SSZTAL3 november 2016 LMX2592 , LMX8410L , TRF370315 , TRF370317 , TRF370333 , TRF370417 , TRF3705 , TRF3710 , TRF371109 , TRF371125 , TRF371135 , TRF3722 , TRF37T05
Let’s say that you have already spent some time optimizing your phase-locked loop (PLL) by iteratively massaging the phase margin and loop bandwidth. Unfortunately, you may still be unable to get a good compromise between phase noise, spurs and lock time. Frustrated? Ready to give up? Wait! Have you ever played around with the gamma optimization parameter?
Gamma is useful in optimizing in-band phase noise, especially peaking due to the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). Furthermore, if you are not able to get a higher loop bandwidth due to phase-detector frequency constraints and charge-pump current, gamma will help you unlock the maximum achievable loop bandwidth. Unfortunately, if you make gamma large, it degrades lock time severely.
Figure 2 shows the effect of gamma on phase noise. Loop bandwidth and phase margin are the same, while gamma is different. With a higher gamma, the peaking of the VCO will be smaller because the flatness of the noise-shaping loop filter increases.
Figure 3 shows the maximum achievable loop bandwidth vs. different gamma values with a second-order loop filter. The phase-detector frequency as well as the charge-pump current remain unchanged.
If the design target is a 100kHz loop bandwidth with a 45-degree phase margin, when gamma is restricted to 1, you can only get a maximum loop bandwidth of 79kHz. However, if you can accept a higher gamma – for example, gamma equals 8 – you will be able to meet the design target. Now the loop bandwidth becomes 96.6kHz with a 43.4-degree phase margin.
There is a penalty for a higher gamma: a longer required lock time. Figure 4 shows the lock time of a 200MHz frequency jump with different gamma values; loop bandwidth and phase margin are unchanged. When the gamma and loop bandwidth equal 1 and 3.7 and the settle tolerance is within ±100Hz, the simulated lock time values equal 46.5µs and 118µs, respectively.