Single-Event Effect Characterization of 16 GHz Phase-Locked Loop in Sub-20 nm FinFET Technology

Abstract

This article proposes a radiation-tolerant phase-locked loop (PLL) for space-based applications. The proportional and integral path is proposed to mitigate the single-event effects (SEEs) sensitivity. An LC-tank voltage-controlled oscillator (LC-VCO) with optimized varactors and a custom inductor achieves an 8.9–16.8 GHz tuning range and −108.62 dBc/Hz phase noise (PN) at a 1 MHz offset from a 16 GHz carrier. The custom dual interlocked cell (DICE)-based flip-flops and latches have been employed in phase frequency detector (PFD) and frequency divider chains to enhance SEE tolerance. The circuit is processed in sub-20 nm FinFET technology. The jitter measurements of the testing postdivided clock (3.2 GHz) are less than 700 fs and 2 ps for the random and deterministic jitters (Djs), respectively, when the VCO oscillates at 16 GHz. SEE sensitivities have been characterized by heavy ions with a linear energy transfer (LET) from 16.6 to 97.9 MeV/cm $^{2}\cdot \text { mg}$ and pulsed laser up to 1.8 nJ laser energy.