Clock Gen Click Board

How Does The Clock Gen Click Board™ Work?

The Clock Gen Click Board™ features the Si5351A, a versatile I2C programmable clock generator that is ideally suited for replacing crystals, crystal oscillators, VCXOs, PLLs, and buffers. The Si5351A consists of an input stage, two synthesis stages, and an output stage. The input stage accepts an external crystal (XTAL on XA and XB pins). The first stage of synthesis multiplies the input frequencies to an high-frequency intermediate clock, while the second stage of synthesis uses high resolution MultiSynth fractional dividers to generate the desired output frequencies. Additional integer division is provided at the output stage for generating output frequencies as low as 2.5 kHz. Crosspoint switches at each of the synthesis stages allows total flexibility in routing any of the inputs to any of the outputs. Because of this high resolution and flexible synthesis architecture, the Si5351A is capable of generating synchronous or free-running non-integer related clock frequencies at each of its outputs, enabling one device to synthesize clocks for multiple clock domains in a design.

The Si5351A uses a fixed-frequency standard AT-cut crystal as a reference to the internal oscillator. The output of the oscillator can be used to provide a free-running reference to one or both of the PLLs for generating asynchronous clocks. The output frequency of the oscillator operates at the crystal frequency of 25 MHz. Internal load capacitors are provided to eliminate the need for external components when connecting a crystal to the Si5351A. The total internal XTAL load capacitance (CL) can be selected to be 0, 6, 8, or 10 pF.

The Si5351A uses two stages of synthesis to generate its final output clocks. The first stage uses PLLs to multiply the lower frequency input references to a high-frequency intermediate clock. The second stage uses high resolution MultiSynth fractional dividers to generate the required output frequencies. Only two unique frequencies above 112.5 MHz can be simultaneously output. For example, 125 MHz (CLK0), 130 MHz (CLK1), and 150 MHz (CLK2) is not allowed. Both PLLs are locked to the same source (XTAL). The crosspoint switch at the input of the second stage allows any of the MultiSynth dividers to connect to PLLA or PLLB. This flexible synthesis architecture allows any of the outputs to generate synchronous or non-synchronous clocks, with spread spectrum or without spread spectrum, and with the flexibility of generating non-integer related clock frequencies at each output. Frequencies down to 2.5 kHz can be generated by applying the R divider at the output of the Multisynth.

All output drivers generate CMOS level outputs with a single output voltage supply pin (VDDO) allowing a different voltage signal level (1.8, 2.5, or 3.3 V) at the output banks. The output voltage level selection can be chosen by moving an SMD jumper labelled as VDDO SEL to an appropriate position (3V3 or EXT). If 3V3 is chosen, the VDDO is supplied by the board, otherwise, an external supply must be connected to the voltage level supply pin.

The Clock Gen Click Board™ uses the I2C communication interface. It is designed to be operated only with 3.3V logic levels. A proper logic voltage level conversion should be performed before the Click board™ is used with MCUs with logic levels of 5V.

SPECIFICATIONS

PINOUT DIAGRAM

This table shows how the pinout of the Clock Gen Click Board™ corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
NC	1	AN	PWM	16	NC
NC	2	RST	INT	15	NC
NC	3	CS	RX	14	NC
NC	4	SCK	TX	13	NC
NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	SCL	I2C Clock
NC	6	MOSI	SDA	11	SDA	I2C Data
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	NC
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

ONBOARD SETTINGS AND INDICATORS

CLOCK GEN CLICK ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS