The document discusses using frequency planning to eliminate spurious signals from a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) and VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator). It describes: - Integer boundary spurs that occur at integer multiples of the Phase Frequency Detector (PFD) frequency and are stronger near integer boundaries. - How varying the PFD comparison frequency by changing the reference frequency or reference divider can change where integer boundary spurs occur, allowing frequencies furthest from the desired signal to be avoided. - ADIsimFrequencyPlanner, a tool that simulates spur powers over an output frequency range and selects the optimum PFD frequency at each step to minimize spurs.

1. IMS2016 MicroApps
PLL frequency planning for spurious signal elimination
Robert Brennan
Analog Devices
 10:20

2. Introduction
► A PLL (Phase Locked Loop) and VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) outputs an RF signal
at a certain frequency. Ideally, there is only one signal present. In reality, there are
unwanted spurious signals and phase noise at the output.
► The problem:
 High spurs → Unusable channels → Wasted money and lower efficiency
► The solution:
 Frequency planning → All channels usable → Better value for money and better efficiency
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3. Introduction to integer boundary spurs
► All PLLVCOs exhibit integer boundary spurs.
 Integer boundary spurs (IBS) occur at frequencies related to integer multiples of the Phase Frequency
Detector (PFD) frequency.
 IBS are stronger when the output frequency is near an integer boundary frequency.
 In the PLL loop below, there will be an IBS at ±1 MHz offset from the RF output.
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4. Integer boundary spur at 1 MHz offset
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5. Integer boundary spur at 10 MHz offset
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 10:25

6. Varying the PFD comparison frequency
► Changing PFD comparison frequency changes where integer boundary spurs occur
► Optimum PFD frequency is the frequency whose integer multiple is furthest from the desired
signal
► For each output frequency, use the optimum PFD frequency
► A range of PFD frequencies can be generated by:
1. Varying the reference frequency
2. Varying the R divider
3. Combining both 1 and 2
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7. How to vary the PFD frequency
► Option 1: Programmable reference source (clock
distribution chip with programmable output dividers)
► Option 2: PLLVCO in integer mode (no integer
boundary spurs)
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• Varying the R divider
fREF = 491.52 MHz
fPFD =
[98.304,
81.92,
70.217,
61.44,
54.613] MHz

8. ADIsimFrequencyPlanner
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9. ADIsimFrequencyPlanner flowchart
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User specifies the desired output range and channel steps
At every step, ADIsimFrequencyPlanner selects the optimum PFD frequency and
then simulates the worst case 1st and 2nd order integer boundary spur powers
ADIsimFrequencyPlanner returns the optimum reference source and PLLVCO
configuration for each output frequency
The charge pump current is also set to maintain a constant loop bandwidth across the frequency range.
ADIsimFrequencyPlanner generates a series of plots to show what is happening

10. Settings are output for each channel step
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Assuming clock generator master clock = 2949.12 MHz
• For RFOUT = 4818.25 MHz, set:
• Clock generator output divider (M) to 14.
• PLLVCO reference divider (R) to 3.
• Charge pump current to 1.68 mA to maintain
constant loop bandwidth.

11. Max possible spur power at each output frequency
6000 output frequencies shown 4800 - 6300 MHz
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Plot shows the worst IBS at each output frequency step.
 10:30

12. [
Phase noise at 5898.25 MHz with worst spur
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Single frequency phase noise view: worst spur at
-55.3 dBc is shown at 10 kHz offset from the carrier.
• Carrier: 5898.25 MHz = 61.44 MHz × 96.00016276
• IBS = 61.44 MHz × 96 = 5898.24 MHz → 10 kHz offset

13. Sweep results – measured worst spur power
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-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
4800 4900 5000 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 5900 6000 6100 6200 6300
Spurpower(dBc)
Output frequency (MHz)
HMC7044 + ADF5355 + HMC704
Measured (worst of 1st and 2nd order IBS)
Simulated (optimized PFD freq).
Simulated (fixed PFD freq.)

