumed that the calibration is perfect, i.e., the free-running frequency of the VCO <NUM> is equal to the desired frequency of the output signal OUT of the PLL <NUM>. During calibration ("VCO cal"), the tuning voltage input to the VCO <NUM> from the LPF <NUM> (labelled as "LPF out" in the figures) is maintained at a fixed voltage value as defined by a precharge circuit <NUM>, which may be implemented in a well-known manner. The output of the precharge circuit <NUM> is fed to the input of the LPF <NUM> by an Open Loop switch <NUM> designated as open when the Open Loop signal in <FIG> is set to a high logic signal. To maximize the PLL acquisition range, the value of such a tuning voltage input ("LPF out") from the precharge circuit <NUM> may be set to a predetermined value (c. , VDD/<NUM>).

At the time instant t<NUM>, the VCO calibration period ("VCO cal") ends, the Open Loop switch <NUM> is closed (the Open Loop signal in <FIG> transitions to a low logic signal), and the tuning voltage input ("LPF out") to the VCO <NUM> from the LPF <NUM> is now controlled by the output voltage produced by the PD <NUM>. At the same time instant t<NUM>, the reset signal (labelled as "Div. reset" in the figures) to the feedback divider <NUM> is disabled ("Div. reset" transitions to a low logic level), and the feedback divider <NUM> begins to divide by N (see the "Div. division val. " line in <FIG>) the output signal OUT from the VCO <NUM> to produce the FBK signal.

Since in this example the free-running frequency of the VCO <NUM> is identical to the desired target frequency for the output signal OUT, the division cycle of feedback divider <NUM> ends exactly after one period of the reference signal REF at the time instant t<NUM>, and the REF and FBK signals now have the same phase. However, even though the initial frequency error was null (i.e., the free-running frequency of the VCO <NUM> is identical to the desired target frequency for the output signal OUT of the PLL <NUM>), the PLL <NUM> does not immediately achieve the Locked condition (see the "PLL status" line in <FIG>) because the initial phase difference between the REF and FBK signals is different from the locking one (i.e., the initial phase difference = <NUM>°, the locking phase difference = <NUM>°, and therefore, the initial phase error = <NUM>°).

In this condition, the duty cycle of the output signal of the phase detector <NUM> is equal or close to <NUM>. As a result, the tuning voltage input to the VCO <NUM> from the LPF <NUM> ("LPF out") begins to increase, causing the frequency of the output signal OUT of the VCO <NUM> to increase. For the sake of simplicity, the "LPF out" signal illustrated in <FIG> (and in the following <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>) is a simplified version of an actual signal output from a low pass filter in that it represents an average value of the signal (for example, without illustrating transients in the signal). Referring to the "PLL status" line in <FIG>, after a Locking transient period (also indicated in <FIG> as the "Locking time"), the Locked condition is eventually reached at some later time instant t<NUM>, where both the frequency of the output signal OUT from the VCO <NUM> and the phase relationship of the input signals REF and FBK to the phase detector <NUM> have reached their respective targeted values.

In this example (i.e., where the initial frequency error is null), if there was a method to force a zero initial phase error, the PLL <NUM> would have immediately achieved the Locked condition (e.g., the Locking time would have been zero). Therefore, it can be seen that cancelling (or reducing) the initial phase error would lead to a shorter (decreased) Locking time for the PLL <NUM> even in the case where the initial frequency error is larger than zero (not null). Consequently, all the other parameters being equal (i.e., PLL bandwidth and initial frequency error), the smaller the initial phase error, the shorter the Locking time for the PLL <NUM>.

