PLL chipset raises bar on spurious and phase noise performance

PLL chipset raises bar on spurious and phase noise performance

The HMC983LP5E dc to 7 GHz fractional-N divider and frequency sweeper and the HMC984LP4E digital phase-frequency detector and charge pump are offered as a high performance PLL chipset solution targeted at PLL and frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) sweeper applications requiring ultimate performance. The HMC983LP5E is claimed to integrate the industry’s largest programmable 48-bit ∆∑ modulator which allows the combined PLL to achieve unparalleled fractional frequency resolution of 180 nHz. A built-in frequency sweeper enables the combined PLL to generate identical, coherent, FMCW frequency sweeps that can be linear, user-defined, automatic or triggered.

The HMC984LP4E integrates a low noise phase detector and charge pump capable of operating at high phase detector frequencies of 125 MHz in fractional mode, and 175 MHz in integer mode. The PLL chip set phase noise figure-of-merit performance is –231 dBc/Hz in integer mode and –227 dBc/Hz in fractional mode. Altough the parts can be used separately in stand-alone applications, partitioning the PLL building blocks into two distinct devices achieves superb isolation and results in market leading spurious emissions performance exceeding –60 dBc/Hz inside the loop bandwidth.(ea/10-99, HMC983LP5E, $39;HMC984LP4E, $32 — available now)

By Christina Nickolas

Hittite Microwave , Chelmsford , MA , United States
Sales 978-250-3343

www.hittite.com