Reference oscillator architectures and design considerations

Frequency synthesizers require a stable, low noise reference clock. For RF applications, this clock is generated with a crystal or MEMS oscillator, due to the high-Q resonance enabling reference clocks with low phase noise and high stability. This talk will describe the important specifications and tradeoffs for reference oscillator design, including phase noise, frequency stability, frequency tuning range and resolution, startup behavior, amplitude regulation, and power consumption. Possible architectures and design choices for both crystal and MEMs oscillators will be presented, highlighting state-of-the-art techniques.