Taking into consideration the foregoing, embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for selectively controlling the feedback divider division value (N) during the first division cycle to reduce (or even cancel) the initial phase error for a PLL. Though not limited as such, embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for reducing the PLL locking time that applies for all type-I PLLs.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the PLL is configured so that the division value (N) of the feedback divider is selected such that the first division cycle ends exactly when the phase of the reference signal is equal to the target locking phase ΔΦLCK. As a result, the required phase relationship between the reference and feedback signals is immediately achieved, resulting in a zero initial phase error.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a PLL is configured so that the feedback divider triggers the reset input of the phase detector with a phase difference of ΔΦLCK in comparison to the reference signal. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the division value (N) of the feedback divider during the first division cycle is set to a value of N* = N·ΔΦLCK/<NUM>, where N is the nominal division value of the feedback divider under normal operation (the nominal division value N is the ratio between the frequency of the output signal of the VCO and the frequency of the reference signal under normal operation of the PLL).

Refer to the timing diagram illustrated in <FIG>, which represents an exemplary operation of the PLL <NUM> (i.e., with a SR latch-based phase detector <NUM>, and an ideal VCO frequency calibration) in which embodiments of the present disclosure have been implemented in the PLL <NUM>. At the time instant t<NUM>, the PLL <NUM> is configured to close the loop (i.e., the Open Loop switch <NUM> is closed whereby the Open Loop signal in <FIG> transitions to a low logic signal), and to activate the feedback divider <NUM> (i.e., the reset signal (identified as "Div. reset" in the figures) is disabled (i.e., set to a low logic signal)) so that the feedback divider <NUM> begins to divide the output signal OUT from the VCO <NUM>. Differently from the example described with respect to <FIG>, the first division value N of the feedback divider <NUM> is set to a value of N* = N·ΔΦLCK/<NUM> (i.e., N* = N·<NUM>/<NUM> = N/<NUM> due to the implementation of the SR latch-based phase detector <NUM>). The PLL <NUM> is configured so that this first division cycle of the feedback divider <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG> as the time period of the "Div. divisional val. " line from the time instant t<NUM> to the time instant t<NUM>) ends at the time instant t<NUM> so that the phase of the REF signal is equal to ΔΦLCK = <NUM>°, which results in the required phase relationship between REF and FBK being immediately achieved (e.g., the initial phase error is zero). As a result, the Locked condition (see the "PLL status" line) is immediately achieved.

The output of the phase detector <NUM> (which is input to the LPF <NUM>) is a square wave having a <NUM>% duty cycle during all of the division cycles. As a result, the tuning voltage input to the VCO <NUM> from the LPF <NUM> remains at a value of VDD/<NUM> (the same voltage as produced by the precharge circuit <NUM>). The output frequency of the VCO <NUM> is proportional to the tuning voltage. Since the value of the tuning voltage remains the same as the one during the calibration phase, the output frequency of the VCO <NUM> also remains the same.

<FIG> illustrates a timing diagram for an exemplary operation of a PLL (e.g., the PLL <NUM>) implemented with an XOR-based phase detector <NUM>. In such an implementation, the locking phase difference between the REF and FBK signals is ΔΦLCK = <NUM>°, and the PLL <NUM> is then configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure to set the division value N for the feedback divider <NUM> during the first division cycle to a value of N* = N·ΔΦLCK/<NUM> (i.e., N* = N·<NUM>/<NUM> = N/<NUM>).

As indicated by the "Div. division val" line in <FIG>, the PLL <NUM> is configured so that the first division cycle begins at the time instant t<NUM> and ends at the time instant t<NUM> so that the phase of the REF signal is equal to ΔΦLCK = <NUM>°, which results in the Locked condition being immediately achieved. Similar to the embodiments described with respect to <FIG>, the output of the phase detector <NUM> is a square wave having a <NUM>% duty cycle during all the division cycles. As a result, the tuning voltage input to the VCO <NUM> from the LPF <NUM> remains at a voltage value of VDD/<NUM> (the same voltage as produced by the precharge circuit <NUM>), and any subsequent frequency drift happens compared to the VCO calibration period.

Note that in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, setting by the PLL of the first division value to a value of N* = N·ΔΦLCK/<NUM> may not be sufficient to guarantee that the first division cycle ends exactly when the phase of the reference signal is equal to ΔΦLCK.

