[time-nuts] time-nuts Frequency Divider

Mike Monett xde-l2g3 at myamail.com
Fri Apr 3 02:02:29 UTC 2009


  > Message: 8
  > Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:28:31 +1300
  > From: Bruce Griffiths <bruce.griffiths at xtra.co.nz>
  > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] time-nuts Frequency Divider

  > Mike

  > The problem is more accurately described as:

  > When the bias network dc level at the 74AC04 (or  74HC04) inverter
  > input isn't  equal  to the switching threshold  of  the particular
  > device then  AM  modulation on the input  signal  is  converted to
  > phase noise as switching no longer occurs at the zero  crossing of
  > the input signal.

  The problem is adequately described in my article. I show  the AM/PM
  conversion in "Fig 3. Threshold Switching", in

  http://pstca.com/spice/74ac04/limiter.htm

  > Such behaviour  is inherent when using a  Schmitt  trigger circuit
  > and it cannot be cured with a feedback circuit that stabilises the
  > output duty cycle.

  The 74AC04  and 74HC04 are not Schmitt triggers, and  are  useful as
  limiters as discussed here previously. The +/- 30% tolerance  on the
  switching threshold  applies to the 74XX04 and pretty  much  all the
  CMOS gates  and  flops  as  well. It  is  an  inherent  problem with
  matching N and P channel mosfets.

  However, in any limiter, the duty cycle must be controlled  to avoid
  AM/PM conversion,  not just the 74XX series. This problem  is solved
  with the feedback method described in my article.

  One of  the surprises is the circuit is remarkably stable  even with
  huge changes in loop gain. I describe this near the bottom.

  The 74XX14  is  a  Schmitt trigger,  and  it  will  have unavoidable
  problems with  AM/PM  conversion.  I mention  this  in  the section,
  "Cascading 74AC04's  For More Gain", about 2/3 of the  way  down the
  page:

  http://pstca.com/spice/74ac04/limiter.htm

  If the limiter has hysteresis, you can minimize AM/PM  conversion on
  one edge, but not both.

  > A well  designed  limiter  +   filter   cascade  in  front  of the
  > comparator, Schmitt trigger or logic gate can be used  to minimise
  > such AM to PM conversion whilst minimising the output jitter.

  It doesn't  matter  what  you put in front  of  the  limiter. Adding
  another one  in front just moves the problem  further  upstream, and
  adds more phase noise.

  Unless the  switching threshold in the limiter is controlled  to set
  the duty cycle to 50%, you will have problems with AM/PM conversion.
  Also, it  might be desirable to add some voltage trim  to compensate
  for harmonic distortion.

  > Bruce

  Mike
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Here is the response to your next post to save time:

  > Mike

  > Its well  worthwhile  estimating the additional jitter  due  to this
  > effect when using such a circuit to square up the output of an OCXO:

  > If the input signal characteristics are:

  > Frequency 10MHz  Amplitude at the gate input: A = 1.4V  pk Threshold
  > mismatch Vt  =  1V AM noise: Am = -120dBc/Hz Input  signal  AM noise
  > bandwidth: BW = 1MHz (eg a low Q bandpass filter).

  > Rms Output jitter due to AM noise is given by

  > delta(t) ~ (1/(2*PI*f))*((Vt/A)/(1 + (Vt/A)*(Vt/A)))*(BW*1)^(Am/20))

  > i.e.

  > delta(t) ~ 0.5*1.6E-8 *(1E-3) sec ~ 8ps rms.

  > Wideband AM  noise as high as -120dBc/Hz is somewhat higher  than is
  > typical for a good OCXO.

  > Thus in  applications such as a PPS divider this effect  is probably
  > insignificant.

  > However it may be useful to use a low Q bandpass filter to limit the
  > integrated AM and PM noise seen at the gate input.

  > Bruce

  I did  not  have time to check your math.  However,  8ps  rms jitter
  would be unacceptable in many applications.

  A low  Q bandpass filter has been discussed here often.  It  may not
  help the  jitter  until the bandwidth is quite narrow,  and  it will
  cause other problems with drift due to aging and tempco.

  I am  unfortunately very busy at the moment, and will not  have time
  to follow this thread further.

  Mike



More information about the time-nuts mailing list