Statistical Component Variability Effects on Oscillator Phase Noise Performance

Component and circuit variations can cause oscillator phase noise degradation. Leveraging component statistical performance such as sustaining stage amplifier residual phase noise, gain variation, resonator Q´s, circuit insertion loss, and other component tolerances, a simple model can be produced with these input variables and provide an accurate representation of phase noise performance yields for a given specification or conversely provide a high production yield performance specification. Manufacturers of these components have measured data and/or statistical information regarding many of these parameters. If only measured data exists, there are software tools available that will create probability distributions of the measured data. This paper will describe a method on how statistical analysis can be applied to a simple oscillator structure.