PHASE ALIGNMENT MECHANISM FOR MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF INTEGER-CHANNEL INTERFERENCE IN A PHASE LOCKED LOOP

A novel and useful apparatus for and method of minimizing the impact of interference on the phase error performance in a phase locked loop (PLL) at integer channels by adjustment of the phase of the interfering signal such that its impact on the reference signal is minimized. Phase control is achieved by use of the digital architecture of the ADPLL and its insensitivity to an arbitrary phase bias introduced between its digitally represented output and reference phase signals. The optimal phase relationship for each integer channel is determined through a calibration procedure in which the phase is swept and the optimal phase is recorded. Before the transmission of a payload on an integer channel, the phase relationship between the output RF signal and the input reference signal is adjusted to the value found to be optimal for that frequency, based on the values previously recorded during the calibration procedure.