PLL Jitter Reduction by Utilizing a Ferroelectric Capacitor as a VCO Timing Element

Greg Pauls and Thottam S. Kalkur

ABSTRACT Ferroelectric capacitors have steadily been integrated into semiconductor processes due to their potential as storage elements within memory devices. Polarization reversal within ferroelectric capacitors creates a high nonlinear dielectric constant along with a hysteresis profile. Due to these attributes, a phase-locked loop (PLL), when based on a ferroelectric capacitor, has the advantage of reduced cycle-to-cycle jitter. PLLs based on ferroelectric capacitors represent a new research area for reduction of oscillator jitter.

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TUFFC.2007.363

© 2007, by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All rights reserved.

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