Clock claims superior frequency flexibility

Precision clock is capable of generating any output frequency from either a crystal or reference clock input with 0.3ps jitter generation.

Silicon Laboratories has expanded its broad portfolio of reconfigurable, frequency-agile precision clocks to include a single-input, single-output jitter-attenuating clock multiplier IC.

The new Si5319 Any-Rate precision clock is capable of generating any output frequency from either a crystal or reference clock input with 0.3ps jitter generation.

The device supports a free-run mode of operation, enabling the device to be used as a frequency-flexible low-jitter clock generator when supplied a crystal input.

The Si5319 is ideal for providing clock synthesis, clock multiplication and jitter attenuation in high performance timing applications such as Sonet/SDH/OTN line cards, WDM line cards, wireless basestations, synchronous Ethernet routers, test and measurement equipment and broadcast video.

The Si5319 is based on Silicon Labs' patented, third generation DSPLL technology, which provides any-rate frequency synthesis and jitter attenuation in a highly integrated phase-locked loop (PLL) solution that eliminates the need for external voltage-controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) and loop filter components.

The Si5319 provides superior frequency flexibility compared with competing IC and quartz-crystal based devices given its ability to accept any frequency from 2kHz to 710MHz and generate any frequency from 2kHz to 945MHz and select frequencies to 1.4GHz.

The Si5319 provides a highly integrated, cost-effective jitter attenuation solution for next-generation multi-rate line cards that must support a broad array of client-side and line-side interfaces, including SONET/SDH, 1G/10G Ethernet, Fibre Channel, OTN and HD-SDI.

The timing architecture is dramatically simplified because a single Si5319 can generate all required reference frequencies with extremely low jitter, eliminating the need for multiple high frequency VCXOs.

The Si5319 free-run mode of operation greatly simplifies clock startup issues in high performance applications.

In these systems, customers typically use a high frequency crystal oscillator (XO) to generate an initial reference clock for the transceiver driving the high speed fibre optic link.

After initial startup, the system requires a reference clock that is synchronised to another clock in the system not available at startup.

Traditional approaches require external multiplexer (mux) circuitry to switch between the high frequency XO and the long-term reference clock.

The Si5319 solves this problem by locking to an inexpensive crystal input at startup and switching to an active input clock when available.

No external mux components are required and the clock switchover is seamless, minimising output clock phase transients that would otherwise generate bit-errors in the high speed fibre optic interface.

"With the addition of the Si5319, Silicon Labs continues to expand the industry's broadest portfolio of high performance clock and oscillator products", says Dave Bresemann, Vice President of Silicon Labs.

"Silicon Labs' ability to leverage its mixed-signal design expertise to the timing market has revolutionised the way timing systems are designed, ultimately improving performance and reliability and reducing system complexity".

Silicon Labs' offers a broad portfolio of highly integrated, high performance timing solutions for datacom, telecom, wireless, video, and test and measurement markets.

In addition to the Any-Rate precision clock family, Silicon Labs' Si5xx family of oscillators (XOs) and voltage-controlled oscillators (VCXOs) offer the industry's shortest lead times, highest reliability and unmatched performance.

These products use optimised DSPLL technology to shorten cycle times while the eliminating the need for complex resonator fabrication and tuning.

To simplify product selection, Silicon Labs offers a web-based utility that validates and generates part numbers for single, dual, quad and any-rate frequency devices.

The Si5319 is available now in a 6 x 6mm, 36-lead QFN package.

The device is available in three speed grades based on maximum output clock frequency.

Pricing for the lowest speed grade device, which supports a clock output frequency range of 2kHz to 346MHz, is US $19.32 in quantities of 1000.

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