A 2-GHz CMOS Dual-Modulus Prescalar IC.
12 June 2009
A low-power CMOS dual-modulus (divide-by-128/129) prescalar IC has been developed. The IC has been fabricated using both 1 micrometer and 0.5 micrometer symmetric CMOS processes that optimize simultaneously the transistor characteristics of both PMOS and NMOS devices for low power supply voltage operation. The best prescalar fabricated with 1 micrometer process functions at 2 GHz with 45 mW power consumption (at 3.5 V power supply voltage). Preliminary result for prescalars fabricated with 0.5 micrometer process shows that 2.8 GHz operation is possible. Power supply voltage as low as 1.7 V can be used for the prescalar to function at 1 GHz with a power consumption of only 4 mW, due to the low threshold voltage of the transistors.