Clock Jitter Estimation based on PM Noise Measurements

Published

January 1, 2003

Author(s)

David A. Howe, T Tasset

Abstract

"Jitter" is the noise modulation due to random time shifts on an otherwise ideal, or perfectly on-time, signal transition. In the absence of ultra-high-speed jitter analyzers, spectrum analysis is an alternate noise measurement for timing jitter. Conventionally, jitter has been defined as a the in-tegral of the phase noise. This paper presents a modified way of calculating timing jitter using phase-modulation (PM) noise measurements of high-speed digital clocks, which considers the frequency response of the jitter analyzer, providing a more accurate map. Measurements of phase noise are typically much more sensitive to phase (or time) fluctuations than a jitter analyzer. A summary table is provided for mapping the results of these measurements in the Fourier fre-quency domain to jitter in the τ domain for various random (specifically, power-law) noise types, spurs, vibration, and power-supply ripple. In general, one cannot unambiguously map back, that is, translate from jitter measurements to phase noise.

Proceedings Title

2003 Joint Mtg. IEEE Intl. Freq. Cont. Symp. and EFTF Conf

Conference Dates

May 3-9, 2003

Conference Location

Tampa, FL

Conference Title

Proc. 2003 Joint Mtg. IEEE Intl. Freq. Cont. Symp. and EFTF Conf

Pub Type

Conferences

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Citation

Howe, D. and Tasset, T. (2003), Clock Jitter Estimation based on PM Noise Measurements, 2003 Joint Mtg. IEEE Intl. Freq. Cont. Symp. and EFTF Conf , Tampa, FL, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=105277 (Accessed April 23, 2024)