Latest Digital ICs Technical Articles

An RTL glitch in an eFuse controller can permanently brick costly silicon. This article covers defense-in-depth FSM…

An RTL glitch in an eFuse controller can permanently brick costly silicon. This article covers defense-in-depth FSM design, redundant watchdogs, and formal SVA verification.

The Hogge phase detector plays multiple roles in CDR circuits. In this article, we'll explore the Hogge detector's…

The Hogge phase detector plays multiple roles in CDR circuits. In this article, we'll explore the Hogge detector's behavior, highlight its main drawbacks, and introduce a different configuration that addresses them.

Learn how the Hogge detector addresses the challenges of clock and data recovery (CDR) for data signals with limited…

Learn how the Hogge detector addresses the challenges of clock and data recovery (CDR) for data signals with limited clock information.

Learn how PLLs enable communication in which a clock signal is not transmitted with the data. We’ll look specifically…

Learn how PLLs enable communication in which a clock signal is not transmitted with the data. We’ll look specifically at return-to-zero (RZ) and non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data formats.

This article explains the importance of incorporating delay into the feedback path of a phase/frequency detector (PFD)…

This article explains the importance of incorporating delay into the feedback path of a phase/frequency detector (PFD) and examines its effect on performance.

Learn how using a phase/frequency detector (PFD) in place of a phase detector improves the acquisition range of a PLL.

Learn how using a phase/frequency detector (PFD) in place of a phase detector improves the acquisition range of a PLL.

Learn about this simple sequential phase detector and how it compares to the XOR gate. We'll also examine some key…

Learn about this simple sequential phase detector and how it compares to the XOR gate. We'll also examine some key limitations and circuit implementations.

This article explores the operation of the simplest digital phase detector: the exclusive-OR (XOR) gate.

This article explores the operation of the simplest digital phase detector: the exclusive-OR (XOR) gate.

To complete this project, we add backlight control and temperature-sensing functionality to the clock we built in the…

To complete this project, we add backlight control and temperature-sensing functionality to the clock we built in the previous installments.

We continue our design of a clock that uses analog ammeters to display time and temperature. In this installment, we…

We continue our design of a clock that uses analog ammeters to display time and temperature. In this installment, we examine the second of the two circuits that enable the timekeeping function.

This article explores the operation of the Gilbert-cell phase detector for both small and large signals.

This article explores the operation of the Gilbert-cell phase detector for both small and large signals.

This project turns old-school analog ammeters into a working clock that can also display the ambient temperature.

This project turns old-school analog ammeters into a working clock that can also display the ambient temperature.

The device technology co-optimization (DTCO) methodology requires generating large numbers of layouts. This article…

The device technology co-optimization (DTCO) methodology requires generating large numbers of layouts. This article introduces a few ways of speeding up this time-consuming process using automation.

In this article, we'll walk through the steps of generating a Process Design Kit (PDK) for digital standard cell libraries.

In this article, we'll walk through the steps of generating a Process Design Kit (PDK) for digital standard cell libraries.

Learn how adding a lowpass loop filter to a PLL with a single integrator impacts both the frequency-domain and…

Learn how adding a lowpass loop filter to a PLL with a single integrator impacts both the frequency-domain and time-domain response.

In this article, we'll use the linearized model of a first-order PLL to understand its response to a simple input change.…

In this article, we'll use the linearized model of a first-order PLL to understand its response to a simple input change. We'll then use Matlab simulations to visualize the signals.

PLL demodulators are popular, easy to implement, and offer superior noise performance compared to many other FM…

PLL demodulators are popular, easy to implement, and offer superior noise performance compared to many other FM demodulator circuits. Learn how they operate in this article.

Learn how an analog multiplier or AND gate can function as a quadrature detector for FM demodulation.

Learn how an analog multiplier or AND gate can function as a quadrature detector for FM demodulation.

We discuss the basics of implementing digital predistortion in RF power amplifier systems and explore two popular…

We discuss the basics of implementing digital predistortion in RF power amplifier systems and explore two popular techniques based on look-up tables.