Phase Locked Loop (PLL)

The Phase Locked Loop or PLL is a feedback system used in high quality stereo
decoders, Frequency shift keying, telemetry applications, wide band FM discriminators,
frequency multiplication applications etc. PLL integrated circuits are now available to
minimize the component count. This note will give the working principle of PLL
integrated circuits.

The Phase Locked Loop system has four components

1. Voltage Controlled Oscillator or VCO

It is a free running Multivibrator whose Centre Frequency is determined by the

external timing resistor and capacitor. By applying appropriate DC voltage, it is
possible to shift the frequency to the either sides. The shift in change is directly
proportional to the DC voltage applied and hence the name Voltage Controlled
Oscillator. The output of VCO is an exact replica of input signal frequency minus
noise.

2. Phase Comparator

The VCO output is received by a phase sensitive detector where the phase of
VCO is compared with the incoming signal. The Phase comparator then gives an
output whose magnitude is directly proportional to the phase difference
compared. This is known as the ‘Error Signal’.

3. Low pass filter

The Output from the Phase comparator passes into a Low pass filter to remove
the components of VCO and Input signal. Working of Low pass filter is an
important factor to achieve PLL. If the VCO is too far away, beat frequency will
be high to pass through the filter and PLL will not respond. In this case, the Signal
is said to be out of the Capture Band. Once the Lock establishes, the filter never
restricts the PLL. The filter limit the speed at which the PLL can track. But if the
frequency changes too rapidly, the PLL becomes Unlocked. The low pass filter
thus restricts the capture band and reduces the tracking speed. The charge on the
filter capacitor gives a short ‘Memory’ so that even if the signal drops, the DC
voltage in the capacitor will continue to shift VCO at the same rate till it accepts
the input signal.

4. Error correction Amplifier

 The output from the low pass filter is amplified by the Error correction amplifier.
The DC from the error correction amplifier is then fed back to the VCO to
complete the ‘Loop’. The feed back system shifts the VCO frequency close to the
frequency of the incoming signal so that the error signal becomes negligible. Now
the Signal is in the “Capture Range”.

Phase Locking

After the system achieves the Capture ranges, the VCO continues to change its
frequency so as to give an output exactly the same as the input signal frequency.
If it happens the system is said to be “Locked”. After the locking, if the input
signals frequency changes, the VCO follows the change exactly. Thus the PLL
has three states namely Free running, Capture and Locked.

Signal capturing

When the PLL enters into the capture state, a small sine wave appears. This sine
wave is called “Beat frequency” which is the frequency between the VCO and
the input signal. The DC component of the Beat frequency drives the VCO
towards the Lock. Each successive cycle directs the VCO move closer to the input
signal frequency and finally the VCO locks. The beat frequency then disappears.

The block diagram of PLL IC 565 is shown below.

Vcc

10
C2
Low Pass Filter
2 3.6K
Input 7
Demodulated
Phase Detector Amplifier
Output
3 6 Reference
Output
5

Signal
4

VCO

IC 565 PLL

8 9
R C1

V+ V-
IC 565 is a self contained adaptable filter and demodulator for operating in the frequency
range 0.001 Hz to 500 kHz. The centre frequency can be adjusted through an external
resistor or capacitor.

The important features of IC 565 are

1. Stable centre frequency at 200 ppm

2. 5-12 volt operating voltage range
3. Centre frequency can be programmed through external resistor or capacitor.
4. TTL compatible output

The VCO frequency can be calculated using the formula

F0 = 1.2 / 4 R x C1 = Hz.

IC LM 567

This PLL IC has more features than the typical 565 PLL. When the VCO lock up, the
IC 567 has a circuitry to give an indication of the locking. It has an out put transistor
with open collector which can be used to drive an LED or a relay to indicate the
Phase Lock.
 A typical Tone Decoder circuit using PLL IC LM567 is shown below

1 uF
LED
25V

0.02
4
100 R
Low pass 1
Filter Output
0.005 8

Output 2 5
Filter LM 567
R1
5V DC
0.01
6
3
Input

C1

Select R1 and C1 for the desired centre frequency

F0 = 1.1 / R1 x C1
The Bandwidth of the decoder depends on the value of low pass filter and the input
signal amplitude. The formula for calculating the Band width is

Band width = 1070 x Vi / f0 x C2 (0.02)

Where Vi is the input voltage in mV and C2 is the value of low pass filter capacitor in
uF.
Value of Output filter capacitor C3 (0.005) should not be too high or low. It should be
two times higher than that of the low pass filter capacitor.

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