Patent ID: 7580495

Claim:
A phase control circuit, comprising: a signal generator sub-circuit that generates a set of phase reference signals having phase angles generally distributed over a phase angle adjustment range; a controller sub-circuit that produces weighting signals that assign relative priority for each of the phase reference signals, wherein the controller sub-circuit includes at least one incremental adjustment input and is adapted to: maintain the weighting signals in a generally steady state when receiving signaling on the at least one incremental adjustment input that represents no adjustment; and adjust relative intensities of the weighting signals based on incremental adjustment signaling at the adjustment input; and a mixer sub-circuit operably coupled to the set of phase reference signals and to the weighting signals to collectively control a mix of the set of phase reference signals, wherein the mixer sub-circuit is adapted to produce an output signal having a phase angle that is based on the mix of the set of phase reference signals.