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Maxim >
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Clock Generation and Distribution
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PLL Technology Replaces Oscillator Modules
Maxim's PLL technology allows you to eliminate expensive oscillator modules.
Using integrated PLLs and common low-frequency crystals, Maxim clock generator ICs meet all wireline networking standards and achieve very low jitter and excellent PSNR. Maxim clock generator ICs match the performance of oscillator modules and can reduce cost, improve system reliability, and save board space.
Maxim Clock Generators Reduce Cost
High-speed networking interfaces require high-frequency clocks, typically above 100MHz.
High-frequency oscillator modules use very thin crystals. For example, a 156.25MHz crystal is just 10µm thick. To achieve such a small physical dimension, the crystal must be fabricated using an inverted-mesa process. Such crystals are difficult to manufacture and therefore expensive.
Maxim's PLL-based clock generators use thick, inexpensive, low-frequency crystals—25MHz, for example—to synthesize high-frequency networking clocks. If a system board needs multiple harmonically-related clock frequencies, one clock generator IC can replace multiple oscillator modules, further reducing overall cost.
Maxim Clock Generators Improve Reliability
Thermal stresses during manufacturing and shock and vibration in shipping cause thin crystals to accumulate lattice strain. Thin crystals are brittle and can crack due to lattice relaxation after equipment is installed at a customer site. These mechanical components can be a major contributor to system failure rate.
Replacing thin crystals with thicker crystals significantly improves system reliability.
Maxim Clock Generators Save Board Space
By deriving multiple frequencies from a single, low-cost crystal and integrating fanout buffers, Maxim clock generators can dramatically reduce board-space requirements.
For more information about reducing the size, cost, and power required for clock trees, please see clock tree integration.
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