MDLL/PLL Dual-Path Clock Generator

This paper proposes an MDLL/PLL dual-path clock generator. By splitting a single delay line into two halves, both a voltage controlled delay-line (VCDL) and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) can be implemented. Since both the integral and proportional paths can be configured in this way, stabilizing zero is inherently obtained. Elimination of the zero-insertion resistor in a loop-filter mitigates several drawbacks of a conventional charge-pump (CP) PLL. The comparison between the conventional CP-PLL and the proposed architecture reveals significant power and chip area savings with better jitter performance.