As a result, embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured so that the instant at which the feedback divider reset signal ("Div. reset") is disabled (e.g., the instant at which the feedback divider begins to divide the output signal OUT) is synchronous with the reference signal, and/or that the instant at which the loop is closed (e.g., closing of the Open Loop switch) is synchronous with the disabling of the feedback divider reset signal.

These conditions may be achieved by the PLL being configured to resynchronize the divider reset and/or Open Loop signals with the reference signal. However, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, other techniques may be implemented by those skilled in the art to achieve similar results.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of a PLL <NUM> configured to resynchronize the divider reset signal ("Div. reset") with the reference signal (e.g., by utilization of one or more latches). In this exemplary embodiment, the Open Loop signal is not resynchronized with the reference signal. As a result, the first of the two previously noted conditions is satisfied, while the second one is not.

Comparing the PLL <NUM> of <FIG> to the PLL <NUM> of <FIG>, note that the REF signal is frequency multiplied by two before reaching the Set (S) input of the PD <NUM>. Consequently, the "effective" reference signal is the multiplied-by-two REF signal to produce the Set (S) input of the PD <NUM>. Nevertheless, embodiments of the present disclosure apply even in this embodiment, as well as in other embodiments where the reference signal is multiplied by any other value before reaching the input of the PD <NUM>. Additionally, in this exemplary embodiment, the phase detector <NUM> is active on the low logic level of its input signal, rather than on the rising edge as previously described with respect to <FIG>.

The associated timing diagram of an exemplary operation of the PLL <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. At the time instant t<NUM>, the VCO calibration ("VCO cal") ends, and the Open Loop and divider reset signals each transition to low logic levels. Note that in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the Open Loop and divider reset signals may be generated inside digital circuitry that controls the PLL. Such digital circuitry may be implemented with a digital clock source that is different than the reference (REF) clock (e.g., a different frequency and/or different clock tree path). Consequently, the Open Loop and divider reset signals may not be synchronous with the REF signal. Even in an implementation in which the digital clock signal is synchronous with the REF signal, the Open Loop signal and the divider reset signal may not be synchronous with the REF signal because of a delay introduced by parasitic connections between the digital circuitry and the PLL. Therefore, in <FIG>, td1 and td2 represent exemplary propagation times from the digital circuitry to the PLL <NUM> for the Open Loop and divider rest signals, respectively.

At the time instant t<NUM>+td1, the Open Loop switch <NUM> is closed ("Switch position" line in <FIG> transitions to a low logic level) resulting in the input of the LPF <NUM> being coupled to the output of the PD <NUM>. However, the feedback divider <NUM> is still in a reset state because of the delay caused by a transitioning of the divider reset signal ("Div. reset") through the latch <NUM>, which is cycled by the REF signal (correspondingly, the output signal (i.e., labelled as "FBK (R)" in <FIG>) of the feedback divider <NUM> remains in a high logic level, since the feedback divider <NUM> has not yet commenced dividing the output signal OUT). The output of the PD <NUM> (labelled as "PD out" in <FIG>) remains at a high logic level until the feedback divider <NUM> completes its first division cycle (denoted in the "Div. division val. " line by the time interval from the time instant t<NUM> to the time instant t<NUM>). During this time interval, the output voltage ("LPF out") of the LPF <NUM> begins to increase, causing the VCO <NUM> to change its output frequency. At the time instant t<NUM> (one period of the REF signal after the time instant t<NUM>) the feedback divider <NUM> commences to operate (i.e., divide the output signal OUT) as a result of the resynchronized feedback divider reset input ("Reset_int") to the feedback divider <NUM> transitioning to a low logic signal. At the end of this first division cycle of the feedback divider <NUM> (i.e., the time instant t<NUM>), the phase of the Set (S) signal of the phase detector <NUM> is approximately <NUM>° (but not exactly since the frequency of the output signal OUT of the VCO <NUM> has already begun to drift because of the increasing output voltage from the LPF <NUM>). As a result, the initial phase error is approximately <NUM>°-<NUM>°=<NUM>°. Therefore, a Locking transient (see the "PLL status" line) occurs to recover both the initial phase error and the VCO frequency error (caused by the drifting voltage of the LPF <NUM>).

