Method and device for measuring the frequency of a signal

Abstract

A method includes a) counting whole periods of a signal during a first period of a reference signal, b) repeating step a) for each period of the reference signal until a first duration is equal to a first quantity of periods of the reference signal, and c) determining a first average of the whole periods. The method also includes repeating at least one of steps a) to c) and at each repetition shifting a start of the counting of step a) by at least one period of the reference signal, and in steps b) and c) accounting for whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b). The method includes determining a second average of the first averages, and determining the frequency of the signal from the second average and the frequency of the reference signal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Implementations and embodiments of the invention relate to periodic signal frequency measurements.

BACKGROUND

The invention applies, for example, but not restrictively to calibrating the gain of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in phase-locked loops (PLL).

A phase-locked loop is a looped system capable of delivering a signal where the frequency is slaved to that of a reference signal.

More precisely and conventionally, a phase-locked loop notably includes a phase comparator receiving on one input a reference signal, and a voltage-controlled oscillator where the control input is coupled to the output of the phase comparator and where the output, looped back onto another input of the phase comparator after a frequency division, delivers an output signal slaved in frequency and phase to that of the reference signal but generally having a higher frequency than that of the reference signal.

During a calibration in gain of the voltage-controlled oscillator, the frequency of the oscillator output signal is determined for two different values of the input voltage (generally obtained from two different digital words respectively representative of the two different voltages), and the ratio is obtained between the difference of these two output frequencies and the difference of the two digital words.

Methods are known for calculating a frequency of a signal from the frequency of a reference signal, notably using an average of the numbers of periods of the first signal counted during a given number of periods of the reference signal. However, the more accurate the measurements have to be, the more time-consuming these methods are.

By way of example, for a measurement accuracy of 62.5 kHz, the accurate determination of the frequency of a signal which is, for example, around 2.4 GHz, from a reference signal having a frequency of 16 MHz requires 256 periods of the reference signal, or 16 microseconds.

This leads to a substantial duration of the gain calibration phase.

However, some low consumption communication applications, such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE), require a faster start of the phase-locked loop, and therefore in particular a short duration of the gain calibration phase of the oscillator notably in order to save battery power.

Thus, according to one implementation and embodiment provision is made for a simple and fast determination of a frequency of a signal from a reference signal.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect a method is provided for determining the frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal, including

a) a count of the number of whole periods of the signal during a first period of the reference signal (the first period of the reference signal is, for example, the period beginning after a starting instant for determining the frequency of the signal),

b) a repetition of step a) for each period of the reference signal until the expiry of a first duration equal to a first quantity of periods of the reference signal,

c) a determination of a first average of the numbers,

d) R repetitions of at least one part of steps a) to c), at each repetition shifting the start of counting of step a) by at least one period of the reference signal, and optionally taking into account for step b) and step c) the numbers of whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b).

Indeed in step d), it would be possible at each repetition of step b) to recount numbers already counted during a preceding repetition. However, as will be seen later, it is possible to keep the number already counted in preceding repetitions and in a current repetition only to count the number of whole periods of the signal during the new current period of the reference signal, and of course to use this new number and the numbers already counted to effect the first average.

The method according to this aspect also comprises:

e) a determination of a second average of all the first averages thus obtained, and

f) a determination of the frequency of the signal from the second average and the frequency of the reference signal.

Thus, it is possible through the use of these R sliding averages to determine the frequency of the signal with a high accuracy without this causing any significant increase in the duration of the frequency determination.

Advantageously, steps a), b) and c) may be performed in parallel.

Steps a) to e) may be implemented by applying the following formula:

$M2=\frac{1}{R}*\left(\sum _{k=1}^R\frac{1}{S}\sum _{i=k}^{k+S-1}{C}_i\right)$ in which M2 designates the second average, S corresponds to the first quantity and C_i corresponds to the number of whole periods counted during a current period of the periodic reference signal.

This general formula can be used to determine the second average, e.g., via software.

However, when R is equal to a second quantity P of periods of the reference signal reduced by the first quantity S, and the first quantity S and the second quantity P are powers of two, the formula may be expressed even more advantageously and allowing for a relatively simple hardware implementation.

