A high resolution phase and frequency offset generator

This report describes a novel topology for a 5 MHz phase and frequency offset generator. This device synthesizes a 5 MHz signal from a 5 MHz reference that can be phase and frequency offset from the reference in small steps. The phase resolution of this device is 2/spl pi/*2/sup -21/ radians which is equivalent to a time step of 45 fs. The frequency resolution can be programmed to be arbitrarily small. The spectral purity of this device is comparable to that of a hydrogen maser and is determined by the choice of output oscillator. The phase and frequency steps are phase continuous.