JP2010021779A - Reference signal generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an effect of external environment on accuracy reduction, and to continuously output an accurate reference frequency signal with stability without imposing an extra load on a user. <P>SOLUTION: A control section 10 determines the presence of calibration, based on whether a phase difference average is less than a monitoring threshold. Herein, the monitoring threshold is set to such a value that the threshold satisfies an accuracy specification required for a communication device with a reference frequency signal generation device 1 and can have a predetermined margin for a limit of the specification. If it is less than the monitoring threshold, then the control section 10 provides a control voltage signal for sustainment, which is generated by itself, to a voltage-controlled oscillator 14, and if it reaches the monitoring threshold, then the control section provides a control voltage signal from a loop filter 12 to the voltage-controlled oscillator 14, and then the voltage-controlled oscillator 14 performs calibration, based on the control voltage signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a reference signal generator for use in wireless communication equipment such as digital communication.

  When a wireless system is provided in a wide area such as a cellular phone or terrestrial digital broadcasting, a plurality of base stations are required to transmit data to a terminal device. In these base stations, a highly accurate reference signal, that is, a reference frequency signal and a timing signal are required by specifications. In such a situation, conventionally, a GPS system and a highly stable crystal oscillator or Rb (rubidium) oscillator are often used in combination.

  For example, Patent Document 1 compares the second pulse obtained from the GPS signal with the output signal of the crystal oscillator, and controls the oscillation frequency of the crystal oscillator so as to always synchronize with the second pulse of the GPS signal from the difference. .

At present, there are many Rb oscillators that can stably output a reference frequency signal for a very long time, and therefore, there is a case where only the Rb oscillator self-oscillates without performing external synchronization.
JP 2002-16438 A

  However, in a positioning system using a positioning satellite such as GPS, a reference timing signal such as 1 PPS, which is a reference for synchronization, is obtained based on a signal sent from the positioning satellite. The timing accuracy may temporarily decrease due to the influence of the above. Therefore, there is a risk in equipment such as the base station that must continuously output a highly accurate reference frequency signal.

On the other hand, when the reference frequency signal is generated only depending on the output accuracy of the oscillator without being synchronized with the external reference timing signal, even if the output accuracy of the oscillator is stable for a very long time, There will be no madness, and we will not know when it will be, but there will be a timing when it will not meet the specifications required by the device. In this case, the oscillator must be calibrated in some form, but the timing at which the specification is not satisfied differs from one oscillator to another, so calibration must be performed before this timing for all oscillators. In this case, the calibration timing conditions must be determined to ensure that all oscillators can be calibrated, and the calibration must necessarily be performed much earlier than the calibration timing obtained from the oscillator performance. . For this reason, it takes much time and effort for the user.

  In view of the problems of these two systems, the object of the present invention is to reduce the influence on the accuracy degradation due to the external environment, and stably and highly accurately without requiring the user more time than necessary. An object of the present invention is to realize a reference signal generator capable of continuously outputting a reference signal.

  The reference signal generator of the present invention includes a phase comparator, a loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator, and an input signal automatic switching means. The phase comparator obtains a phase difference between an external reference timing signal and an adjustment timing signal obtained from the reference signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator, and outputs a phase difference signal. The loop filter generates a control voltage signal from the phase difference signal. The voltage controlled oscillator generates a reference signal based on the control voltage signal. In such calibration, the input signal automatic switching means further observes the phase difference signal and detects that the average of the phase difference or the frequency of the reference signal is less than the monitoring threshold value while the current reference signal is present. A sustaining control voltage signal for maintaining the frequency is supplied to the voltage controlled oscillator. On the other hand, when the input signal automatic switching means detects that the phase difference or the average frequency of the reference signal has reached the monitoring threshold value, it automatically supplies the control voltage signal from the loop filter to the voltage controlled oscillator, thereby automatically switching to the voltage controlled oscillator. Switch the input signal.

