Patent ID: 8655934

Claim:
A regenerative frequency divider device performing frequency division by combining signals generated using an external complex input signal with components of the external complex input signal, the regenerative frequency divider device comprising: a plurality of multipliers, each of which has: a first input for receiving an external complex input signal having a first frequency, and a second input for receiving a signal generated using the external complex input signal, a first combiner coupled to a first multiplier of said plurality of multipliers for receiving an in-phase portion of the external complex input signal, the first combiner coupled to a second multiplier of said plurality of multipliers for receiving a quadrature portion of the external complex input signal, said first combiner outputting an in phase output signal having a frequency fractionally related to the first frequency; a second combiner coupled to a third multiplier of said plurality of multipliers for receiving an in-phase portion of the external complex input signal, the second combiner coupled to a fourth multiplier of said plurality of multipliers for receiving a quadrature portion of the external complex input signal, said second combiner outputting a quadrature output signal having a frequency fractionally related to the first frequency; wherein the in phase output signal from the first combiner is couplable to the second input port of at least two of said plurality of multipliers to create a positive closed loop feedback thereof and the quadrature output signal from the second combiner is couplable to the second input port of at least two of said plurality of multipliers to create a positive feedback thereof, wherein responsive to inputting the in phase and quadrature output signals to the second inputs of the plurality of multipliers, the regenerative frequency divider oscillates synchronously with the external, complex signal received at the first input at the frequency fractionally related to the first frequency.