Scribd
Upload
128 views15 pages

Frequency Synthesizer

A frequency synthesizer is an electronic system that generates a range of output frequencies by combining frequency multiplication, division, and mixing from one or more reference sources. There are three main types: direct analog synthesis which mixes and filters divided frequencies; direct digital synthesis which uses a lookup table to generate waveforms that are converted to analog; and indirect digital synthesis which uses a phase-locked loop with a voltage-controlled oscillator to lock the output frequency to a multiple of the reference frequency. Frequency synthesizers are used in radio receivers, mobile phones, and other devices to produce stable output frequencies.

Uploaded by

Tana Azeez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
128 views15 pages

Frequency Synthesizer

A frequency synthesizer is an electronic system that generates a range of output frequencies by combining frequency multiplication, division, and mixing from one or more reference sources. There are three main types: direct analog synthesis which mixes and filters divided frequencies; direct digital synthesis which uses a lookup table to generate waveforms that are converted to analog; and indirect digital synthesis which uses a phase-locked loop with a voltage-controlled oscillator to lock the output frequency to a multiple of the reference frequency. Frequency synthesizers are used in radio receivers, mobile phones, and other devices to produce stable output frequencies.

Uploaded by

Tana Azeez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Frequency Synthesizer

Basic Concepts
• an electronic system for generating any of a range
of frequencies
• in many modern devices, including radio
receivers, mobile telephones, radio telephones,
satellite receivers, GPS systems, etc.
• It can combine freq. multiplication, freq. division,
and freq. mixing to produce the desired output
signal
• No. and hop rate determines the performance.
One or More fr1
..
Reference . Synthesizer Output fo
Sources frN

• One or More Input Reference Sources fr1…frn


• Translation to New Frequency fo
• Phase or Frequency Coherent With References
• Basic Properties
– Frequency Range – Phase/Frequency Stability (Time
– Frequency Resolution Domain, Environmental Effects)
– Switching Rate/Settling Time – Spectral Purity (Frequency Domain,
– DC Power, Weight, Cost, etc. Spurs, Noise)
Types
• Direct Analog Synthesis (also called a mix-
filter-divide)
• Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) (Table-Look-
Up)
• Indirect Digital (PLL) Synthesizers
Typical Direct Synthesizer: Divide & Mix

fo = f1+ f2/10+f3/100
• Two Parts of Synthesizer
• Switched Reference Section
– Generates References 0, fr,…9fr
fk=Nkfr – Switch Refs to LO’s f1, f2,, f3 …
(Nk = 0 to 9)
• Divide and Mix Section (3 Stages
f3 ... f2 f1 f1=N1fr Shown)
+ 10 – Divide f3=N3fr by 10
Switch f2+f3/10 – Mix with f2=N2fr and Filter to
Matrix
Produce f2+f3/10 (Bypass Mixer if
N2=0)
9fr ... 2fr fr
– Repeat Divide, Mix, and Filter with
f3=N3fr
Reference f2=N2fr
Generator f3/10 • End Result
+ 10 fo = [N1+ N2/10+N3/100 + …]fr
fr – Each N Selects Digit of Output
f3=N3fr
Basic cct.
Modulo of Divide & Mix To next stage

• Cascade of this modulo can


be used to get lager number
of frequencies
• Sequential applying of code words increase the switch speed
Direct Digital Synthesizer DDS
• is a method of producing an analog waveform,
usually a sine wave, by generating a time-
varying signal in digital form
• converted into analog signals using a DAC
• Basically it consists of a frequency reference (often a crystal osc.), NCO
and DAC
• The reference
– provides a stable time base
– determines the frequency
accuracy of DDS
– provides clock to NCO

• NCO produces a discrete-time, quantized version of the desired output


waveform (often a sinusoid) whose period is controlled by digital word
contained in the Frequency Control Register.
• The sampled, digital waveform is converted to an analog waveform by
the DAC. The output reconstruction filter rejects the spectral replicas
produced in the analog conversion process.
Some advantages
• Capable of generating a variety of waveforms
(sine, triangle, square)
• Fast switching capability (freq. hopping systems )
• High precision  sub Hz (mHz) and sub degree
phase tuning
• Digital circuitry
• Small size (single chip)  fraction of analog
synthesizer size
• Fewer components per system - low cost
• Small low-powered devices – portability
Indirect Digital (PLL) Synthesizers
• PLL is a feedback control system.
• It compares the phases of two input signals to produce error signal
• error signal is filtered and drives VCO to create an output freq.
• The output frequency is fed through a frequency divider back to
the input
• The input is called the reference and is usually derived from a
crystal oscillator, which is very stable in frequency.
• Generate any frequency multiple of its
reference freq.
– Given 1MHz reference freq. , PLL and 1-1000
counter, the synthesizer can produce 1000 freq.
spaced at 1MHz.
• Narrow band loop filter
– Reduce VCO jitter due to noise
– Increase settling time
Settling Time (Lock Time)

You might also like