SNAA411 September   2024 CDCLVC1102 , CDCLVC1103 , CDCLVC1104 , CDCLVC1110 , CDCLVD1204 , LMK00301 , LMK00304 , LMK00306 , LMK00308 , LMK01801 , LMK04832 , LMK1C1102 , LMK1C1103 , LMK1C1104 , LMK1C1106 , LMK1C1108 , LMK1D1204 , LMK1D1208 , LMX2485 , LMX2491 , LMX2572 , LMX2592 , LMX2594 , LMX2595 , LMX2820

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Generic Clock Tree
  5. 2Sine Wave Slew Rate Requirement
  6. 3Current Approach vs Clock Buffer
  7. 4Clock Buffer Implementation
    1. 4.1 Clock Buffer Common Input Stages
    2. 4.2 Choosing Between Internal or External DC Bias
    3. 4.3 Single Ended or LVCMOS Signal
    4. 4.4 Differential Inputs
  8. 5Performance Improvements, Results With Clock Buffer
    1. 5.1 FSWP Phase Noise Analyzer Measurements Case
    2. 5.2 TI LMX2820 Noise Improvements With Sine to Square Wave Clock Buffer
      1. 5.2.1 LMX2820 Phase Noise and RMS Jitter Results Summary
  9. 6Sine to Square Wave Clock Buffer Comparison
    1. 6.1 LMK1C110x Additive Noise vs Others
  10. 7Summary
  11. 8References

Abstract

Applications requiring extremely low phase noise often use OCXO (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator) or TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) as reference clock in the system. OCXO and TCXO's sinewave output often becomes a bottle neck for slew rate sensitive devices in the clock tree due to fixed amplitude and frequency. Slew rate sensitivity of the subsequent clock devices results in phase noise degradation throughout the clock chain.

There are multiple ways to get around this problem by using external circuity or integrated chips like clock buffers. In this application note, we compare performance improvements in clock trees with TI clock buffer devices with various output format, input power levels and frequencies. This document is to serve as reference to choose the best sine to square wave clock buffer based on application requirements.