Patent ID: 7015762

Claim:
A reference timing signal apparatus for providing a timing output signal, the reference timing signal apparatus comprising: an oscillator for generating an oscillation output signal in response to a control component of an input control signal; a difference detector for detecting a difference corresponding to a time difference between the oscillation output signal and an input reference timing signal when the input reference timing signal is available, thereby providing a difference signal; an error calculator for calculating cumulative time error (CTE) in the difference signal over a given time period to provide a correction signal having correction data corresponding to the calculated CTE; a processor for providing a frequency control value in accordance with the correction data and a frequency dependent element relating to the oscillator, the frequency dependent element being provided in accordance with a characteristic model that is updateable in accordance with the correction data when the input reference timing signal is available; and an oscillation controller for controlling the control component of the input control signal applied to the oscillator in accordance with the correction data provided by the error calculator and the frequency control value provided by the processor.