VCO (Voltage-Controlled Oscillator) frequency synthesis is a technique used to generate a wide range of frequencies from a single reference frequency. The core idea is to use a VCO whose output frequency can be adjusted by varying the input voltage, allowing for the precise control of the output frequency. This is typically accomplished through phase-locked loops (PLLs), where the VCO is locked to a reference signal, and its output frequency is multiplied or divided to achieve the desired frequency.
In practice, the relationship between the control voltage and the output frequency of a VCO can often be approximated by the equation:
where is the free-running frequency of the VCO and is the frequency sensitivity. VCO frequency synthesis is widely used in applications such as telecommunications, signal processing, and radio frequency (RF) systems, providing flexibility and accuracy in frequency generation.
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