Thus, when the first quantity S is equal to half the second quantity P, steps a) to e) may be implemented by applying the following formula:

$M2=\frac{1}{P-S}*\frac{1}{S}*\left(\sum _{i=1}^{S}i*C_i+\sum _{i=S+1}^{P-1}\left(P-i\right)*C_i\right)$

This formula advantageously allows a relatively simple hardware implementation of the method, based on, for example, a counter, a setpoint counter, an accumulator, etc.

When the first quantity S is less than

$\frac{P}{2},$ steps a) to e) may be implemented by applying the following formula:

$M2=\frac{1}{P-S}*\frac{1}{S}*\left(\sum _{i=1}^{S}i*C_i+\sum _{i=S+1}^{P-S}S*C_i+\sum _{i=P-S+1}^{P-1}\left(P-i\right)*C_i\right)$

This formula also allows a relatively simple hardware implementation of the method, based on, for example, a counter, a setpoint counter slightly different from the preceding setpoint counter, an accumulator, etc.

According to another aspect, a device is provided for determining the frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal, including a processor configured to perform

a) a count of the number of whole periods of the signal during a first period of the reference signal,

b) repeat step a) for each other period of the reference signal during a first duration equal to a first quantity of periods of the reference signal,

c) determine a first average of the numbers,

d) R repetitions of at least one part of steps a) to c), at each repetition shifting the start of counting of step a) by at least one period of the reference signal, and optionally taking into account for step b) and step c) the numbers of whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b).

e) a determination of a second average of all the first averages thus obtained, and

f) a determination of the frequency of the signal from the second average and the frequency of the reference signal.

The processor may be advantageously configured to perform the R repetitions d) of steps a), b) and c) in parallel.

According to one embodiment, the processor is configured for implementing steps a) to e) by applying the following formula:

$M2=\frac{1}{R}*\left(\sum _{k=1}^R\frac{1}{S}\sum _{i=k}^{k+S-1}{C}_i\right)$ in which M2 designates the second average, S corresponds to the first quantity and C_i corresponds to the number of whole periods of the signal counted during a current period of the periodic reference signal.

When the first quantity S is equal to half the second quantity P, the processor is configured to implement steps a) to e) by applying the following formula:

$M2=\frac{1}{P-S}*\frac{1}{S}*\left(\sum _{i=1}^{S}i*C_i+\sum _{i=S+1}^{P-1}\left(P-i\right)*C_i\right)$ The processor may then include

a counter configured for delivering the successive numbers,

a setpoint counter configured, during the P−1 reference periods of the reference signal, for being incremented by one at each new reference period up to the first quantity then being decremented by one at each new reference period,

a multiplier having two inputs connected respectively to the outputs of the counting means and the setpoint counter,

an accumulator coupled at the output of the multiplier, and

a shifter configured to perform a bit shift corresponding to the division by the product of the first quantity by the difference between the second quantity and the first quantity. This shifter may be implemented, for example, by a software module.

When the first quantity is less than half the second quantity, the processor is configured for implementing steps a) to e) by applying the following formula:

$M2=\frac{1}{P-S}*\frac{1}{S}*\left(\sum _{i=1}^{S}i*C_i+\sum _{i=S+1}^{P-S}S*C_i+\sum _{i=P-S+1}^{P-1}\left(P-i\right)*C_i\right)$

Thus, the processor may include:

a counter configured for delivering the successive numbers,

a setpoint counter configured, during the P−1 reference periods of the reference signal, for being incremented by one at each new reference period up to the first quantity, then being kept at the first quantity during a number of reference periods equal to the difference between P−1 and 2S, then being decremented by one at each new reference period,

a multiplier having two inputs connected respectively to the outputs of the counting means and the setpoint counter,

an accumulator coupled at the output of the multiplier, and

a shifter configured for performing a bit shift corresponding to the division by the product of the first quantity by the difference between the second quantity and the first quantity. This shifter may also be implemented, for example, by a software module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description of implementations and embodiments of the invention, in no way restrictive, and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a graph of a frequency of a signal SIG and a periodic reference signal REF in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a device to determine the frequency of the signal of FIG. 1 from a periodic reference signal;

FIG. 3 is a graph of a setpoint counter of FIG. 2 being incremented and decremented in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a graph of the frequency of the signal SIG and the periodic reference signal REF in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a device to determine the frequency of the signal of FIG. 4 from a periodic reference signal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a graph of the setpoint counter of FIG. 5 being incremented and decremented in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a method for determining a frequency of a periodic signal SIG, from a periodic reference signal REF.

