Low-Jitter Multi-Output All-Digital Clock Generator Using DTC-Based Open Loop Fractional Dividers

An all-digital reconfigurable multi-output clock generator is presented. A digital phase-locked loop provides a high-frequency clock to multiple independent open loop ΔΣ fractional dividers (FDIVs). A high resolution digital-to-time converter (DTC) whose range is calibrated in background is used to achieve low-jitter performance that is insensitive to process, voltage, and temperature variations. The proposed open loop FDIV operates over a wide frequency range of 20 MHz-1 GHz, and has programmable spread spectrum modulation and instantaneous frequency switching capabilities. Fabricated in a 65-nm process, the prototype FDIV occupies an active area of 0.017 mm2. At 1-GHz output frequency, it consumes 3.2 mW from 0.9-V supply and achieves a worst case integrated jitter of 1.44 psrms.