Clock generators replace multiple high performance crystals

17th July 2014

Nat Bowers

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Suited for enterprise networking and storage applications requiring jitter clock synthesis solution and small form factor, Microsemi has announced the ZL30250 and ZL30251 flexible clock generators. The ultra-low jitter solution (160fs [12kHz-20MHz integration band]) can replace multiple high performance crystals and crystal oscillators.

This lowers bill of material (BOM) cost and eases design and testing of timing solutions. According to Microsemi, the ZL30250 and ZL30251 clock generators provide designers with an industry leading solution for applications in wired and wireless communication equipment, enterprise switch and routers, enterprise networks, storage area networks, along with industrial automation.

The ZL30250 and ZL30251 are very flexible with highly configurable outputs and automatic self-configuration at power-up. Up to four different configurations easily selected using two device pins:

Any-to-any frequency conversion with 0ppm error (inputs: 10MHz-1.25GHz, outputs: 1Hz-1GHz);
Three universal clock inputs connect to any signal format at any voltage;
Up to three differential outputs, up to six CMOS outputs;
Configurable output signal format and voltage for direct interface without additional components.

The ZL30250 and ZL30251 offer numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) mode in which output frequencies can be controlled with very high resolution by system software. This capability allows the devices to replace solutions using large, expensive, fixed-frequency voltage-controlled oscillators (VCXOs) with a small, low-cost, any-frequency solution. The devices can generate PCI Express (PCIe) clock signals with or without spread-spectrum modulation required in server, storage and communication equipment allowing system designers to comply with EMI requirements.

Maamoun Seido, Vice President and Business Unit Manager, Timing Products, Microsemi, commented: “The release of the ZL30250 and ZL30251 strengthens our leadership position as the providers of the most comprehensive and advance communication timing solutions that enable us to target new markets such as enterprise networking and storage. With our ultra-low jitter clock generators, we can now enable enterprise customers to meet aggressive performance standards imposed by key PHY vendors with the right cost and performance solution.”