The characteristic that causes the PLL to capture signals within a certain frequency

range causes it to act as a band pass filter. Phase-locked loops are often used in signal
conditioning applications. where it is desirable to pass signals only in a certain range
and to reject signals outside of that range. The PLL is highly effective in eliminating the
noise and interference on a signal.
The ability of a PLL to respond to input frequency variations makes it useful in FM GOOD TO KNOW
applications. The PLL's tracking action means that the yea can operate a, it frequency The capture range fo of
modulator that produces exactly the same FM signal as the input. In order for thi, to hap- a phase-locked loop is smaller
pen, however. the yea input must be identical to the original modulating signal. The yea
than the lock range. Once the
output follows the FM input signal because the error voltage produced by the phase detec-
tor and low-puss tiller forces the yea to track it. Thus the yea output must be identical input frequency is captured, the
to the input signal if the PLL is to remain locked. The error signal must be identical to the output trequency will match it
original modulating signal of the FM input. The low-pass filter cutoff frequency is designed until the input frequency goes
in such a way that it is capable of passing the original modulating signal. out of the lock range. Then the
The ability of a PLL to provide frequency selectivity and lillering give, il a signal- phase-locked loop will return to
to-noise ratio superior to that of any other type of FM detector. The linearity of the yea
the free-running frequency of
ensures low dixroriion and a highly accurate reproduction of the original modulating
signal. Although PLL., arc complex. they arc easy III apply because they arc readily avail- \he VCO.
able in low-cost IC form.
Figure 6-23 is a block diugram of a popular anti widely used le PLL. the 565. The
565 is connected <\,. an FM dernodukuor, The 565 circuitry is shown inside the dashed PU demodulator
lines: all components outside the~"lshejJ ITIiC8are discrete components. The numbers on
the connections arc the pin numbers on the 565 le. which is housed in a standard
14-pin dual-in-line package (DIP). The circuit is powered by :t 12-y power supplies.
The low-pass filter is malic up ot"a 3.6-kll resistor inside the 565 thnt tcrmimues al
pin 7. A O.I-J.LFexternal capacitor C~ completes the liller. Note that the recovered orig-
inal modulating signal is taken from the filter output. The free-running frequency 01" the
yea (!.,) is SCI hy external components H, and C, according 10 the formula
fo = 1.2/4HIC, = 1.2/4(2700)(0.01 X 10 h) = 11.111 Hz or 11.11 kHz.

Figure 6-23 A PLL FM dernodulator using the 565 IC.

FM'~I----lr-----'----------------'
10 ~F Df6\t eo W,Je1
lkll
565 PLL I Recovered
modulating
I SJgnal

3.6 ktl

lktl

-- 1 10

Output O.OOl •.•.F

R,
2.7kfl

c,

00llA.F

) VEE--12V Vcc·+12V

The lock range li. can be computed with an expression supplied by the manu-
fucturer for this circuit f, = 16./i/Vs. where V, i, the total supply voltage. In the
circuit of Fig. 6-23. Vs i, the sum of the two 12-Y supplies. or 2-1 v, ,0 the Iota I
lock range centered on the free-running frequency is '/i. = 16( 11.11 X 10-')/2-1 =
7406.7 Hz. or :!:3703.3 Hz.
With thi, circuit, it is assumed that the unmodulated carrier frequency is the same
as the free-running frequency. I 1.1 I kHz. at" course. it is posxihlc IIIset this type of cir-
cuit to any other desired cenrer frequency simply by changing the values of HI and C,.
The upper frequency limitation Ior the 565 IC is 500 kHz.

No one likes stanc on the radio. But until Edwin Armstrong (1890-1954) came along. people