ISF stands for impulse sensitivity function, a dimensionless periodic function that describes how much phase shift an oscillator suffers when hit by a charge impulse at a specific point in its cycle. Designers use it to predict phase noise and optimize oscillator topologies by minimizing sensitivity during critical voltage transitions.
Heard on the job
The ISF shows this topology is highly sensitive to noise at the zero-crossing points.
Also heard as
- impulse sensitivity function
Related terms
Phase-locked loop
A control system that generates an output signal whose phase is related to the phase of an input signal.
VCO
A voltage-controlled oscillator is a circuit that changes its output frequency based on a DC input voltage.
Armstrong oscillator
A classic LC oscillator circuit that uses a tickler coil to provide positive feedback.