Patent attributes
A time-to-digital system and associated frequency synthesizer are provided. The time-to-digital system receives a reference clock and a variable clock. The time-to-digital system includes a supplement circuit and a time-to-digital converter (TDC). The supplement circuit generates a delayed reference clock signal and at least one pulse of a variable clock ahead of a transition of the delayed reference clock signal. The delayed reference clock signal is generated according to a delay control signal and the reference clock signal. The delay control signal is determined in response to transitions of the variable clock, and frequency of the variable clock is significantly higher than frequency of the reference clock signal. Being coupled to the supplement circuit, the TDC receives the delayed reference clock signal and the at least one pulse of the variable clock and accordingly produces a TDC signal.
