A PLL moves the oscillator until its divided clock lines up with the reference.

1 · Compare phase →Reference − divided VCO0.125 cycles
2 · Loop filter →P corrects now; I remembers0.056 V
3 · VCO →f = f₀ + Kᵥ × V36.67 MHz
4 · Divide by 4 ↴Feed this clock back9.17 MHz
← divided clock returns to the phase detector ←
ReferenceVCO ÷ NVCO
Correcting phaseAt lock: fᵥ꜀ₒ = N × fᵣₑꜰ = 40 MHz. Clock sketch uses the phase and frequency at the cursor.
10 MHz
Feedback divider N
36 MHz
150 kHz
0.71
Loop filter
0.00 µs

Frequency finds the target

VCON × reference
35036.8638.51240.3184224MHztime · µs

Phase error settles

Reference − feedback
-0.4870-0.24460120.244180.48724phase error · cyclestime · µs
Model and next lesson

Averaged, linear phase detector with a PI filter; Kᵥ = 12 MHz/V, control voltage limited to ±1 V with anti-windup. Natural frequency and damping describe the unsaturated P + I loop. P-only keeps the same proportional gain. This model illustrates tracking near lock; it does not model PFD cycle slipping, capture range, charge-pump pulses or reference spurs. The phase-step example adds ⅛ cycle to the reference at 10 µs.

Next: Integer-N vs fractional-N PLLs.