High-performance clock buffers can be sensitive to noise on the power supply, which can dramatically increase the additive jitter of the buffer. Thus, managing any excessive noise from the system power supply is essential, especially for applications where the jitter and phase noise performance is critical.

Filter capacitors are used to eliminate the low-frequency noise from the power supply, where the bypass capacitors provide the very low impedance path for high-frequency noise and guard the power supply system against induced fluctuations. These bypass capacitors also provide instantaneous current surges as required by the device and must have low equivalent series resistance (ESR). To properly bypass the supply, the decoupling capacitors must be placed very close to the power-supply terminals, be connected directly to the ground plane, and laid out with short loops to minimize inductance. TI recommends adding as many high-frequency (for example, 0.1µF) bypass capacitors, as there are supply terminals in the package. TI recommends, but does not require, inserting a ferrite bead between the board power supply and the chip power supply that isolates the high-frequency switching noises generated by the clock buffer; these beads prevent the switching noise from leaking into the board supply. Select an appropriate ferrite bead with very low DC resistance to provide adequate isolation between the board supply and the chip supply, as well as to maintain a voltage at the supply terminals that is greater than the minimum voltage required for proper operation.

Figure 9-6 shows this recommended power supply decoupling method.

Figure 9-6 Power Supply Decoupling