Chipset End of Life Notices and the Redesign Clock
A silicon end-of-life notice demands an immediate audit of last-time-buy volumes against redesign lead times to prevent production gaps during recertification.
Phase Noise Spur
Meaning
Discrete unwanted frequency component appearing as a narrow peak in the power spectral density of an oscillator or synthesizer. Detection of a phase noise spur involves checking the spectrum for spikes that rise above the continuous integrated noise floor at fixed offsets from the carrier. These spurs often originate from power supply ripple or reference clock leakage into the phase locked loop.
Frequency Displacement
Location of the peak relative to the center frequency depends on the switching frequency of the noise source. A spur at ten kilohertz from the carrier often points to an issue with a nearby switching regulator or a digital clock line.
Amplitude Level
Power of the unwanted signal is measured in decibels relative to the carrier power. If the spur is too strong, it can be mistaken for a valid signal by the receiver or cause a failure in the radiated emissions test.
Oscillator Stability
Filtering the tuning voltage and improving the isolation of the sensitive components helps to remove these peaks. A clean spectrum without spurs ensures that the radio does not interfere with adjacent channels. Accurate timing in the data recovery process depends on maintaining a low level of these discrete interference sources.