  This configuration uses the fact that the average value of the phase difference and the frequency of the reference signal based on this depends on the accuracy of the output reference signal, and within the tolerance range of the specifications represented by these average values. A corresponding monitoring threshold is set, and if it is less than the monitoring threshold, self-oscillation is performed without using an external reference timing signal assuming that the accuracy satisfies the specification. On the other hand, when the monitoring threshold value is reached, the switching is automatically performed so that the oscillation is calibrated using the synchronization based on the highly accurate external reference timing signal, assuming that the accuracy does not satisfy the specification.

  Also, the input signal automatic switching means of the reference signal generator of the present invention detects that the phase difference or the average of the frequencies of the reference signals has reached the monitoring threshold, and has detected that it is a preset calibration permission time. Only in this case, the input signal to the voltage controlled oscillator is automatically switched to the control voltage signal from the loop filter.

  In this configuration, when the external reference timing signal is 1 PPS of GPS, there are a relatively high period and a low period depending on the external environment. Considering this situation, the calibration timing is not simply set at the time when the monitoring threshold value is reached, but by setting a calibration permission time, calibration can be performed in a period in which the timing accuracy is relatively high. .

  In addition, the reference signal generator of the present invention includes an operation input unit that receives a selection operation of a plurality of processing modes set based on the synchronization method. The input signal automatic switching means automatically switches the input signal only when the operation input means accepts a processing mode that does not use the reference timing signal from the outside in a steady state and is used only during calibration.

  In this configuration, a plurality of processing modes other than the automatic calibration mode for automatically switching the input signal are provided as the reference signal generation device, so that setting according to the user's request is possible and the user needs An automatic calibration mode can be used only when

  The reference signal generator of the present invention includes a phase comparator, a loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator, and an input signal manual switching means. The phase comparator obtains a phase difference between an external reference timing signal and an adjustment timing signal obtained from the reference signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator, and outputs a phase difference signal. The loop filter generates a control voltage signal from the phase difference signal. The voltage controlled oscillator generates a reference signal based on the control voltage signal. The input signal manual switching means supplies the control voltage signal for maintenance to the voltage controlled oscillator that maintains the current frequency of the reference signal while detecting that the average of the frequency shift or phase shift of the reference signal is less than the monitoring threshold. give. Further, the input signal manual switching means issues a warning notification when detecting that the average frequency deviation or phase deviation of the reference signal has reached the monitoring threshold. Then, the input signal manual switching means accepts an input signal switching operation in response to the warning notification and, when confirming that the reference timing signal can be acquired, gives the control voltage signal to the voltage controlled oscillator.

  This configuration is effectively applied when the above-described automatic calibration process cannot be performed, for example, when an antenna that receives a reference timing signal from the outside is not regularly installed in order to prevent the influence of a lightning strike or the like. The In this calibration, the fact that the average value of the phase difference and the reference frequency based on the phase difference depends on the accuracy of the output reference signal is used. A corresponding monitoring threshold is set, and if it is less than the monitoring threshold, self-oscillation is performed without using an external signal assuming that the accuracy satisfies the specification. On the other hand, if the monitoring threshold is reached, a warning notification is given that the accuracy does not satisfy the specification. Then, when receiving the switching operation of the input signal according to the warning notification and confirming that the reference timing signal such as the antenna is attached can be acquired, the oscillation is calibrated by using the synchronization by the highly accurate external reference timing signal. Switch to do.

  Further, the input signal manual switching means of the reference signal generator according to the present invention comprises storage means for storing time information at which calibration is performed and a frequency shift or phase shift at the time as calibration information. The input signal manual switching unit calculates a new calibration time based on the past calibration information and the monitoring threshold stored in the storage unit, and issues a warning notification based on the calculated new calibration time.

  In this configuration, as another warning notification method, a past calibration history is stored, and a new calibration timing is estimated. Then, a warning notification is given of the estimated new calibration time. As a result, since the optimum calibration timing is notified for each oscillator, it is possible to reduce the calibration effort for the user as much as possible.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the reference frequency signal from becoming inaccurate due to the influence of the external environment, and to continuously output the high-accuracy reference signal with little trouble for the user. .

  A reference signal generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the reference signal is a reference frequency signal will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a reference frequency signal generator of the present embodiment and a circuit for supplying a reference timing signal thereto. In the following description, an example in which the reference timing signal is acquired using GPS is shown, but another GNSS may be used, and further, the reference timing signal may be acquired from an external device.