The reference signal REF may be, for example, but not restrictively a reference signal of a phase-locked loop, and the signal SIG may be, for example, but not restrictively the signal delivered by a voltage-controlled oscillator forming part of this same phase-locked loop.

In the rest of the description, the index i will be used to represent the various elements associated with a period P_i of the reference signal, Thus, an index 1 is associated with the period P₁, an index 2 with the period P₂, etc.

In a first step a) of the method a count is performed of a number C_i of whole periods of the first signal SIG during a first reference period P₁ of the reference signal REF.

The count a) is repeated (step b)) for each other successive period P_i of the reference signal REF, during a first quantity S of reference periods P_i.

In this example S=4. Thus successive counts are performed of the numbers C₁, C₂, C₃ and C₄ of whole periods of the first signal SIG taking place during the successive periods P₁, P₂, P₃ and P₄.

Then (step c)) a first average M11 is determined of the different numbers C_i counted during the four repetitions of the first step a). In this example, the first average M11 will be equal to the sum of the numbers C₁, C₂, C₃ and C₄, divided by the first quantity S=4.

Steps a) to c) are repeated a quantity of times equal to the difference between a second quantity P of reference periods and the first quantity S=4, by shifting the start of the counting of a reference period P_i at each repetition.

In this example P=8. Thus P−S=4 first averages M11, M12 , M13 and M14 are determined in parallel each relating to 4 successive numbers C_i.

M11 is thus the average of the numbers C₁ to C₄, M12 the average of the numbers C₂ to C₅, M13 the average of the numbers C₃ to C₆, and M14 the average of the numbers C₃ to C₇.

Finally, a second average M2 is determined on the values of the first averages M11, M12, M13, and M14.

Here, the value of the second average M2 is thus equal to the sum of the first averages M11, M12, M13 and M14, divided by P−S=4.

In order to obtain the frequency of the first signal, the frequency of the reference signal is then multiplied by the value of the second average M2.

The method thus implemented is equivalent to applying the following first formula F1:

$\begin{array}{cc}M2=\frac{1}{P-S}*\left(\sum _{k=1}^{P-S}\frac{1}{S}\sum _{i=k}^{k+S-1}{C}_i\right)& \left(\mathrm{F1}\right)\end{array}$

This formula could be implemented in a software form e.g. within a microcontroller.

However, the inventors have observed that by selecting the first quantity S and the second quantity P as powers of two and particularly by selecting

$S=\frac{P}{2},$ the method is equivalent to applying the following second formula F2:

$\begin{array}{cc}M2=\frac{1}{P-S}\star \frac{1}{S}\star \left(\sum _{i=1}^{S}i\star C_i+\sum _{i=S+1}^{P-1}\left(P-i\right)\star C_i\right)& \left(\mathrm{F2}\right)\end{array}$

This formula is particularly advantageous since it can be used to apply the formula not only with software means, but also with simple hardware means such as those of the device DIS1 illustrated in FIG. 2.

It is then also possible not to repeat the counting of certain numbers C_i at each repetition and to keep these numbers C_i for subsequently weighting them.

The device DIS1 in FIG. 2 here includes a counting means 1, receiving as input the reference signal REF and the first signal SIG. The counting means 1 is configured for counting each number C_i of whole periods of the first signal SIG taking place during each reference period P_i.

In this example, the counting means 1 includes a counter 11 clocked by the signal REF associated with a decoder 12.

The counter 11 is configured for being incremented at each period of the signal SIG, and the decoder 12 is configured for resetting the counter 11 to zero at each reference period P_i.

