A plurality of Phase Locked Loops, PLL (12, 14), are distributed across an Integrated Circuit, each receiving a common reference signal (A). A local phase error (B) of each PLL (12, 14) is connected to a phase error averaging circuit (16), which calculates an average phase error (C), and distributes it back to each PLL (12, 14). In each PLL (12, 14), two loop filters (20, 22) with different bandwidths are deployed. A lower bandwidth, high DC gain, common mode loop operates on the average phase error, and forces the PLL outputs (H) to track the phase of the common reference signal. A high bandwidth, difference mode loop operates on the difference between the local phase error (B) and the average phase error (C) to suppress phase differences between PLL outputs, minimizing interaction between them. The reference noise contribution at the output is controlled by the common mode loop, which can have a low bandwidth. The reference noise contribution and oscillator interaction suppression are thus independently controlled.

Nested phase-locked loops (PLLs) utilize resonators of different quality factors, oscillation frequencies, and tunability. A reference clock signal for a first PLL is based on a free running bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator. The first PLL utilizes an LC oscillator as a voltage controlled oscillator. A crystal oscillator supplies a reference clock signal to a second PLL. Feedback dividers of the first and second PLLs are coupled to the LC oscillator. A delta sigma modulator coupled to the loop filter of the second PLL controls the feedback divider of the first PLL. The first PLL utilizes a high update rate to ensure that the jitter power spectral density is spread over a wide frequency range. The nested PLL architecture allows the overall phase noise plot to follow that of the crystal resonator at low frequencies, the BAW resonator at mid-frequencies, and the LC resonator at high frequencies.

Nested phase-locked loops (PLLs) utilize resonators of different quality factors, oscillation frequencies, and tunability. A reference clock signal for a first PLL is based on a free running bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator. The first PLL utilizes an LC oscillator as a voltage controlled oscillator. A crystal oscillator supplies a reference clock signal to a second PLL. Feedback dividers of the first and second PLLs are coupled to the LC oscillator. A delta sigma modulator coupled to the loop filter of the second PLL controls the feedback divider of the first PLL. The first PLL utilizes a high update rate to ensure that the jitter power spectral density is spread over a wide frequency range. The nested PLL architecture allows the overall phase noise plot to follow that of the crystal resonator at low frequencies, the BAW resonator at mid-frequencies, and the LC resonator at high frequencies.

Examples relate to a digitally controlled oscillator circuit arrangement, a digitally controlled oscillation means, a method for a digitally controlled oscillator, a digital loop filter circuit arrangement, a digital loop filtering means, a method for a digital loop filter, a phase locked loop circuit arrangement and phase locked loop, a user device and a base station. The digitally controlled oscillator circuit arrangement comprises input circuitry for obtaining a frequency setting signal, the frequency setting signal comprising a plurality of signal components, selection circuitry for selecting one signal component of the plurality of signal components of the frequency setting signal based on an oscillation signal of the digitally controlled oscillator circuit arrangement, wherein the selection circuitry comprises counting circuitry and multiplexing circuitry, signal generation circuitry for generating the oscillation signal based on the selected signal component of the frequency setting signal, and output circuitry for providing the oscillation signal.

Examples relate to a digitally controlled oscillator circuit arrangement, a digitally controlled oscillation means, a method for a digitally controlled oscillator, a digital loop filter circuit arrangement, a digital loop filtering means, a method for a digital loop filter, a phase locked loop circuit arrangement and phase locked loop, a user device and a base station. The digitally controlled oscillator circuit arrangement comprises input circuitry for obtaining a frequency setting signal, the frequency setting signal comprising a plurality of signal components, selection circuitry for selecting one signal component of the plurality of signal components of the frequency setting signal based on an oscillation signal of the digitally controlled oscillator circuit arrangement, wherein the selection circuitry comprises counting circuitry and multiplexing circuitry, signal generation circuitry for generating the oscillation signal based on the selected signal component of the frequency setting signal, and output circuitry for providing the oscillation signal.

A phase locked loop includes a pulse limiter between a phase frequency detector and a charge pump. The phase frequency detector generates and sends a clock pulse to the pulse limiter. The pulse limiter generates a first signal that indicates that the clock pulse is greater than a minimum pulse width of the phase frequency detector. The pulse limiter receives a pulse limiter buffer selection signal that selects one buffer of a plurality of buffers within the pulse limiter. The pulse limiter generates a second signal that indicates a truncated pulse width as the minimum pulse width of the phase frequency detector plus a delay period that is associated with the pulse limiter buffer selection signal. The pulse limiter truncates the clock pulse to the truncated pulse width and sends the truncated clock pulse to the charge pump.

A tuning array selection circuit, together with a decoder and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), can be employed to overcome some disadvantages of previous methods of phase locked loops. For example, a VCO can include a coarse tuning array and a fine tuning array. A coarse tuning array can be used to tune a VCO to generate a signal within a wide frequency range. A fine tuning array can be used to tune a VCO to generate a signal within a narrow frequency range. In one embodiment, the narrow frequency range is within the wide frequency range. The tuning array selection circuit can coordinate selection of appropriate fine tuning devices and narrow tuning devices to reduce transition jitter and the risk of fail locking of phase locked loops.

A phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit generates an analog signal in phase-lock with a reference signal at a reference frequency. The PLL circuit includes a charge pump circuit, a loop filter circuit, a feedback divider, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The charge pump circuit charges a sample capacitor of the loop filter circuit to a sample voltage based on a phase difference between the generated analog signal and the reference signal. The loop filter circuit stores the sample voltage as a proportional control voltage in a hold capacitor to reduce or avoid ripple in the control voltage that causes jitter in the analog signal. The loop filter circuit also provides the sample voltage to an integral component circuit comprising a comparator and digital accumulator producing an integral control. The VCO generates the analog signal at a frequency based on the proportional control voltage and the integral control voltage.

A phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit generates an analog signal in phase-lock with a reference signal at a reference frequency. The PLL circuit includes a charge pump circuit, a loop filter circuit, a feedback divider, and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The charge pump circuit charges a sample capacitor of the loop filter circuit to a sample voltage based on a phase difference between the generated analog signal and the reference signal. The loop filter circuit stores the sample voltage as a proportional control voltage in a hold capacitor to reduce or avoid ripple in the control voltage that causes jitter in the analog signal. The loop filter circuit also provides the sample voltage to an integral component circuit comprising a comparator and digital accumulator producing an integral control. The VCO generates the analog signal at a frequency based on the proportional control voltage and the integral control voltage.

Embodiments of the invention may provide a phase locked loop (PLL) for a long-range and short-range frequency-modulated carrier-frequency (FMCW) RADAR system, including: a single feedback loop for generating a control signal based on differences between an output signal of the RADAR and a reference signal; a first voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) adapted to generate a first output signal having a first loop bandwidth using the control signal; a second VCO adapted to generate a second output signal having a second loop bandwidth using the control signal; and an output switch for selecting one of the first output signal and the second output signal and outputting the selected signal as the output signal of the RADAR.