<FIG> illustrates a timing diagram representing an implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure in which the Open Loop signal is not synchronized with the reference signal. Until the time instant t<NUM>, timing of the various signals within the PLL <NUM> is the same as the exemplary embodiment described with respect to <FIG>. However, at this time instant t<NUM>, the PLL <NUM> is configured so that the division value N of the feedback divider <NUM> during the first division cycle (identified in <FIG> as the time period of the "Div. division val. " line from the time instant t<NUM> to the time instant t<NUM>) is set to a value of N* = N·ΔΦLCK/<NUM> = N·<NUM>/<NUM> = N/<NUM> (due to the PD <NUM> being implemented with a SR latch-based phase detector). At the end of this first division cycle (i.e., the time instant t<NUM>), the phase of the Set (S) signal of the phase detector <NUM> may be approximately, but not exactly, <NUM>°. As described with respect to <FIG>, the output of the PD <NUM> remains at a high logic level from the time instant t<NUM>+td1 until the time instant t<NUM> causing the output voltage ("LPF out") of the LPF <NUM> to increase. The initial phase error is approximately <NUM>°, but a Locking transient (see the "PLL status" line) still occurs in order to compensate the frequency drift of the VCO <NUM> and cancel the phase error. Since the initial phase error is much smaller than in the case of <FIG>, the corresponding Locking time is decreased.

<FIG> illustrates a PLL <NUM> configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure in which both the feedback divider reset signal ("Div. reset") and the Open Loop signal are synchronized. The associated timing diagram is illustrated in <FIG>. Except as described with respect to <FIG>, the circuit elements <NUM>-<NUM> may be configured to operate in a similar manner as circuit elements <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, instead of synchronizing both of the feedback divider reset ("Div. reset") and Open Loop signals with the REF signal, the resynchronized feedback divider reset input (labelled as "Reset_int") is used to control both the feedback divider <NUM> and the Open Loop switch <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the PLL <NUM> is configured to remain in an Open Loop state (labelled as "OL" in <FIG>) until the time instant t<NUM> at which time the feedback divider <NUM> begins to divide the output signal OUT from the VCO <NUM>. The PLL <NUM> is configured to set the division cycle value N for the feedback divider <NUM> to a value of N* = N·<NUM>/<NUM> = N/<NUM> during the first division cycle (as indicated by the time interval from the time instant t<NUM> to the time instant t<NUM> in the "Div. division val. " line in <FIG>) of the feedback divider <NUM>. At the time instant t<NUM>, the phase of the Set (S) signal of the PD <NUM> is exactly <NUM>°, and the Locked condition is thus immediately achieved.

Recall that <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate a simplified version of the LPF out signal. While the average value of the input signal to the LPF <NUM> ("LPF in") in <FIG> does not change, the output signal from the LPF <NUM> ("LPF out") may naturally react to the to the direct current ("DC")-to-square wave transition (see the "LPF in" line) at the time instant t<NUM> with a transient that depends on the impulse response of the particular topology of low pass filter implemented for the LPF <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a transient behavior of the output signal ("LPF out") for an exemplary low pass filter topology (i.e., an exemplary LPF impulse response to the input signal "LPF in") for an exemplary low pass filter that may be implemented within a phase-locked loop (e.g., PLL <NUM>), assuming that the loop is closed at the time instant t<NUM>=<NUM>µsec (e.g., the Open Loop switch <NUM> is closed so that the output of the phase detector <NUM> is coupled to the input of the LPF <NUM>). Such a transient behavior may not be desired because it may cause a VCO frequency transient that needs to be recovered to achieve the Locked condition.