The device DIS1 also includes a setpoint counter 2a configured for delivering a counter value V_i at each reference period P_i of the reference signal.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the counter 2a is in this example configured, during the P−1=7 reference periods P₁ to P₇, for being incremented by one at each new reference period P_i up to the first quantity S=4 then being decremented by one at each new reference period P_i.

Thus, the value V_i of the setpoint counter will be successively equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1 respectively during the reference periods P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, P₅, P₆, P₇.

The outputs of the counting means 1 and the setpoint counter 2a are both connected to a multiplier 3 (FIG. 2). Thus, each successive number C_i is multiplied by the associated counter value V_i.

An accumulator 4 comprises an asynchronous adder 40 and a register 41 for synchronizing the sums to be performed. A first input of the adder is connected at the output of the multiplier 3 so as to receive each number C_i multiplied by its associated counter value V_i. The output of the register 41 is looped back onto a second input of the adder. Initially, the accumulator 4 contains a zero value.

At each reference period P_i, the accumulator stores the output value of the multiplier and adds it together with the previously stored value. The sum of the stored values is returned on the second input of the adder 40 and synchronized by the register 41.

The sum finally stored is therefore equal toC₁+2*C₂+3*C₁+4*C₄+3*C₅+2*C₆+C₇

The device further includes a shifting means 6, e.g. a software module, configured for performing a bit shift on the binary value of the stored sum and delivering the second average M2.

In this example, the bit shift corresponds to a division by the product (P−S)*S=16, i.e. a 4-bit right shift.

It should be noted that the division thus performed by a bit shift is possible thanks to the selection of powers of 2 for the first quantity S and the second quantity P.

Thus it is possible, for a 16 MHZ reference signal, to obtain an accuracy of 62.5 kHz in a number of periods of the reference signal equal to 32, while 256 periods of the reference signal would have been required with a conventional counter.

According to another implementation illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, S is selected less than

$\frac{P}{2},$ e.g. S=2 and P=8.

Thus successive counts are performed of the numbers C_i of whole periods of the signal SIG taking place during two successive periods P_i.

Then the average M11 is determined of the two numbers C₁ and C₂ counted during the two reference periods P₁ and P₂.

This step of the method is repeated a quantity of times equal to P−S=6, by shifting the start of the counting of a reference period P_i at each repetition.

Thus 6 averages M11, M12, M13, M14, M15 and M16 are determined in parallel, each relating to 2 successive numbers C_i.

Finally, a second average M2 is determined on the values of the first averages M11, M12, M13, M14, M15 and M16.

The inventors have noticed that by selecting S<

$\frac{P}{2},$ with P and S as powers of two, the above formula F1 is equivalent to the following formula F3:

$\begin{array}{cc}M2=\frac{1}{P-S}\star \frac{1}{S}\star \left(\sum _{i=1}^{S}i\star C_i+\sum _{i=S+1}^{P-S}S\star C_i+\sum _{i=P-S+1}^{P-1}\left(P-i\right)\star C_i\right)& \left(\mathrm{F3}\right)\end{array}$

This formula can be used to apply this method with software means, but also again with simple hardware means such as the device DIS2 illustrated in FIG. 5 while avoiding repetitive counts of certain numbers C_i.

This device DIS2 is similar to the device DIS1 illustrated in FIG. 2 and described previously, but differs in that it includes a setpoint counter 2b configured differently.

FIG. 6 illustrates a possible operation of the setpoint counter 2b in the case where P=8 and S=2.

Here the counter is configured for being incremented at the second reference period P₂, then during five reference periods P₂ to P₆ for being kept at a value equal to two, and then for being decremented once during the reference period P₇.

Thus, the sum finally stored by the accumulator is thereforeC₁+2*C₂+2*C₁+2*C₄+2*C₅+2*C₆+C₇

In this embodiment also, the division again comprises a bit shift on the accumulator value, and this is possible thanks to the selection of powers of two for the first quantity S and the second quantity P.

Although implementations and embodiments of the invention have been described here in which the second quantity P is 8 and the first quantity S is 2 or 4, the invention is compatible with any other first quantity and any other second quantity, whether or not these two quantities are powers of two, so long as S is less than P. The fact that S and P are powers of two enables a particularly compact integrated embodiment to be obtained and the division by S (P−S) to be performed by a simple bit shift.

