Patent ID: 7084678

Claim:
A frequency divider device comprising: a phase shifter section comprising: a first shifter input for receiving a first shifter input signal and a second shifter input for receiving a second shifter input signal having a phase difference with respect to said first shifter input signal; a plurality of shifter outputs for outputting as phase shifted signals at least two of: a first signal, a second signal, and at least one intermediate phase signal, said phase shifted signals having a phase shift with respect to each other; said phase shifter section being arranged to generate said intermediate phase signal by superimposing said first signal on said second signal, the first signal being based on the first shifter input signal and the second signal being based on the second shifter input signal; a phase count and select section comprising: at least two phase count and select inputs each communicatively connected to the phase shifter outputs, for receiving each at least one of said phase shifted signals; a signal generator section for generating an output signal; a switch device having at least two switch inputs each connected to at least one of said phase count and select inputs, said switch device further having at least one switch output, said switch device connecting a selected input of said switch inputs with said switch output; an inverter device for switching said output signal from a current state to a substantially inverse state when a selected signal from said selected input has a transition from a first state to a second state; a counter device for determining a number of periods of said selected signal; a switch actuator device for switching said switch device to another one of said switch inputs when a value of said counter device has reached a preset switching value; and a divider output for transmitting said output signal.