Note that in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the impact of such a transient can be neglected. Nevertheless, certain embodiments of the present disclosure incorporate a solution to alleviate (e.g. suppress) such a transient by delaying the instant at which the loop is closed (i.e., the instant at which the low pass filter <NUM> receives the transition of the input signal "LPF in" from a DC signal to a square wave signal).

<FIG> illustrates the transient behavior of the output signal ("LPF out") for several different exemplary delay values. As can be seen, the LPF out signal has different responses at the time instant t<NUM> depending on the delay value implemented within the PLL. If the delay is properly chosen, a substantially flat response can be achieved (e.g., see line C). That means that the frequency of the output signal OUT from the VCO <NUM> remains the same before and after the time instant t<NUM> (since the VCO frequency is proportional to LPF out, if LPF out does not change, the VCO frequency does not change).

<FIG> illustrates a magnified portion of <FIG> around the time instant t<NUM> to demonstrate the impact of a delay implemented on the LPF in signal. A delay value that achieves a flat response depends on the actual LPF implementation, but in any case, may be between <NUM> and one-half of a period of the output signal from the Phase Detector.

<FIG> illustrates a PLL <NUM> configured in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. PLL <NUM> is similar to PLL <NUM>, except that a delay circuit <NUM> is coupled between the latch <NUM> and the Open Loop switch <NUM>, wherein the delay circuit <NUM> is configured to introduce a delay on actuation of the Open Loop signal. The delay circuit <NUM> may be implemented with any well-known circuitry for implementing a specified delay of the Reset_int signal to the Open Loop switch <NUM> in order to delay the closing of the Open Loop switch <NUM>. The circuit elements <NUM>-<NUM> may be configured to operate in a similar manner as described with respect to <FIG>.

Note that, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, any of the phase-locked loop circuits described herein may be implemented with a SR latch-based phase detector, an XOR phase detector, or any other type of phase detector as long as the division value of the feedback divider during the first division cycle is appropriately set as described herein.

