English: The jitter tolerance curve is generated with sinusoidal input jitter, sweeping all the frequencies of interest.

If a linear model is adequate for the CDR under investigation, all the signals involved can be modeled with sinusoids. The waveforms of input jitter, output jitter and error jitter can be represented with the phase vectors at any given signal frequency. The frequency range of interest is normalised to the characteristic frequency (ωn) of the loop. The figure considers a 2nd order, type 1 loop. The normalised angular frequency is 5.0. The error signal E(jω) is defined as: E(jω) = X(jω) – Y(jω)

In accordance with the definition of jitter tolerance function, its magnitude