Abstract: An electromagnetically-shielded high-Q inductor may be fabricated within a multi-layer package substrate (MLS). The inductor is preferably constructed as a loop structure on a layer of the MLS, and a shielding structure is formed around the inductor to substantially enclose the inductor in a Faraday cage-like enclosure. The shielding structure includes a top plate formed above the inductor on another layer of the MLS, and a bottom plate formed on yet another layer of the MLS or on a layer of an integrated circuit die which is below and attached to the MLS, preferably using solder bumps. Shielding structure sidewalls may be formed by a ring of stacked vias or via channels. The inductor is preferably connected to stacked vias which provide a connection to the underlying integrated circuit die by way of additional solder bumps and cut-outs through the bottom plate of the shielding structure.

Abstract: The effect of supply voltage variations on an oscillator circuit output are compensated for to reduce supply pushing. The change in a value of a first capacitance in a first direction in response to the variation in the supply voltage is canceled using one or more diodes having a capacitance that changes in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in response to the variation in the supply voltage.

Abstract: A noise cancellation signal is generated for a fractional-N phase-locked loop by supplying a divide value to a first delta sigma modulator and generating a divide control signal in a first delta sigma modulator to control a divide value of a feedback divider in the phase-locked loop. The first delta sigma modulator integrates an error term indicative of a difference between a value of the generated divide control signal and the divide value supplied to the first delta sigma modulator. A phase error cancellation signal is generated by quantizing the integrated error term using a second delta sigma modulator. The error term can be used by the second delta sigma modulator while quantizing the integrated error term, thereby limiting the low pass filter effects of the second delta sigma modulator in the cancellation signal.

Abstract: Jitter is measured by receiving a first reference signal at a first phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit and generating at an output of the first phase-locked loop circuit an output signal based at least in part on the first reference signal, the output signal including a jitter component to be measured. A signal corresponding to the output signal and a signal corresponding to the first reference signal are compared in a phase detector of a second phase-locked loop circuit. A value corresponding to an output of the comparison is stored that includes information indicative of the measured jitter component.

Abstract: A PLL function may be implemented as a dual-loop structure having a first PLL circuit which generates an intermediate signal from the reference signal, and a second PLL circuit which generates an output signal from the intermediate signal. The intermediate signal frequency is preferably chosen at a value in which potential interference signals do not have much energy. The first loop preferably has low bandwidth to provide good input jitter attenuation, while second loop preferably has higher bandwidth to reduce phase noise of the output signal. The circuit preferably provides for a choice of several different intermediate frequencies to allow use where different intermediate frequencies may exist in each system. Moreover, in a system having two such dual-loop PLL circuits, each can be configured with a different intermediate frequency, so that interference from one to the other is reduced.

Abstract: A variable capacitance circuit includes a first and a second capacitor. A switch having an associated first nonlinear capacitance, selectively couples the first and second capacitors. To compensate for the first nonlinear capacitance, a second nonlinear capacitance is coupled to the switch that has a capacitance value responsive to a change in voltage that moves in a direction of change opposite to a direction of change of the first nonlinear capacitance.

Abstract: A region of high metal density may be placed in metal layers proximate to an area of low metal density below an inductor on an integrated circuit without violating manufacturing design rules for reducing manufacturing defects and without substantially impacting performance of the inductor. These results are achieved by including a transitional region that includes conductive structures electrically isolated from each other between the region of high metal density and the region of low metal density. The transitional region has a structure that allows a negligible amount of current flow to be induced in the structure.

Abstract: A PLL function may be implemented as a dual-loop structure having a first PLL circuit which generates an intermediate signal from the reference signal, and a second PLL circuit which generates an output signal from the intermediate signal. The intermediate signal frequency is preferably chosen at a value in which potential interference signals do not have much energy. The first loop preferably has low bandwidth to provide good input jitter attenuation, while second loop preferably has higher bandwidth to reduce phase noise of the output signal. The circuit preferably provides for a choice of several different intermediate frequencies to allow use where different intermediate frequencies may exist in each system. Moreover, in a system having two such dual-loop PLL circuits, each can be configured with a different intermediate frequency, so that interference from one to the other is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inductor formed at least partially in one or more thick conductive layers formed on an integrated circuit die. The thick conductive layers are thicker than other conductive layers on the integrated circuit die. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic shielding structure substantially surrounding the inductor.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus includes an electromagnetic shielding structure. The electromagnetic shielding structure is formed at least partially in one or more redistribution layers formed on an integrated circuit die. The electromagnetic shielding structure substantially surrounds a circuit element, such as an inductor structure. The circuit element may be formed at least partially in the one or more redistribution layers. An inductor structure may be constructed as a loop structure at least partially in one or more redistribution layers formed on the integrated circuit die. The shielding structure may be formed at least partially in one or more redistribution layers of the integrated circuit die to enclose the inductor in a Faraday cage-like enclosure. The redistribution layers may be formed above integrated circuit pads or above a passivation layer of the integrated circuit die.

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic shielding structure has been discovered. In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes an inductor and an electrically conductive enclosure that electromagnetically shields the inductor. The electrically conductive enclosure has an aperture at least as large as the inductor. The aperture is substantially centered around a projected surface of the inductor. The apparatus may include one or more electrically conductive links extending across the aperture and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive enclosure. The electrically conductive links reduce an effect of electromagnetic signals external to the electrically conductive enclosure on the inductor.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for converting a digital word into an analog quantity. A first plurality of signals is generated from a resistor network. A first signal is selected from the first plurality of signals based on a first half of the digital word. A second plurality of signals is generated from the resistor network using the selected first signal. A second signal is selected from the second plurality of signals based on a second half of the digital word. The second signal corresponds to the analog quantity.