US Patent 10243573 Phase syncronizing PLL output across reference and VCO clock domains

Frequency synthesis is based on phase synchronizing PLL output across REFERENCE and VCO clock domains (including outputs for multiple PLLs), based on an input (REF-Domain) SYNC signal (phase timing reference). A frequency synthesizer includes a VCO to generate VCO_clk and a PLL output circuit, such as a channel divider, to generate PLL_OUT based on VCO_clk (in the VCO-Domain). The VCO loop includes a PD to phase compare an input PD_clock based on REF_CLK, and a VCO feedback signal based on divided VCO_clk (NDIV_out). SYNC alignment circuitry generates a SYNC alignment signal based on SYNC, PD_clk, and NDIV_out (REF-Domain), which is used to synchronize the PLL output circuit and PLL_OUT to SYNC. If a reference divider generates PD_clk, the SYNC alignment circuitry generates a reset to SYNC-align the reference divider. If the VCO loop uses fractional divide, the SYNC alignment circuitry resets the fractional modulator to a known sequence.