LTC6990
19
6990fc
For more information www.linear.com/LTC6990
Figure 14. Digitally Controlled Oscillator with VSET Variation Eliminated
6990 F14
LTC6990
OE
GND
SET
OUT
V+
DIV
C1
0.1F
R1
R2
RSET
V+
RVCO
–
+
V+
1/2
LTC6078
LTC1659
V+
VCC
REF
GND
VOUT
P
DIN
CLK
CS/LD
fOUT =
1MHz 50k
NDIV RVCO
1
+
RVCO
RSET
DIN
4096
DIN = 0 to 4095
Additionally, by choosing the VCO’s specifications
shrewdly, the frequency error (in percent) due to VSET
variation is reduced to VSET/VSET = ±3%. To realize this
improvement, the design must abide by three conditions.
First, the VIN voltage must be positive throughout the
range. Second, choose VMAX/VMIN ≥ fMAX/fMIN. Last,
choose RVCO/RSET ≥ R4/R3.
Figure 13 shows a design similar to the previous design
example where the VMIN voltage is now specified to be
0.4V. This satisfies the VMAX/VMIN ≥ fMAX/fMIN condition
and the design assures that the output frequency error
due to VSET variation is only ±3%.
Eliminating VSET Error Effects with DAC Frequency
Control
Many DACs allow for the use of an external reference.
If such a DAC is used to provide the VCTRL voltage, the
VSET error is eliminated by buffering VSET and using it as
the DAC’s reference voltage, as shown in Figure 14. The
DAC’s output voltage now tracks any VSET variation and
eliminates it as an error source. The SET pin cannot be
tied directly to the reference input of the DAC because
the current drawn by the DAC’s REF input would affect
the frequency.
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
ISET Extremes (Master Oscillator Frequency Extremes)
Pushing ISEToutsideoftherecommended1.25Ato20A
range forces the master oscillator to operate outside of the
62.5kHz to 1MHz range in which it is most accurate. The
oscillator will still function with reduced accuracy in its
extendedrange(seetheElectricalCharacteristicssection).
The LTC6990 is designed to function normally for ISET
as low as 1.25A. At approximately 500nA, the oscillator
output will be frozen in its current state. For NDIV = 1 or 2,
OUT will halt in a low state. But for larger divider ratios,
it could halt in a high or low state. This avoids introduc-
ing short pulses while modulating a very low frequency
output. Note that the output will not be
disabled as when
OE is low (e.g. the output will not enter a high impedance
state if Hi-Z = 1).
At the other extreme, the master oscillator frequency can
reach 2MHz for ISET = 40μA (RSET = 25k). It is not recom-
mended to operate the master oscillator beyond 2MHz
because the accuracy of the DIV pin ADC will suffer.