  The reference frequency signal generator 1 of this embodiment includes a control unit 10, a phase comparator 11, a loop filter 12, a switch circuit 13, a voltage controlled oscillator 14, a frequency divider 15, an operation unit 16, and a display unit 17.

  A GPS receiver 2 is connected to the reference frequency signal generator 1, and a GPS antenna 3 is connected to the GPS receiver 2. The GPS receiver 2 acquires positioning-related information such as a navigation message based on the positioning signal received by the GPS antenna 3, generates 1 PPS that is a reference timing signal, and supplies it to the phase comparator 11.

  The phase comparator 11 detects a phase difference between 1 PPS and an adjustment timing signal obtained by dividing the reference frequency signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator 14 by the frequency divider 15, and a voltage level based on the phase difference. The phase difference signal is generated and output. The loop filter 12 is composed of a low-pass filter or the like, and generates a control voltage signal by averaging the voltage level of the phase difference signal on the time axis, and outputs the control voltage signal to the switch circuit 13.

  The switch circuit 13 is a circuit that can be switched to connect either the loop filter 12 or the control unit 10 to the control signal input terminal of the voltage controlled oscillator 14.

  The control unit 10 performs various controls for operating the reference frequency signal generator 1 and different process control for each mode to be described later, and outputs the phase difference signal from the phase comparator 11 when the auto calibration process is executed. Based on this, it is determined whether the accuracy of the reference frequency signal satisfies the specification. While detecting that the accuracy of the reference frequency signal satisfies the specification, the control unit 10 generates a maintenance control voltage signal having a constant voltage level over time in accordance with the frequency of the reference frequency signal to generate a switch circuit 13 to output. The control unit 10 switches and controls the switch circuit 13 so that the control signal input terminal of the voltage controlled oscillator 14 is connected to the control unit 10 while detecting that the accuracy of the reference frequency signal satisfies the specification. . On the other hand, when the control unit 10 detects that the accuracy of the reference frequency signal has reached just before the specification is not satisfied, the control unit 10 switches and controls the switch circuit 13 so that the control signal input terminal is connected to the loop filter 12. That is, while it is detected that the accuracy of the reference frequency signal satisfies the specification, the control voltage signal for maintenance is given to the voltage controlled oscillator 14, and the fact that the accuracy of the reference frequency signal does not meet the specification is reached. Upon detection, the mode is automatically switched to the calibration mode (auto calibration process), and a control voltage signal is given to the voltage controlled oscillator 14. The "calibration mode" here refers to a process for calibrating the frequency of the reference frequency signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator by generating a control voltage signal based on the reference timing signal and applying it to the voltage controlled oscillator. Indicates what to do.

As a method for determining that the accuracy of the reference frequency signal satisfies the specification, for example, the control unit 10 measures the phase difference of the adjustment timing signal with respect to the reference timing signal over time based on the phase difference signal, and performs a predetermined time. The differential value of the phase difference at the length (this differential value corresponds to the “average” of the present invention) is determined by being less than the monitoring threshold value. Here, the monitoring threshold value is set to a value that satisfies a specification of accuracy required for the communication device in which the reference frequency signal generator 1 is mounted and has a predetermined margin with respect to the limit of the specification. . For example, in the radio wave law, since the error of the reference frequency signal is 1 Hz or less, if the broadcast wave is 900 MHz, 1 Hz / 900 MHz≈1.1 × 10 ⁻⁹ is the allowable range of frequency error. Therefore, a phase difference value limited within a margin within which the frequency error is within a permissible range and does not fall outside the permissible range until the calibration is completed is set as a monitoring threshold value. Note that the setting of the monitoring threshold is an example, and other setting criteria may be used, or a phase difference may be simply used.

