US 7,580,495 B2
Mixer-based phase control
Alan Fiedler, Mountain View, Calif. (US)
Assigned to SLT Logic LLC, Boston, Mass. (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/172,419.
Prior Publication US 2007/0230618 A1, Oct. 04, 2007
Int. Cl. H04L 7/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 375—371 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A phase control circuit, comprising:
a signal generator sub-circuit that generates a set of phase reference signals having phase angles generally distributed over a phase angle adjustment range;
a controller sub-circuit that produces weighting signals that assign relative priority for each of the phase reference signals, wherein the controller sub-circuit includes at least one incremental adjustment input and is adapted to: maintain the weighting signals in a generally steady state when receiving signaling on the at least one incremental adjustment input that represents no adjustment; and
adjust relative intensities of the weighting signals based on incremental adjustment signaling at the adjustment input; and
a mixer sub-circuit operably coupled to the set of phase reference signals and to the weighting signals to collectively control a mix of the set of phase reference signals, wherein the mixer sub-circuit is adapted to produce an output signal having a phase angle that is based on the mix of the set of phase reference signals.