14. Reference and PFD settings vs VCO
output frequency
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Optimum reference and PFD frequency is shown for each output step.
Reference frequency
PFD frequency

15. Example implementation
►HMC7044 – Clock Generator
 14 programmable outputs
 JESD204B compliant
 44 fs (12 kHz - 20 MHz) at 2457.6 MHz
►ADF4355 – integrated PLLVCO
 54 – 6800 MHz
 Phase noise comparable to discrete VCOs
 Fully phase controllable

16. Conclusion
►Using ADIsimFrequencyPlanner, combined with Analog Devices clocking
devices and PLL synthesizers, can virtually eliminate all problematic spurs.
 Over 4.8 GHz to 6.3 GHz, in 250 kHz steps (6000 channels), there can be almost no
integer boundary spur.
 This translates to higher spectral efficiency and better value for money.
►To implement a similar system, consider using:
 HMC7044: 3.2 GHz 14 output clock generation device.
 ADF4355: 54 MHz – 6.8 GHz PLLVCO with output phase control.
 ADF5355: 54 MHz – 13.6 GHz PLLVCO with output phase control.
 Free download: www.analog.com/adisimfrequencyplanner
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 10:35

17. Question time
Visit Analog Devices at Booth 1519
Robert Brennan
RF Applications and Marketing

18. Appendix
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19. PLL architecture
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• VCO: produces high frequency signal.
• N divider: divides down VCO output signal.
• R divider: divides down reference signal to generate PFD clock.
• PFD: compares phase of R divider output and N divider output.
• Charge pump: pumps up or down depending on PFD comparison result.
• Loop filter: smoothes charge pump current to produce VCO control voltage.

20. Charge pump current vs. frequency for constant loop bandwidth
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21. R, M and VCO output divider settings
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22. Comparing simulation with measured - setup

23. PLLVCO
►The PLLVCO was the HMC704 (PLL) and ADF5355 (VCO).
►Process for each step:
 ADF5355 locks to desired frequency using internal PLL.
 ADF5355 internal PLL is disabled.
 HMC704 then locks the ADF5355 VCO.
 HMC704 has lower phase noise and lower spurs.
 Isolating the PLL and VCO (separate chips) improves spurs.
►Loop bandwidth ≈ 17 kHz.
►Phase margin ≈ 49°.
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24. Results – zoomed in on only high IBS region
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5898.25, -54.9
5898.5, -74 5898.75, -77.2
5899, -83.6
5899.25, -86.7
5899.5, -84.8
5899.75, -89.8
5900, -89.6
5900.25, -92.5
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
5895 5895.5 5896 5896.5 5897 5897.5 5898 5898.5 5899 5899.5 5900 5900.5 5901
Spurpower(dBc)
Output frequency (MHz)
HMC7044 + ADF5355 + HMC704
Measured (worst of 1st and 2nd order IBS)
Simulated (optimized PFD freq).
• At an output frequency of 5898.25 MHz, the worst IBS is -54.9 dBc.
• At an output frequency of 5898.50 MHz, the worst IBS is -74.0 dBc.
• At an output frequency of 5898.75 MHz, the worst IBS is -77.2 dBc…

25. Analysis
►Over 4.8 GHz to 6.3 GHz, in 250 kHz steps (6000 channels), there can be almost
no integer boundary spur.
►There is only one very narrow range of frequencies where optimizing the PFD
frequency doesn’t improve the IBS performance. This frequency range is twice the
system master clock frequency (2949.12 MHz × 2 = 5898.24 MHz).
 At this frequency, it is recommended to shift the carrier frequency to nearby cleaner frequency
and then, shift the baseband frequency in digital (NCO) to compensate.
 An alternate scheme, would change the master clock frequency (if possible in the system) by
some amount to result in a clean output frequency.
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26. Cascaded mode – range of reference frequencies
► fPFD_1 = 61.44 MHz
► fREF_2 = [251.904, 253.44, 256, 258.048, 261.12, 264.192, 266.24, 268.8, 270.336, 276.48,
282.624, 284.16, 286.72, 288.768, 291.84, 294.912, 296.96, 299.52, 307.2, 314.88, 317.44,
322.56, 327.68, 330.24, 337.92, 345.6, 348.16] MHz
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