High Performance Fractional-N RF Frequency Synthesizer PLL in UMC 40LP

Overview

Perceptia’s DeepSub™ pPLL08F is an high performance RF frequency synthesizer PLL featuring industry leading jitter (sub 300fs), phase noise and compact area suitable for RF applications, including 5G and WiFi at frequencies up to 8GHz. It is suitable for use as an LO and/or clocking ADCs/DACs with demanding SNR requirements.

pPLL08 uses a LC tank DCO to achieve the performance demands of critical RF systems. It is still low power (< 40 mW) and compact compact (< 0.05 sq mm). The all digital architecture minimises interference from other circuits on the same die, making it capable of supportingSNDR better than 60dB.

pPLL08 integrates easily into any SoC design and includes all the views and models required by back end flows.

The pPLL08F is built using Perceptia’s second generation all digital PLL technology. This robust technology delivers identical performance regardless of PVT conditions. It consumes a small fraction of the area of an analog PLL whilst maintaining comparable performance.


pPLL08F can be used as an integer-N PLL or as a fractional-N PLL. The fractional-N mode provides a high flexibility to choose the best combination of input and output clock frequencies at the system level.

Perceptia further provides integration support and offers customization and migration services.

Key Features

  • Ultra-low jitter, less than 300fs RMS integrated between 12kHz to 20MHz.
  • Suitable for many RF applications, including LO, clocks for, ADC, DAC, high-speed PHY
  • Small die area (< 0.05 sq mm), using a LC tank oscillator
  • Output frequency can be from 1 to 2047 times the input reference, up to 8GHz
  • Reference clock from 5MHz to 1GHz
  • Second-generation digital PLL architecture, providing integer and 24 bit fractional multiplication
  • Primary PLL output running at the main DCO frequency for lowest noise clocking
  • Two further PLL outputs via separate postscalers
  • Post-scalers programmable from 1 to 2,040
  • Lock-detect output
  • PLL output duty cycle better than 49 / 51%
  • Highly testable using industry standard flows
    • ATPG vectors provided
    • Specification of functional tests to supplement ATPG testing

Benefits

  • Fractional Multiplication with frequencies up to 8GHz
  • Extremely low jitter (< 300fs RMS)
  • Small size (< 0.05 sq mm)
  • Low Power (< 40 mW)
  • Support for many wireless standards including 5G and WiFi
  • Easy integration

Block Diagram

High Performance Fractional-N RF Frequency Synthesizer PLL in UMC 40LP Block Diagram

Applications

  • RF LO
  • Clock for RF ADC/DAC
  • 5G and LTE radio (3GPP)
  • WiFi Radio (802.11ax)
  • SerDes
  • Optical transceiver

Deliverables

  • Datasheet
  • Detailed Verilog behavioral model
  • Timing models
  • LEF5.6 abstract for floor planning/chip assembly
  • Integration Guide
  • DFT Guide
  • Integration support
  • Characterization report
  • GDSII layout macrocell
  • CDL netlist for LVS
  • DRC, LVS and SI verification reports
  • Netlist model with accompanying documentation – allowing integration of the module in scan chains

Technical Specifications

Foundry, Node
UMC40LP
Maturity
In production
Availability
Now
UMC
In Production: 40nm , 40nm LP
Silicon Proven: 40nm , 40nm LP
×
Semiconductor IP