  While receiving a constant maintenance control voltage signal from the control unit 10, the voltage controlled oscillator 14 generates and outputs a reference frequency signal having a frequency based on the constant voltage level of the maintenance control voltage signal. On the other hand, while receiving the control voltage signal from the loop filter 12, the voltage controlled oscillator 14 generates and outputs a reference frequency signal whose frequency is sequentially calibrated based on the voltage level of the control voltage signal. The reference frequency signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator 14 is also input to the frequency divider 15, and the frequency divider 15 divides the reference frequency signal by a predetermined frequency division ratio to generate an adjustment timing signal, This is given to the phase comparator 11.

  The operation unit 16 includes various operators, receives operation inputs from the user, and gives them to the control unit 10. For example, when a plurality of modes can be switched as the reference frequency signal generation device 1, each mode is selected by operating the operator of the operation unit 16, and mode selection information is given to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 controls various processes based on the mode selection information. The display unit 17 includes a liquid crystal panel, an LED lamp, or the like capable of displaying such a mode that can be selected and when the above-described calibration mode is executed, and is controlled by the control unit 10.

  In the reference frequency signal generator 1 having the above configuration, various processes are executed according to the following flow.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of mode selection and processing of the reference frequency signal generator 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a process flow of the auto calibration process in the calibration mode.

  When receiving the mode setting operation input (S101), the reference frequency signal generator 1 confirms whether or not the mode is the always-synchronized mode, and if it is the always-synchronized mode, confirms whether or not it is the GPS-synchronized mode (S102: Y → S103). When the reference frequency signal generator 1 confirms the operation input in the GPS synchronization mode (S103: Y), the GPS 1PPS is continuously acquired as the reference timing signal, and the reference frequency signal is generated while being always synchronized with 1PPS ( S111). On the other hand, when the reference frequency signal generator 1 confirms that it is not in the GPS synchronization mode (S103: N), it confirms the input of a preset external reference timing signal and always synchronizes with the external reference timing signal. In this manner, a reference frequency signal is generated (S112).

  When it is confirmed that the reference frequency signal generator 1 is not in the always synchronous mode, the reference frequency signal generator 1 confirms whether it is the calibration mode (S102: N → S104). When the reference frequency signal generator 1 confirms the operation input in the calibration mode (S104: Y), the reference frequency signal generator 1 executes a manual calibration process for performing calibration at the time when the operation input is received (S115).

  When it is confirmed that the reference frequency signal generator 1 is not in the always synchronous mode or the calibration mode, the reference frequency signal generator 1 confirms whether or not the auto calibration condition is set (S104: N → S105). If the auto-calibration condition is not set (S105: N), the reference frequency signal generator 1 does not perform synchronization by the external reference timing signal, and generates the reference frequency signal by the maintenance control voltage signal having a constant voltage level. Perform (S113). On the other hand, if the auto-calibration condition is set (S105: Y), the reference frequency signal generator 1 executes an auto-calibration process as shown in FIG. 3 (S114).

  When auto-calibration processing is executed, the reference frequency signal generator 1 first performs reception processing of 1PPS (S401), and if 1PPS cannot be acquired (S402: N), sets the calibration execution flag to “standby”. (S421), GPS asynchronous processing is executed (S422). That is, the reference frequency signal is generated by the maintenance control voltage signal having a constant voltage level.

  If 1 PPS can be acquired (S402: Y), the reference frequency signal generator 1 checks whether the calibration execution flag is “processing” (S403). Here, if the calibration execution flag is not “processing” (S403: N), monitoring data including the above-described time average value of the phase difference and the average value of the frequency error of the reference frequency signal is acquired (S404). If the monitoring data is not equal to or higher than the monitoring threshold (S405: N), the reference frequency signal generator 1 sets the calibration execution flag to “standby” (S421), and performs the GPS receiver 2 asynchronous processing. Execute (S422). On the other hand, when the reference frequency signal generating device 1 detects that the monitoring data is equal to or higher than the monitoring threshold (S405: Y), it displays a warning notification (S406).

  When the reference frequency signal generation device 1 detects that the monitoring data is equal to or greater than the monitoring threshold and the preset calibration permission time based on time information from a clock or GPS provided in the device (S407: Y). The GPS synchronization calibration process is executed. That is, the control unit 10 switches and controls the switch circuit 13, gives the control voltage signal from the loop filter 12 to the voltage controlled oscillator 14, and calibrates the frequency of the reference frequency signal in synchronization with the timing given by 1PPS ( S408). When the reference frequency signal generator 1 detects that it is not the calibration permission time (S407: N), the calibration execution flag is set to “standby” (S421), and GPS asynchronous processing is executed (S422).

