CMOS/SOS frequency synthesizer LSI circuit for spread spectrum communications

Using a 3.5-μm gate length complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor/silicon-on-sapphire technology, a single-chip, radiation-hardened, direct digital frequency synthesizer has been developed. The circuit is a critical component of a fast-tuning wideband frequency synthesizer for spread spectrum satellite communications. During each clock period the chip generates a new digitized sample of a sine wave, whose frequency is variable in 2/SUP 20/ steps from DC to one-half the clock frequency. Operation at up to 7.5 MHz is possible in a worst-case environment, including ionizing radiation levels up to 3×10/SUP 5/ rads(Si). A computationally efficient algorithm was chosen, resulting in 12-bit output precision with only 1084 logic gates and 3840 bits of on-chip read-only memory. The accuracy of the algorithm is sufficient to maintain in-band spurious frequency components below -65 dBc. At 300 mW, the chip replaces an MSI implementation which uses 25 integrated circuits and consumes 3.5 W.