Can Channel Link devices be used with Spread Spectrum Clocks?
We do not provide test coverage for spread spectrum applications. However, Channel Link devices have been used by customers in spread spectrum clock applications without any tracking problems. Due to inherent PLL filtering effects, PLLs will help reduce the effect of spread spectrums — especially in the transmitter since the LVDS output clock is generated from the PLL. The receiver PLL is used to strobe incoming data whereas the LVDS clock is more or less only buffered and delayed. As a result, the receiver PLL has an almost unity gain jitter transfer curve.
