Nonlinear Analysis of Voltage-Controlled Oscillators: A Systematic Approach

Author

Buonomo, Antonio

Author_Institution

Dipt. di Ing. dell´´Inf., Seconda Univ. degli Studi di Napoli, Aversa

Volume

55

Issue

6

fYear

2008

fDate

7/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1659

Lastpage

1670

Abstract

A method for the nonlinear analysis of voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) is presented, accounting for the nonlinear effect of both the varactors and the active devices. A nonlinear perturbation model of VCOs is presented, as well as a method for finding their steady-state oscillation, overcoming the limitation of previous analyses which rely on the solution of the tank balance equation only. Simple formulas for predicting the oscillation and its frequency correction due to the effect of nonlinearities are presented, allowing us to accurately predict the tuning curve of VCOs as well as the amplitude to phase-noise conversion due to the varactors. Their accuracy was validated by circuit simulations.

Keywords

circuit oscillations; circuit tuning; nonlinear network analysis; perturbation techniques; phase noise; varactors; voltage-controlled oscillators; VCO; active devices; nonlinear analysis; nonlinear effect; nonlinear perturbation model; phase-noise conversion; steady-state oscillation; tank balance equation; tuning curve; varactors; voltage-controlled oscillators; AM-to-FM conversion; analog integrated circuits; nonlinear analysis; oscillators; phase noise; tuning curve; varactor; voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1549-8328

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TCSI.2008.917996

Filename

4446767