Introduction

This brief presents a frequency estimation algorithm (FEA) for an All-Digital Phase-Locked Loop (ADPLL) instead of the traditional binary frequency-searching algorithm. Based on the proposed FEA and a new fast-lock scheme, a fast-lock engine is designed to improve the lock-in time of an ADPLL design with two referenced clock cycles. An implementation of the proposed ADPLL design is realized by utilizing United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) 0.18-μm1P6M CMOS technology.