For price, delivery and to place orders: Hittite Microwave Corporation, 2 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978-250-3343 Fax: 978-250-3373 Order On-line at www.hittite.com
Application Support: Phone: 978-250-3343 or apps@hittite.com
PLLS WITH INTEGRATED VCO - SMT
21
HMC834LP6GE
v01.0112
FRACTIONAL-N PLL WITH INTEGRATED VCO
45 - 1050, 1400 - 2100, 2800 - 4200, 5600 - 8400 MHz
Please note that the VCO subsystem registers are not directly accessible. They are written to via PLL Reg
05h. More information about VCO subsystem SPI in section 1.19.
1.3 VCO Built in Test with AutoCal
The frequency limits of the VCO can be measured using the BIST features of the AutoCal machine.
This is done by setting Reg 0Ah[10]=1 which freezes the VCO switches in one position. VCO switches may
then be written manually, with the varactor biased at the nominal mid-rail voltage used for AutoCal. For
example to measure the VCO maximum frequency use switch 0, written to the VCO subsystem via Reg
05h=[000000000 0000 VCOID]. Where VCOID = ‘000’b.
If AutoCal is enabled, (Reg 0Ah[11] = 0), and a new frequency is written, AutoCal will run, but with switches
frozen. The VCO frequency error relative to the command frequency will be measured and results written
to Reg 11h[19:0] where Reg 11h[19] is the sign bit. The result will be written in terms of VCO count error
(EQ 4). For example if the expected VCO is 2 GHz, reference is 50 MHz, and n is 6, we expect to measure
2560 counts. If we measure a difference of -5 counts in R e g 11h, then it means we actually measured 2555
counts. Hence the actual frequency of the VCO is 5/2560 low, or 1.99609375 GHz, ±1 Count ~ ±781 kHz.
1.4 Spurious Performance
1.4.1 Integer Operation and Reference Spurious
The VCO always operates at an integer multiple of the PD frequency in an integer synthesizer. In general,
spurious signals originating from an integer synthesizer can only occur at multiples of the PD frequency.
These unwanted outputs closest to the carrier are often simply referred to as reference sidebands.
Unwanted reference harmonics can also exist far from the carrier due to circuit isolation.
Spurs unrelated to the reference frequency must originate from outside sources. External spurious sources
can modulate the VCO indirectly through power supplies, ground, or output ports, or bypass the loop lter
due to poor isolation of the lter. It can also simply add to the output of the PLL.
Reference spuri ous levels are typically below -100 dBc with a well designed board layout. A regulator with
low noise and high power supply rejection, such as the HMC1060LP3E, is recommended to minimize
external spurious sources.
Reference spurious levels of below -100 dBc require superb board isolation of power supplies, isolation of
the VCO from the digital switching of the synthesizer and isolation of the VCO load from the synthesizer.
Typical board layout, regulator design, eval boards and application information are available for very low
spurious operation. Operation with lower levels of isolation in the application circuit board, from those rec-
ommended by Hittite, can result in higher spurious levels.
If the application environment contains other interfering frequencies unrelated to the PD fre quency, and
if the application isolation from the board layout and regulation are insufficient, the unwanted interfering
frequencies will mix with the desired synthesizer output and cause additional spurious emissions. The
level of these emissions is dependant upon isolation and supply regulation or rejection (PSRR).
1.4.2 Fractional Operation and Spurious
Unlike an integer PLL, spurious signals in a fractional PLL can occur due to the fact that the VCO operates
at frequencies unrelated to the PD frequency. Hence intermodulation of the VCO and the PD harmonics
can cause spurious sidebands. Spurious emissions are largest when the VCO operates very close to an
integer multiple of the PD. When the VCO operates exactly at a harmonic of the PD then, no in-close mixing
products are present.
As shown in Figure 32, interference is always present at multiples of the PD frequency, fpd, and the VCO
frequency, fvco. The difference, ∆, between the VCO frequency and the nearest har monic of the reference,
will create what are referred to as integer boundary spurs. Depending upon the mode of operation of
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