High loop-filter-order sigma-delta-fractional-N frequency synthesizers for use in frequency-hopping-spread-spectrum communication-systems

Frequency-hopping-spread-sprectrum wireless digital communication-systems impose stringent requirements on both phase noise and settling time of PLL based frequency synthesizers employed in receivers and transmitters. If a sigma-delta-fractional-N-Synthesizer is used either the reference frequency or the loop filter order must therefore be high. We theoretically investigate PLLs of higher order and find that the settling time of a sixth order PLL suitable for operation in a bluetooth transceiver can be as low as 7µs in spite of a reference frequency of 16MHz.