An all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) replaces the traditional analog components of a PLL, such as the charge pump, loop filter, and voltage-controlled oscillator, with digital equivalents like a time-to-digital converter and a digitally controlled oscillator. This architecture scales easily with advanced semiconductor nodes, offering immunity to analog noise and variations in temperature or voltage.
We migrated the clock generator to an ADPLL so we could synthesize it directly in the new 5-nanometer process without analog layout headaches.
Related terms
Phase-locked loop
A control system that generates an output signal whose phase is related to the phase of an input signal.
PLL
A phase-locked loop circuit that synchronizes an output oscillator with a reference signal.
DPLL
A digital phase-locked loop is an electronic circuit that synchronizes a digital output signal with a reference input.