Phase Lock Loop and Frequency Synthesizers for Wireless Engineers

In this short course the fundamentals of analysis, design, and modeling of phase lock loops will be covered without intimidating mathematics. Phase noise and how it affects system performance, for both analog and digital modulation formats will be discussed. Phase lock loop frequency synthesis finds uses in a myriad of wireless applications - from local oscillators for receivers and transmitters to high performance RF test equipment. The various components that make up the phase lock loop design; including oscillators (crystal, voltage controlled), dividers, phase detectors will be examined and interaction among the various pieces will be discussed. Real world problems such as power supply noise, shielding, grounding and isolation will be covered throughout the course.

Instructor: To Be Annouced

• History of Frequency Synthesis/Phase Lock Loops
  • Early History of Frequency Synthesis
  • Direct and Indirect Frequency Synthesizers
  • Applications for Test Equipment
  • Signal Recovery for Deep Space
• Basic Model of Phase Lock Loop
  • Laplace Transfer Function
  • Types of Loops
  • Loop Filters
  • Properties of the Various Types
  • Effect of Modulation or Noise
  • Open and Closed Loop Gain
  • Bode Plots
  • Phase and Gain Margin; Stability
  • Acquisition, Small Signal Switching Speed
  • Lock and Hold In Range
  • Introduction to Z transforms
• Phase Noise/Spurs
  • Definitions
  • Phase Noise Types: Flicker (1/f), Thermal
  • Spur Types
    • Single and Double Sided
    • AM to PM Conversion
    • Calculation of Reference Spurs
  • Graphs for Various Types of Phase Noise
  • Effect on System Performance
    • Sensitivity, Selectivity, BER
    • IM Performance, A/D Performance
  • Overall PLL Performance Including Noise/Spur Sources
• Phase Lock Loop Components
  • Phase Detectors
    • Mixer
    • Sampler
    • Digital: D Flip-Flop and Exclusive OR, N-PI
  • Dividers
    • Pre-Scalers: Silicon and GaAs
    • Look Ahead, Pulse Swallowing
    • Dual and Multiple Modulus
    • Fractional N: Rate Multipliers and Accumulators
    • Noise in Dividers
  • Oscillators
    • Crystal: Fundamental and Overtone
    • Voltage Controlled: Feedback, Negative Resistance
    • Types of Resonators: Transmission Line, Ceramic Resonator, LC, Dielectric; Tuning Range
    • Phase Noise: Effect of Q, Power, Active Device
    • Simple Oscillator Design Example
  • Single Chip PLL's
• Testing of Phase Lock Loops
  • Phase Noise
    • Mixer (Quadrature) Method: Use Two Same Sources or Better Source; Coherence; Locking
    • Delay Line Method
    • Commercial phase noise test sets
  • Switching Speed
    • Mixer Method
    • Modulation Domain Analyzer
  • Loop Dynamics
• Other Topics
  • Introduction to Direct Digital Synthesis

A comprehensive set of seminar notes is included

Synthesizer design engineers, System engineers, scientists, and managers involved in design, specification or management of frequency synthesizers for defense or commercial wireless industries.