The phase-locked loop circuits described herein may be configured to set the various input parameters described in the exemplary timing diagrams (e.g., the value of the division value N, the Open Loop signal, and the divider reset signal) of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> by implementing circuitry and/or software code in a well-known manner. In a non-limiting example, circuitry and/or software code may be implemented within the feedback divider in a well-known manner so that these parameters are controlled and appropriately timed as described herein. Consequently, the timing diagrams described herein illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, the relative timing of the various signals represented in the timing diagrams may represent one or more modules, segments, circuitry, or portions of instructions for implementing the specified logical functions illustrated in the timing diagrams. It will also be noted that the timing of the various signals in each of the timing diagrams can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and software instructions implemented with respect to the various phase-locked loop circuits described herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented within any type of system that utilizes a type-I PLL, including, but not limited to, a controller circuit with wireless communication capabilities, such as for use in such exemplary applications as automotive car access, car sharing, passive entry/passive start ("PEPS") systems, sensors, tire pressure monitoring system ("TPMS"), wireless on-board diagnostic functions, asset tracking, building control and monitoring, building HVAC control, CAN to BLE bridge, data usage collection, fire/security, hospital infrastructure, and retail pricing management.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a type-I phase-locked loop ("PLL") including a phase detector receiving a reference signal and a feedback signal, a controlled oscillator having an input coupled to an output of the phase detector, and a feedback divider coupled to an output of the controlled oscillator, wherein the feedback divider outputs the feedback signal to the phase detector, wherein during a first division cycle of the feedback divider, a division value of the feedback divider is set such that a locking relationship is achieved between the reference signal and the feedback signal during the first division cycle. The division value of the feedback divider may be set to a ratio of a phase difference of the phase detector under a locked state and <NUM>°. The division value of the feedback divider may be set to a nominal value after the first division cycle, wherein the division value during the first division cycle is different from the nominal value. The division value of the feedback divider may be set to the nominal value multiplied by a ratio of a phase difference of the phase detector under a locked state and <NUM>°. The phase detector may be an XOR-based phase detector, wherein the division value during the first division cycle is set to one fourth of the nominal value. The phase detector may be a Set-Reset latch-based phase detector, wherein the division value during the first division cycle is set to one half of the nominal value. The Set input of the Set-Reset latched-based phase detector may be multiplied by a factor of <NUM>. The reset input of the feedback divider may be synchronized with the reference signal, wherein the reset input signals the feedback divider to begin dividing the output of the controlled oscillator. The type-I PLL may further include an open loop switch coupled between the output of the phase detector and the input of the controlled oscillator, wherein operation of the open loop switch is synchronized with the divider reset signal. The type-I PLL may further include a low pass filter having an output coupled to the input of the controlled oscillator, and a delay circuit configured to delay the operation of the open loop switch so that a coupling of the output of the phase detector to an input of the low pass filter is delayed relative to the reset input.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for operating a phase-locked loop, the method including setting a division value of a feedback divider to a ratio of a phase difference of a phase detector under a locked state and <NUM>° during a first division cycle of the feedback detector, and setting the division value of the feedback divider to a nominal value during a second division cycle of the feedback divider that is subsequent to the first division cycle, wherein the division value during the first division cycle is different than the nominal value. The division value during the first division cycle may be set to the nominal value multiplied by the ratio of the phase difference of the phase detector under the locked state and <NUM>°. The phase detector may be an XOR-based phase detector, wherein the division value during the first division cycle is set to one fourth of the nominal value. The phase detector may be a Set-Reset latch-based phase detector, wherein the division value during the first division cycle is set to one half of the nominal value. The method may further include commencing the first division cycle in a synchronized relationship with a reference signal received by the phase detector. The method may further include synchronizing a coupling of an output of the phase detector to an input of a low pass filter with the beginning of the first division cycle. The method may further include delaying for a specified time period the coupling of the output of the phase detector to the input of the low pass filter relative to the commencement of the first division cycle.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a phase-locked loop including a phase detector receiving a reference signal and a feedback signal, a low pass filter, a voltage controlled oscillator having an input coupled to an output of the low pass filter, and a feedback divider coupled to an output of the voltage controlled oscillator, wherein the feedback divider outputs the feedback signal to the phase detector, wherein, during a first division cycle of the feedback divider, the feedback divider is configured to divide the output of the voltage controlled oscillator by a division value set to a predetermined nominal division value of the feedback divider multiplied by a ratio between a phase difference of the phase detector under a locked state of the phase-locked loop and <NUM>°, and wherein the feedback divider is configured to divide the output of the voltage controlled oscillator by the predetermined nominal division value during a second division cycle subsequent to the first division cycle. The phase-locked loop may further include circuitry configured to synchronize a couple of an output of the phase detector to an input of the low pass filter with a commencement of the first division cycle. The phase-locked loop may be a type-I phase-locked loop.

Locking time for a phase-locked loop is decreased by selectively controlling a division value of the feedback divider during the first division cycle to reduce the initial phase error. The division value of the feedback divider during the first division cycle is selectively set such that the locking phase relationship between the two phase detector input signals is achieved at the end of the first division cycle.

In this disclosure, singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Claim 1:
A type-I phase-locked loop, PLL, (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a phase detector (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) operable to receive:
a reference signal; and
a feedback signal;
a controlled oscillator (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having an input coupled to an output of the phase detector; and
a feedback divider (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to an output of the controlled oscillator, wherein the feedback divider has a reset input configured to receive a reset input signal, wherein the reset input signal is synchronized with the reference signal and the feedback divider operable to:
divide the output of the controlled oscillator by a division value to generate the feedback signal which is provided to the phase detector; and
in response to the reset input signal being disabled, perform a first division cycle of the feedback divider, wherein the division value of the feedback divider is set to a nominal value after the first division cycle, wherein the division value during the first division cycle is different from the nominal value, wherein during the first division cycle the division value of the feedback divider is set to the nominal value multiplied by a ratio of a phase difference of the phase detector under a locked state and <NUM>° such that a locking relationship is achieved between the reference signal and the feedback signal during the first division cycle.