  The reference frequency signal generation device 1 continues the GPS synchronization calibration process with the calibration execution flag set to “processing” until the calibration by the synchronization of the GPS to 1PPS is completed (S409: N) (S410). When the calibration by synchronization with 1 PPS is completed (S409: Y), the reference frequency signal generator 1 sets the calibration execution flag to “completed” (S411), and exits the auto calibration process flow. At this time, the reference frequency signal generator 1 determines and stores a maintenance control voltage signal from the control voltage signal at the time of completion of calibration. For example, the control voltage signal at the time of completion of calibration and the predetermined period immediately before that is averaged, and the maintenance control voltage signal is determined from this average value.

  By using such a configuration and processing, the user can select an operation method for generating a reference frequency signal. By selecting auto-calibration processing, a reference frequency signal is generated and output by self-oscillation of a high-accuracy voltage-controlled oscillator without using 1PPS from GPS. However, even if a situation in which calibration is necessary is approached due to the accumulation of slight error factors, calibration can be performed reliably when the specifications of the apparatus are satisfied, and output of a highly accurate reference frequency signal can be continued. At this time, since calibration is automatically started, the calibration can be performed without taking time and effort for the user.

  Furthermore, since the calibration permission time is set, the calibration permission time is set at midnight or dawn when the positioning signal reception status from the GPS is stabilized, thereby enabling more accurate calibration.

  Further, although details are not described in the above description, in such a configuration in which the GPS receiver 2 and the GPS antenna 3 are always connected, a reference frequency signal oscillation device 1 is separately provided by a positioning device separately installed at the same position. Can be detected with high accuracy. Therefore, if the above-described auto calibration process is set only in a state where the position can be calculated with high accuracy, the calibration accuracy in the auto calibration process can be increased.

Next, a reference frequency signal generator according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the reference frequency signal generator of this embodiment and a circuit for supplying a reference timing signal thereto. The reference frequency signal generator 1 ′ of the present embodiment is used in a situation where the GPS antenna 3 is not constantly installed, and the basic mode selection and execution and the concept of auto calibration processing are the same. Therefore, only the parts different from the reference frequency signal generator 1 of the first embodiment will be described.
The phase comparator 11 cannot obtain 1 PPS as a reference timing signal when the GPS antenna 3 is not connected or the reception state of the GPS signal is poor and the reception of the GPS receiver 2 is interrupted. Therefore, an error signal is output.

  While acquiring the error signal from the phase comparator 11, the control unit 10 ′ continues to supply the sustain control voltage signal determined at the previous calibration to the voltage controlled oscillator 14 via the switch circuit 13. Then, when the phase difference signal can be obtained from the phase comparator 11 and the GPS synchronization calibration process can be executed, the control unit 10 ′ can control the voltage generated by the loop filter 12 based on the phase difference signal. The signal is supplied to the voltage controlled oscillator 14 through the switch circuit 13.

  In order to execute such a process, specifically, the control unit 10 ′ includes a communication control unit that performs communication with another device (for example, a monitoring center) connected to the network 900, and the calibration that has already been performed. A calibration history storage unit that stores timing (calibration time) and a calibration amount at each timing. The control unit 10 ′ determines and notifies a new calibration timing (calibration time) based on a predetermined number of calibration timings and calibration amounts stored in the calibration history storage unit up to the previous time. This notification is displayed on the display device 17 and is sent to another device (such as a monitoring center) via the network 900.

  The user confirms this notification at, for example, a remote monitoring center, attaches the GPS antenna 3 to the GPS receiver 2 connected to the reference frequency signal generator 1 ', and prepares 1PPS for acquisition.

