MOTOROLA
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Order this document
by AN1207/D
SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNICAL DATA
The MC145170 in Basic HF and VHF Oscillators
Prepared by: David Babin and Mark Clark
Phase–locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizers are com-
monly found in communication gear today. The carrier oscilla-
tor in a transmitter and local oscillator (LO) in a receiver are
where PLL frequency synthesizers are utilized. In some cellu-
lar phones, a synthesizer can also be used to generate 90
MHz for an offset loop. In addition, synthesizers can be used
in computers and other digital systems to create different
clocks which are synchronized to a master clock.
The MC145170 is available to address some of these
applications. The frequency capability of the newest version,
the MC145170–2, is very broad — from a few hertz to
185 MHz.
The output of a VCM is a square wave and is usually
integrated before being fed to other sections of the radio. The
VCM output can be directly used in computers and other digi-
tal equipment. The output of a VCO or VCM is typically buff-
ered, as shown.
As shown in Figure 2, the MC145170 contains a reference
oscillator, reference counter (R Counter), VCO/VCM counter
(N Counter), and phase detector. A more detailed block dia-
gram is shown in the data sheet.
ARCHIVED BY FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. 2005
AN1207
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc...
ARCHIVED BY FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. 2005
HF SYNTHESIZER
The basic information required for designing a stable high–
frequency PLL frequency synthesizer is the frequencies
required, tuning resolution, lock time, and overshoot. For the
example design of Figure 3, the frequencies needed are
9.20 MHz to 12.19 MHz. The resolution (usually the same as
the frequency steps or channel spacing) is 230 kHz. The lock
time is 8 ms and a maximum overshoot of approximately 15%
is targeted. For purposes of this example, lock is considered
to be when the frequency is within about 1% of the final value.
HF SYNTHESIZER LOW–PASS FILTER
In this design, assume a square wave output is acceptable.
To generate a square wave, a MC1658 VCM chip is chosen.
Per the transfer characteristic given in the data sheet, the
MC1658 transfer function, KVCM, is approximately 1 x 108 ra-
dians/second/volt. The loading presented by the MC1658
control input is large; the maximum input current is 350
µA.
Therefore, an active low–pass filter is used so that loading
does not affect the filter’s response. See Figure 3. In the filter,
a 2N7002 FET is chosen because it has very high transcon-
ductance (80 mmhos) and low input leakage (100 nA).
DIVIDE VALUE
ADVANTAGES
Frequency synthesizers, such as the MC145170, use digi-
tal dividers which can be placed under MCU control. Usually,
all that is required to change frequencies is to change the di-
vide ratio of the N Counter. Tuning in less than a millisecond
is achievable.
The MC145170 can generate many frequencies based on
the accuracy of a single reference source. For example, the
reference can be a low–cost basic crystal oscillator or a tem-
perature–compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO). Therefore,
high tuning accuracies can be achieved. Boosting of the ref-
erence frequency by 100x or more is achievable.
ELEMENTS IN THE LOOP
The components used in the PLL frequency synthesizer of
Figure 1 are the MC145170 PLL chip, low–pass filter, and
voltage–controlled oscillator (VCO). Sometimes a voltage–
controlled multivibrator (VCM) is used in place of the VCO.
REFERENCE
OSCILLATOR
MC145170
PLL
CHIP
LOW–PASS
FILTER
REFERENCE
OSCILLATOR
REFERENCE
COUNTER
(R COUNTER)
fR
PHASE
DETECTOR
TO
LOW–PASS
FILTER
BUFFER
OUTPUT
VCO
OR
VCM
FROM
VCO/VCM
VCO/VCM
COUNTER
(N COUNTER)
fV
MULTIPLYING VALUE
Figure 1. PLL Frequency Synthesizer
REV 2
1/98
TN98011500
Figure 2. Detail of the MC145170
©
Motorola, Inc. 1998
MOTOROLA
For More Information On This Product,
Go to: www.freescale.com
AN1207
1
FREESCALE [ FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC ]
