Introduction to oscillator jitter

This chapter begins exploration of jitter with system-level issues. Section 1.1 describes a range of applications for which jitter is a concern. Somewhat more emphasis is placed on clock recovery in serial data communication, the main application for which this work was originally done. Section 1.2 also provides a brief overview of the different types of VCOs that are used in clock recovery PLLs, and establishes the need for an intuitive methodology to guide design for low-jitter ring VCOs. Section 1.3 summarizes the motivations and goals for the remainder of the book.