A 6-GHz integrated phase-locked loop using AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

A fully integrated 6-GHz phase-locked-loop (PLL) fabricated using AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) is described. The PLL is intended for use in multigigabit-per-second clock recovery circuits for fiber-optic communication systems. The PLL circuit consists of a frequency quadrupling ring voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a balanced phase detector, and a lag-lead loop filter. The closed-loop bandwidth is approximately 150 MHz. The tracking range was measured to be greater than 750 MHz at zero steady-state phase error. The nonaided acquisition range is approximately 300 MHz. This circuit is the first monolithic HBT PLL and is the fastest yet reported using a digital output VCO. The minimum emitter area was 3 μm×10 μm with f_t=22 GHz and f_max=30 GHz for a bias current of 2 mA. The speed of the PLL can be doubled by using 1-μm×10-μm emitters in next-generation circuits. The chip occupies a die area of 2-mm×3-mm and dissipates 800 mW with a supply voltage of -8 V