A modeling platform for efficient characterization of phase-locked loop ?-? frequency synthesizers

Abstract

To dramatically reduce the need for Silicon reproduction due to poor noise performance, a close-loop simulation platform that combines both measured and/or simulation results of open-loop PLL sub-blocks has been developed. The platform is suited for Delta-Sigma based fractional-N frequency synthesizers enabling integrated circuit designers to directly meet cost, performance and schedule milestones. Case studies employing the developed platform are provided for a fractional-N frequency synthesizer operating near 5 GHz. The effects of dead-zone, dithering, near-integer divisor operation, noise folding and prescaler usage on the overall phase noise performance of the entire frequency synthesizer are detailed.