  After such processing is performed, the control unit 10 ′ switches to GPS synchronization calibration processing when confirming that 1 PPS can be acquired. That is, the control unit 10 ′ switches the switch circuit 13 so that the control voltage signal from the loop filter 12 is supplied to the voltage controlled oscillator 14. Thereby, the reference frequency signal is calibrated in the reference frequency signal generator 1 '.

  When the calibration is completed, the control unit 10 ′ displays the completion of the calibration on the display device 17, and supplies the control voltage signal for output to the voltage-controlled oscillator 14 as described above to the switch circuit 13. Switch again. At this time, the user can remove the GPS antenna 3.

  In such a configuration, the GPS antenna only needs to be installed at a timing that requires calibration, and a failure of the reference frequency signal generator 1 ′ due to a lightning strike or the like that may occur when the GPS antenna 3 is regularly installed. Can be prevented. In addition, since the reference frequency signal generator 1 'tells the timing of calibration, it is not necessary to perform calibration work at an early stage where calibration is not yet necessary in the specifications as in the conventional case, and as much as possible for the user. Can be omitted.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the reference frequency signal generator of 1st Embodiment, and the circuit which provides a reference timing signal to this. It is a figure which shows the mode selection of the reference frequency signal generator 1, and the flow of a process. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the auto calibration process in a calibration mode. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the reference frequency signal generator of 2nd Embodiment, and the circuit which provides a reference timing signal to this.

Explanation of symbols

1,1′-reference frequency signal generator, 10,10′-control unit, 11-phase comparator, 12-loop filter, 13-switch circuit, 14-voltage controlled oscillator, 15-frequency divider, 16-operation Section, 17-display, 2-GPS receiver, 3-GPS antenna, 900-network

Claims (5)

A phase comparator that obtains a phase difference between an external reference timing signal and an adjustment timing signal obtained from a reference signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator, and outputs a phase difference signal;
A loop filter for generating a control voltage signal from the phase difference signal;
A voltage controlled oscillator for generating the reference signal based on the control voltage signal;
While maintaining the phase difference signal and detecting that the average of the phase difference or the frequency of the reference signal is less than a monitoring threshold, the maintenance control voltage signal for maintaining the frequency of the current reference signal is The voltage controlled oscillator is applied to the voltage controlled oscillator so that the control voltage signal from the loop filter is provided to the voltage controlled oscillator upon detecting that an average of the phase difference or the frequency of the reference signal reaches a monitoring threshold. An input signal automatic switching means for automatically switching an input signal to the reference signal generator.   The input signal automatic switching means detects the phase difference or the average frequency of the reference signal has reached a monitoring threshold value, and only detects that it is a preset calibration permission time. The reference signal generator according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal generator is switched to. Comprising an operation input means for receiving a selection operation of a plurality of processing modes set based on the synchronization method;
The input signal automatic switching means does not use the reference timing signal from the outside in a steady manner, and only when the operation input means accepts a processing mode that is used only during calibration, the automatic control to the voltage controlled oscillator is performed. The reference signal generation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the input signal switching process is performed. A phase comparator that obtains a phase difference between an external reference timing signal and an adjustment timing signal obtained from a reference signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator, and outputs a phase difference signal;
A loop filter for generating a control voltage signal from the phase difference signal;
A voltage controlled oscillator for generating the reference signal based on the control voltage signal;
While detecting that the average of the frequency shift or phase shift of the reference signal is less than the monitoring threshold, a maintenance control voltage signal for maintaining the frequency of the current reference signal is applied to the voltage controlled oscillator, and the reference signal When detecting that the average of the frequency deviation or the phase deviation has reached the monitoring threshold, a warning notification is performed, and a switching operation of the input signal to the voltage controlled oscillator according to the warning notification is accepted and the reference timing signal from the outside A reference signal generator comprising: an input signal manual switching means for supplying the control voltage signal to the voltage controlled oscillator when it is confirmed that the control voltage signal can be acquired.   The input signal manual switching unit includes a time unit for performing calibration and a storage unit for storing the frequency shift or the phase shift at the time as calibration information, and the past calibration information stored in the storage unit. The reference signal generator according to claim 4, wherein a new calibration time is calculated based on the monitoring threshold, and the warning notification is performed based on the calculated new calibration time.

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