Jitter Bandwidth and Spectral Content
Technical guide on defining, measuring, and specifying jitter in high-speed clocks using delay lines, phase-locked loops, and time/frequency domain analysis.
Overview
This document outlines the principles of jitter in high-speed communication systems, defining its properties in unit intervals (UI), degrees, and absolute time. It details how jitter degrades system performance by closing the 'eye' in data streams, leading to potential bit errors. The text covers practical measurement methods, including time-domain analysis using delay lines and communications analyzers like the Tektronix CSA 803, as well as frequency-domain techniques utilizing Phase Locked Loops (PLLs). It also provides guidelines for characterizing spectral content and distinguishing between deterministic pattern jitter and stochastic noise.
Use Cases
- High-speed synchronous communication system design
- Clock and reference oscillator performance verification
- Jitter measurement and characterization
- System error budget analysis
- Specifying components for telecom applications