Frequency tripler and local oscillator generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016118964-A1
Application number	US-201514720838-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 25, 2015
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A frequency tripler includes a double-frequency in-phase signal generator, a double-frequency quadrature signal generator and a mixer. The double-frequency in-phase signal generator is arranged for receiving at least an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal to generate a double-frequency in-phase signal whose frequency is twice that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal; the double-frequency quadrature signal generator is arranged for receiving at least the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal to generate a double-frequency quadrature signal whose frequency is twice that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal; and the mixer is arranged for receiving the in-phase signal, the quadrature signal, the double-frequency in-phase signal and the double-frequency quadrature signal to generate an output signal whose frequency is triple that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A frequency tripler, comprising:
a double-frequency in-phase signal generator, for receiving at least an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal to generate a double-frequency in-phase signal with a frequency being twice that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal; a double-frequency quadrature signal generator, for receiving at least the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal to generate a double-frequency quadrature signal with a frequency being twice that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal; and a mixer, for receiving the in-phase signal, the quadrature signal, the double-frequency in-phase signal and the double-frequency quadrature signal to generate an output signal with a frequency being triple that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal.

2 . The frequency tripler of claim 1 , wherein the double-frequency in-phase signal is calculated by using formula cos(2ωt)=cos 2 (ωt)−sin 2 (ωt), the double-frequency quadrature signal is calculated by using formula sin(2ωt)=2cos(ωt)sin(ωt), wherein cos(ωt) is the in-phase signal, and sin(wt) is the quadrature signal; and the mixer generates the output signal by using formula cos(3ωt=cos(2ωt)cos(ωt)−sin(2ωt)sin(ωt).

3 . The frequency tripler of claim 1 , wherein the output signal generated by the mixer does not include any fundamental harmonic frequency/spur and any second harmonic frequency/spur.

4 . The frequency tripler of claim 1 , wherein one of the double-frequency in-phase signal generator and the double-frequency quadrature signal generator receives four-phase in-phase and quadrature signals to generate the double-frequency in-phase/quadrature signal.

5 . The frequency tripler of claim 1 , wherein the frequency tripler is implemented by cascoded, folded cascoded, or two stages circuit structure.

6 . The frequency tripler of claim 1 , wherein the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal are generated from a voltage-controlled delay line (VCDL), a poly phase filter, a quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator, or a phase shifter.

7 . A local oscillator generator, comprising:
a signal generator, for generating at least an in-phase signal and a quadrature signal; and a frequency tripler, comprising:
a double-frequency in-phase signal generator, for receiving at least the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal to generate a double-frequency in-phase signal with a frequency being twice that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal;
a double-frequency quadrature signal generator, for receiving at least the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal to generate a double-frequency quadrature signal with a frequency is twice that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal; and
a mixer, for receiving the in-phase signal, the quadrature signal, the double-frequency in-phase signal and the double-frequency quadrature signal to generate an output signal with a frequency being triple that of the in-phase signal or the quadrature signal.

8 . The local oscillator generator of claim 7 , wherein the double-frequency in-phase signal is calculated by using formula cos(2ωt)=cos 2 (ωt)−sin 2 (ωt), the double-frequency quadrature signal is calculated by using formula sin(2ωt)=2cos(ωt)sin(ωt), wherein cos(ωt) is the in-phase signal, and sin(ωt) is the quadrature signal; and
the mixer generates the output signal by using formula cos(3ωt=cos(2ωt)cos(ωt)−sin(2ωt)sin(ωt).

9 . The local oscillator generator of claim 7 , wherein the output signal generated by the mixer does not include any fundamental harmonic frequency/spur or second harmonic frequency/spur.

10 . The local oscillator generator of claim 7 , wherein one of the-double frequency in-phase signal generator and the double-frequency quadrature signal generator receives four-phase in-phase and quadrature signals to generate the double-frequency in-phase/quadrature signal.

11 . The local oscillator generator of claim 7 , wherein the frequency tripler is implemented by cascoded, folded cascoded, or two stages circuit structure.

12 . The local oscillator generator of claim 7 , wherein the signal generator is implemented by a voltage-controlled delay line (VCDL), a poly phase filter, a quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator, or a phase shifter.

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Chueh Tzu-Chan
• Hsueh Yu-Li

Classifications

• H03K5/00006 Primary

  Changing the frequency (modulating pulses H03K7/00; frequency dividers H03K21/00 - H03K29/00; additive or subtractive mixing of two pulse rates into one G06F7/605; pulse rate dividers G06F7/68) · CPC title

• H03B19/14

  by means of a semiconductor device · CPC title