Vibhu Vanjari
Finding the right devices to build your clock tree doesn’t have to be difficult. Understandably, the plethora of options can be overwhelming. Also, selecting a less-than-ideal device may result in compromises, potentially increasing system cost or affecting performance. To help simplify device selection, this article explores key considerations when assessing both your system’s clocking needs and available devices.
To visualize the clocking considerations in this article, we will refer to the ultrasound scanner clock tree in Figure 1.
This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list. Rather, it’s a starting point. Additional system requirements may include high-frequency radio-frequency clocks, clocks with a phase-deterministic relationship, status outputs, hitless switching, output enable pins on devices or a specific clock-to-clock skew. I recommend recording these requirements in your notes while you’re outlining your clock tree.
Designing a clock tree using the requirements outlined in this article can help simplify your design process. Proper organization is important, especially when designing for larger systems requiring many clocks. For any additional clocking IC or clock tree questions, you can connect directly with our engineers in the Clock & Timing forum on TI E2ETM.
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