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Frequency Synthesizer

PLL-based frequency synthesizers insert additional circuitry like a digital divider or mixer into the phase locked loop to alter the frequency. The indirect PLL synthesizer is commonly used and provides high stability, accuracy, and programmability by placing a digital divider or mixer in the loop. PLL synthesizers are widely used in radio products due to their performance and ease of use.

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140 views3 pages

Frequency Synthesizer

PLL-based frequency synthesizers insert additional circuitry like a digital divider or mixer into the phase locked loop to alter the frequency. The indirect PLL synthesizer is commonly used and provides high stability, accuracy, and programmability by placing a digital divider or mixer in the loop. PLL synthesizers are widely used in radio products due to their performance and ease of use.

Uploaded by

shohobi
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Frequency Synthesizer

PLL based frequency synthesizers insert an extra element into


the loop to alter the frequency

Frequency Synthesizer Tutorials Includes:


Synthesizer basics PLL / indirect synthesizer PLL digital synthesizer PLL analogue
synthesizer Multiloop synthesizer Fractional N synthesis Synthesizer phase
noise How to design synthesizer for low phase noise Direct digital synthesizer, DDS

The indirect form of RF frequency synthesizer based around the phase locked loop or PLL is
the most commonly used form of RF synthesizer.

By placing either a digital divider into a phase locked loop for a digital PLL synthesizer, or a
mixer to give an analogue PLL synthesizer, the loop is able to provide a high level of
performance: frequency stability, frequency accuracy and programmable frequency..

Analogue synthesizer loops may be used on their own, but they are also widely used within
larger synthesizers and can act as a frequency translation loop.

In view of their ease of use and performance, PLL synthesizers are used in countless different
radio based products and their use is only set to increase.

PLL Basics
The most common form of RF frequency synthesizer is based around phase locked loop or
PLL technology. This approach is now well established and provides excellent performance
and flexibility in use.

The PLL uses the idea of phase comparison as the basis of its operation. From the block
diagram of a basic loop shown below, it can be seen that there are three basic circuit blocks,
a phase comparator, voltage controlled oscillator, and loop filter. A reference oscillator is
sometimes included in the block diagram, although this is not strictly part of the loop itself even
though a reference signal is required for its operation.

Basic phase locked loop basic diagram


The phase locked loop, PLL, operates by comparing the phase of two signals. The signals
from the voltage controlled oscillator and reference enter the phase comparator Here a third
signal equal to the phase difference between the two input signals is produced.

The phase difference signal is then passed through the loop filter. This performs a number of
functions including the removal of any unwanted products that are present on this signal. Once
this has been accomplished it is applied to the control terminal of the voltage controlled
oscillator. This tune voltage or error voltage is such that it tries to reduce the error between the
two signals entering the phase comparator. This means that the voltage controlled oscillator
will be pulled towards the frequency of the reference, and when in lock there is a steady state
error voltage. This is proportional to the phase error between the two signals, and it is constant.
Only when the phase between two signals is changing is there a frequency difference. As the
phase difference remains constant when the loop is in lock this means that the frequency of
the voltage controlled oscillator is exactly the same as the reference.
Note on the Phase Locked Loop, PLL:
The phase locked loop, PLL is a very useful RF building block. The PLL uses the concept of
minimising the difference in phase between two signals: a reference signal and a local
oscillator to replicate the reference signal frequency. Using this concept it is possible to use
PLLs for many applications from frequency synthesizers to FM demodulators, and signal
reconstitution.

Read more about Phase Locked Loop, PLL

PLL frequency synthesizer basics


A phase locked loop, PLL, needs some additional circuitry if it is to be converted into a
frequency synthesizer.

The loop is broken and additional blocks added to provide the frequency synthesizer action.
These blocks add a frequency offset into the loop in one way or another.

The basic action of the loop remains. The phase detector produces an error voltage
proportional to the phase difference between its two input signals. This means that the voltage
controlled oscillator will run at a different frequency to that of the phase detector or comparison
frequency.

There are two main ways in which frequency synthesizers can be made from phase locked
loops:

 Digital PLL synthesizer: This is the concept that is at the root of most single loop
synthesizers. It involves placing a digital divider in the loop between the voltage controlled
oscillator. This means that the voltage controlled oscillator frequency will be divided by the
division ratio of the divider, e.g. n, and the VCO will run at n times the phase comparison
frequency. By changing the division ratio of the divider, the output frequency of the oscillator

can be changed. This makes the frequency synthesizer programmable. Basic digital
frequency synthesizerThese digital frequency synthesizers are ideal for many applications
on their own. They perform well where the differences between channels are relatively high.
Where virtual continuous tuning using steps of 1 Hz or 10Hz may be needed, this requires
very high division ratios and this can degrade the phase noise performance and give rise
to other issues. To achieve the required performance, it may ne necessary to combine a
digital PLL synthesizer with some analogue techniques as described below.
 Analogue PLL synthesizer: This form of frequency synthesizer introduces a mixer into
the PLL between the voltage controlled oscillator and the phase detector. By introducing
an external signal into the other terminal of the mixer, a fixed offset equal to that of the

external frequency is introduced into the loop. Basic analogue frequency


synthesizerCare is needed when designing analogue synthesizers as there can be issues
with the image signal. Although phases for the phase detector are reversed, it is still
necessary to ensure that only the correct mix scenario is seen by the system. Sometimes
steering voltages may be applied to the VCO to ensure the correct operation.
The analogue and digital PLL synthesizers are used in different ways, but are both able to
provide very high levels of performance.

It is also possible to build up multiple loop RF synthesizers - these multi-loop RF synthesizers


are able to provide increased levels of flexibility and overall performance, although the design
has to be undertaken carefully. Sometimes both analogue and digital synthesizer loops may
be combined.

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