A 47.6–71.0-GHz 65-nm CMOS VCO Based on Magnetically Coupled $\pi $-Type LC Network

Abstract

A wide tuning range millimeter-wave voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) based on a magnetically coupled -type LC network in 65-nm CMOS is proposed. By configuring the switched negative-resistance unit, the VCO can oscillate at the even mode or the odd mode of the magnetically coupled -type LC network, thus the tuning range is widened without introducing the switch loss into the resonator. The proposed VCO achieves a measured continuous tuning range of 39%, from 47.6 to 71.0 GHz. The measured phase noise for a 47.6-GHz carrier at the even mode and 56.2-GHz carrier at the odd mode are 110.3 and 107.3 dBc/Hz at 10-MHz offset with a corresponding of 185.5 and 183.9 dBc/Hz, respectively. The measured phase noise in the whole frequency tuning range varies from 101.7 to 113.4 dBc/Hz at 10-MHz offset, while the corresponding figure-of-merit (FOM) and vary from 167.8 to 179.0 dB and 179.6 to 190.6 dB, respectively. The VCO core consumes 8.9-10.4-mA current from 1.0-V power supply and 320 230 m die area.

A stable U-band VCO in 65 nm CMOS with -0.11 dBm high output power

“…The capacitance of C B1 was greater than that of C B2 , so the tuning range from V CTRL1 was wider than from V CTRL2 . The reason for the narrowness of the operating range compared with previous works was that the capacitance of the VCO was small for fine tuning at the U-band [1][2][3]. The maximum K VCO of the V CTRL1 was 1.52 GHz/V and the maximum K VCO of the V CTRL2 was (a) (b) Fig.…”

“…The Q-factor of the inductor is one of the most important factors to affecting the performance of the VCO [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], and is calculated from [Im(Y 11 )/Re(Y 11 )] [8]. Fig.…”

“…VCO is a necessary component when it comes to implementing a single-chip radio in a communication system [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. However, CMOS VCOs have the limitation of a low quality factor (Q-factor) using on-chip passive components [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…However, CMOS VCOs have the limitation of a low quality factor (Q-factor) using on-chip passive components [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Thus, a transformer feedback technique is used to increase the output voltage swing, and the inductor of the LC oscillator based on transmission line theory enhances high frequency performance [2,3,6].…”

“…A high output power results in correct data transfer but deterioration of the phase noise performance. It is difficult to obtain high output power for the VCO operating at the U-band [1][2][3]8]. The VCO gain (K VCO ) is also important factor in the VCO and a low K VCO could improve the phase noise performance [7].…”