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©2016 Integrated Device Technology, Inc

Revision B November 16, 2016

831724 Datasheet

Additive Phase Jitter

The spectral purity in a band at a specific offset from the

fundamental compared to the power of the fundamental is called the

dBc Phase Noise. This value is normally expressed using a Phase

noise plot and is most often the specified plot in many applications.

Phase noise is defined as the ratio of the noise power present in a

1Hz band at a specified offset from the fundamental frequency to the

power value of the fundamental. This ratio is expressed in decibels

(dBm) or a ratio of the power in the 1Hz band to the power in the

fundamental. When the required offset is specified, the phase noise

is called a dBc value, which simply means dBm at a specified offset

from the fundamental. By investigating jitter in the frequency domain,

we get a better understanding of its effects on the desired application

over the entire time record of the signal. It is mathematically possible

to calculate an expected bit error rate given a phase noise plot.

As with most timing specifications, phase noise measurements has

issues relating to the limitations of the equipment. Often the noise

floor of the equipment is higher than the noise floor of the device.

This is illustrated above. The device meets the noise floor of what is

shown, but can actually be lower.

The phase noise is dependent on the input source and measurement

equipment. The source generator is the Rohde & Schwarz SMA

100A. Phase noise is measured using an Agilent E5052A Signal

Source Analyzer.

Offset from Carrier Frequency (Hz)

Additive Phase Jitter @ 100MHz

12kHz to 20MHz = 0.357ps (typical)