Patent ID: 7653370

Claim:
A tunable system configured to employ multiple, concurrently-operable frequency sources operating in a high current mode of operation in which an input signal supplied to one or more of the multiple frequency sources is phase offset relative to an input signal supplied to one or more of the other frequency sources, the system comprising: a first frequency source having an input coupled to receive a reference input signal and an output for providing a first frequency source signal; a phase delay element having an input coupled to receive the input reference signal and an output, the phase delay element operable to apply a predefined phase delay to the input reference signal to produce a phase-delayed input signal; and a second frequency source configured to be concurrently operable with the first frequency source, the second frequency source having an input coupled to receive the phase-delayed input signal and an output for providing a second frequency source signal; wherein the phase difference between the reference input signal and the phase delayed input reference signal ensures a reduction in the peak current consumption by preventing the first and second frequency source from entering into a high current mode of operation substantially concurrently.