PURPOSE: To provide a reference signal generator which enhances the resolution of a timer for generating a reference signal.

CONSTITUTION: The reference signal generator comprises a down counter 3 for producing a repetitive reference signal Fr from most significant n1 bit data Dn1 of input data DATA, a counter 4 for counting an overflow output signal RIPPLE CLK from the down counter 3, a decoder 6 for decoding an output signal Dn3 from the counter 4 and the least significant n2 bit data Dn2 of the input data DATA, and an AND circuit 1 for producing logical product of an output pulse DEC P from the decoder 6 and a basic clock signal CLK0.