Abstract: An inductor device in an integrated circuit includes a first winding portion, a bridge portion and a second winding portion. The integrated circuit has a first, a second, a third and a fourth metallization level. The first winding portion comprises a first metal line formed on the first metallization level and a second metal line formed on the second metallization level, the first metal line being electrically connected in parallel with the second metal line. The bridge portion comprises a third metal line formed on the third metallization level and a fourth metal line formed on the fourth metallization level, the third metal line being electrically connected in parallel with the fourth metal line. The second winding portion comprises a fifth metal line formed on the first metallization level and a sixth metal line formed on the second metallization level, the fifth metal line being electrically connected in parallel with the sixth metal line.

Abstract: An optical transmission system comprises an electrical source and an electrical-to-optical converter. The electrical source is adapted to provide an electrical signal at an output thereof. The electrical-to-optical converter has an input coupled to the output of the electrical source and is operative to convert the electrical signal to a corresponding output optical signal. The electrical source comprises a pre-emphasis circuit or other electrical signal equalization circuitry configurable to control a waveform of the electrical signal so as to produce a desired level of jitter in the output optical signal.

Abstract: An inductor device in an integrated circuit includes a first winding portion, a bridge portion and a second winding portion. The integrated circuit has a first, a second, a third and a fourth metallization level. The first winding portion comprises a first metal line formed on the first metallization level and a second metal line formed on the second metallization level, the first metal line being electrically connected in parallel with the second metal line. The bridge portion comprises a third metal line formed on the third metallization level and a fourth metal line formed on the fourth metallization level, the third metal line being electrically connected in parallel with the fourth metal line. The second winding portion comprises a fifth metal line formed on the first metallization level and a sixth metal line formed on the second metallization level, the fifth metal line being electrically connected in parallel with the sixth metal line.

Abstract: A differential voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) employs at least two pairs of varactors, each pair of varactors driven with a corresponding differential control voltage, to generate a differential oscillating waveform. The capacitance of each pair of varactors adds to form the total capacitance of an inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit of the VCO, which determines an oscillation frequency of the differential oscillating waveform of the VCO. One differential control voltage controls a capacitance of the first varactor pair for a relatively coarse adjustment of the oscillation frequency, and the other differential control voltage controls a capacitance of the second varactor pair for a relatively fine adjustment of the oscillation frequency.

Abstract: A phase detector (PD) generates an up/down signal based on the phase error between data and clock signals input to the phase detector. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) generates the clock signal. The up/down signal is applied to a proportional charge pump and a truncated version of the up/down signal is applied to an integral charge pump. The proportional charge pump generates a first voltage for a first time period across a resistor based on the up/down signal, while the integral charge pump generates a second voltage for a second time period across a capacitor based upon the truncated version of the up/down signal and the sampling rate of the data signal by the PD. The second time period is less than the first time period. The first and second voltages are combined and applied to the VCO to drive the clock signal to synchronization with the data.

Abstract: A differential voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) employs a pair of accumulation-mode varactors driven with a differential control voltage to generate a differential oscillating waveform. The differential control voltage is formed from a pair of level-shifted input differential control voltage components. Level shifting of the input control voltages and driving the varactors with a differential control voltage allows for biasing of the varactors over a substantial range of capacitance variation. Such differential VCO may be employed within a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit, with the pair of input control voltages being provided by the loop filter of the PLL circuit. The differential VCO comprises a differential control voltage to voltage converter (CV2VC) coupled to an LC-tank VCO. To improve common-mode noise rejection of the LC-VCO, the inductors of the LC-tank may be AC-coupled to the supply voltage, and the output differential oscillating waveform may be AC-coupled to the LC-tank through capacitors.

Abstract: A differential voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) employs a pair of accumulation-mode varactors driven with a differential control voltage to generate a differential oscillating waveform. The differential control voltage is formed from a pair of level-shifted input differential control voltage components. Level shifting of the input control voltages and driving the varactors with a differential control voltage allows for biasing of the varactors over a substantial range of capacitance variation. Such differential VCO may be employed within a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit, with the pair of input control voltages being provided by the loop filter of the PLL circuit. The differential VCO comprises a differential control voltage to voltage converter (CV2VC) coupled to an LC-tank VCO. To improve common-mode noise rejection of the LC-VCO, the inductors of the LC-tank may be AC-coupled to the supply voltage, and the output differential oscillating waveform may be AC-coupled to the LC-tank through capacitors.