A 0.03${mm}^2$ 100-250MHz Charge-Pump or Amplifier-Less Integrating Sub-Sampling PLL for Ultra-low Power Communication and Computing

TL;DR

This paper introduces a compact, ultra-low power integrating sub-sampling PLL suitable for low-data-rate communication and in-sensor computing, achieving wide frequency operation with minimal area and power consumption.

Contribution

It presents a novel integrating sub-sampling PLL design that eliminates the need for additional gain elements, reducing noise and area while maintaining wide frequency range.

Findings

Operates at 100-250MHz frequency range

Consumes only 0.03mm2 area and 131.8μW power at 250MHz

Achieves a figure of merit of -236 with a reference spur of -43.2dB

Abstract

Clock generation is an essential part of wireless or wireline communication modules. To facilitate recent advancements in wireline-like communication and in-sensor computing modules at relatively lower data rates, ultra-low power, and accurate clock generation are of the utmost importance. This paper presents a unique implementation of integrating sub-sampling phase locked loop, which alleviates the usage of additional gain elements in the PLL and reduces the noise injection in the system. In this design, the ring oscillator-based PLL can operate a wide frequency range of 100-250MHz while consuming 0.03mm2 of area and 131.8$\mu W$ of power at 250MHz. The area-normalized figure of merit (FOM) of the integrating SSPLL is found to be -236, while showing a reference spur of -43.2dB.