Patent ID: 7719329

Claim:
A method, comprising: detecting, in a first feedback loop of a phase-locked loop circuit, a phase difference and a first frequency difference between a feedback signal from a voltage controlled oscillator and a reference signal; counting, in a second feedback loop of the phase-locked loop circuit operating in parallel with the first feedback loop, a frequency difference comprising a frequency of the reference signal minus a frequency of the feedback signal; adjusting the frequency of the feedback signal until the second frequency difference detected in the second feedback loop is within a first predetermined range, wherein adjusting the frequency comprises: signaling a first pump up charge pump in response to a determination the second frequency difference is above the first predetermined range and within the second predetermined range; signaling a first pump down charge pump in response to a determination the second frequency difference is below the first predetermined range and within the second predetermined range; signaling a second pump up charge pump in response to a determination the second frequency difference is above the second predetermined range; and signaling a second pump down charge pump in response to a determination the second frequency difference is below the second predetermined range; wherein the second pump up charge pump has a greater charge pump magnitude than the second pump down charge pump, the second pump down charge pump has a greater charge pump magnitude than the first pump up charge pump, and the first pump up charge pump has a greater charge pump magnitude than the first pump down charge pump; and tuning the phase and the frequency of the feedback signal until the phase and the frequency of the feedback signal is synchronized with the phase and the frequency of the reference signal.