Claims

1. A method for determining a frequency of a signal comprising using a frequency determining device, the method comprising: a) counting a number of whole periods of the signal during a first period of a periodic reference signal;b) repeating step a) for each period of the periodic reference signal until a first duration is equal to a first quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal;c) determining a first average of the numbers of whole periods;d) repeating at least one of steps a), b) and c) and at each repetition shifting a start of the counting of step a) by at least one period of the periodic reference signal;e) determining a second average of the first averages; andf) determining the frequency of the signal from the second average and the frequency of the periodic reference signal, wherein the frequency determining device comprises: a counter to count the number of whole periods of the signal,a setpoint counter incremented during a first portion of a second quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal and decremented during a second portion of the second quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal,a multiplier having a first input coupled to an output of the counter and a second input coupled to an output of the setpoint counter,an accumulator coupled to an output of the multiplier, anda shifter coupled to an output of the accumulator to perform a division by bit-right shifting, wherein an output of the shifter corresponds to the second average.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the repetitions of steps a), b) and c) are performed in parallel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps a) to e) are implemented by applying the following formula:

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the repetitions of steps a, b) and c) is equal to a second quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal reduced by the first quantity of periods.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first quantity and the second quantity of periods are powers of two.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first quantity of periods is equal to half the second quantity of periods.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein steps a) to e) are implemented by applying the following formula:

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first quantity of periods is less than half the second quantity of periods.

9. The method according to Claim 8, wherein steps a) to e) are implemented by applying the following formula:

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein in steps b) and c) accounting for the numbers of whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b).

11. A method for determining a frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal using a frequency determining device, the method comprising: determining an average M2 obtained by the following formula

12. A method for determining a frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal using a frequency determining device, the method comprising: determining an average M2 obtained by the following formula

13. A device to determine a frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal, the device comprising: a processor configured to:a) count a number of whole periods of the signal during a first period of the periodic reference signal,b) repeat step a) for each other period of the periodic reference signal during a first duration equal to a first quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal,c) determine a first average of the numbers of whole periods,d) repeat at least one of steps a), b) and c), and at each repetition to shift a start of the counting of step a) by at least one period of the periodic reference signal,e) determine a second average of the first averages, andf) determine the frequency of the signal from the second average and a frequency of the periodic reference signal, wherein the processor comprises: a counter configured to count the number of whole periods of the signal,a setpoint counter configured to be incremented during a first portion of a second quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal and decremented during a second portion of the second quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal,a multiplier having a first input coupled to an output of the counter and a second input coupled to an output of the setpoint counter,an accumulator coupled to an output of the multiplier, anda shifter coupled to an output of the accumulator and configured to perform a division by bit-right shifting, wherein an output of the shifter corresponds to the second average.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to perform the repetitions of steps a), b) and c) in parallel.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to implement steps a) to e) by applying the following formula:

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein R is equal to a second quantity of periods of the periodic reference signal reduced by the first quantity of periods.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the first quantity and the second quantity of periods are powers of two.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the first quantity of periods is half the second quantity of periods and the processor is configured to implement steps a) to e) by applying the following formula:

19. The device according to claim 13 , wherein in steps b) and c) accounting for the numbers of whole periods of the signal already counted during the at least one preceding group of steps a) and b).

20. A device to determine a frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal, the device comprising: a processor configured to:determine an average M2 obtained by the following formula

21. A device to determine a frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal, the device comprising: a processor configured to:determine an average M2 obtained by the following formula

22. The device according to claim 17, wherein the first quantity of periods is less than half the second quantity of periods and the processor is configured to implement steps a) to e) by applying the following formula:

23. A device to determine a frequency of a signal from a periodic reference signal comprising: a processor configured to determine an average M2 obtained by the following formula:

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the device further comprises a decoder coupled between the counter and the multiplier, wherein the decoder is configured to reset the counter to zero each period of the periodic reference signal.