Fei Yuan
Microelectronics
Frequency synthesizers are at the heart of wireless and wired data communication systems. Frequency synthesizers provide stable clocks that control the operation of digital and mixed analog-digital systems. Traditional frequency synthesizers consist of both analog blocks such as charge pumps, loop filters and voltage-controlled oscillators and digital blocks such as phase detectors and frequency dividers. The design of analog blocks of frequency synthesizers becomes more challenging in nanometer CMOS due to a rapidly shrinking voltage headroom. All-digital implementation of frequency synthesizes becomes increasingly critical.
Develop, design, and implement an all-digital frequency synthesizer capable of generating a stable 5 GHz clock with a large frequency range.
1) Frequency reference: 10 MHz.
2) Digitally controlled oscillator with 5 GHz nominal frequency and a large frequency tuning range.
3) CMOS technology: TSMC 65 mn.
1) Study the fundamental of frequency synthesizers.
2) Study the fundamental of time-to-digital converters (TDCs), digitally controlled oscillators (DCOs), frequency dividers, and digital charge pumps.
3) Develop the architecture of the frequency synthesizer and the specifications of the building blocks of the system.
4) Carry out detailed circuit design of all building blocks and conduct extensive simulation to ensure that the performance of the building blocks meet the design specifications.
5) Carry out silicon implementation of the building blocks and conduct post-layout simulation to ensure that the performance of the building blocks meet the design specifications.
6) Conduct post-layout simulation of the entire synthesizer to ensure that the performance of the synthesizer meet the design specifications.
The group members of the project will work as a team to undertake this challenging project. A full corporation is needed to ensure the progress and completion of the project.
The student is responsible for an in-depth investigation of methods for frequency difference detections at low, intermediate, and high frequencies and the pros and cons of the methods. The comparison of characteristics of these frequency difference detectors should be quantified using simulation results. In addition, the student is required to propose, develop, design, implement (layout), analyze, and characterize a low-voltage all-digital frequency detector.
The student is responsible for an in-depth investigation of methods for implementing digital FIR (finite-impulse-response) low-pass filters and the pros and cons of the methods. The comparison of characteristics of these methods should be quantified using simulation results. In addition, the student is required to propose, develop, design, implement (layout), analyze, and characterize a low-voltage all-digital FIR filter.
The student is responsible for an in-depth investigation of methods for implementing digitally controlled oscillators and the pros and cons of the methods. Both ring oscillators and LC oscillators should be investigated. The comparison of characteristics of these methods should be quantified using simulation results. In addition, the student is required to propose, develop, design, implement (layout), analyze, and characterize a low-voltage digitally controlled oscillator.
The student is responsible for an in-depth investigation of methods for implementing all-digital frequency dividers with a large division ratio at low and high frequencies and the pros and cons of the methods. The comparison of characteristics of these methods should be quantified using simulation results. In addition, the student is required to propose, develop, design, implement (layout), analyze, and characterize a low-voltage all-digital frequency divider.
ELE 804
FY03: All-Digital Frequency Synthesizer | Fei Yuan | Wednesday August 28th 2019 at 04:52 PM