Design and performance of a low noise, wide tuning range AQP SAW delay line VCO

A hybrid circuit surface acoustic wave delay line based oscillator was developed in response to an airborne system application. The 160.7 MHz oscillator´s electronic frequency tuning range is extremely wide, approximately ±275 kHz (± 1700 ppm). Analog electronic temperature compensation to better than ±30 ppm at the center of the oscillator´s voltage tuning range was incorporated into the design. A phase noise level of better than -80 dBc/Hz at 100 Hz carrier offset frequency was demonstrated on several prototypes. A vibration sensitivity less than 1×10^-9/g per axis was achieved in order that the oscillator would operate satisfactorily in the comparatively high vibration airborne environment without significantly degraded phase noise performance