Title :
A general-purpose harmonic-balance approach to the computation of near-carrier noise in free-running microwave oscillators
Author :
Rizzoli, V. ; Mastri, F. ; Masotti, D.
Author_Institution :
Dipartimento di Elettronica, Bologna Univ, Italy
Abstract :
Discusses a novel harmonic-balance approach to the computation of near-carrier phase noise and amplitude noise in free-running microwave oscillators. The well-known qualitative picture of phase noise generation is quantitatively restated in a way compatible with the needs of general-purpose CAD (computer-aided design). The capabilities of previously available approaches to the same problem are extended in several respects. The proposed method allows the computation of far- and near-carrier noise in arbitrary user-defined circuits, without any compromise on circuit topology, nonlinear device models, and harmonic content of the periodic steady state. Noise generation in autonomous systems is shown to be caused by two independent mechanisms: direct frequency modulation of the oscillator, dominant at low-frequency deviations, and conventional frequency conversion, dominant at high-frequency deviations. A unified treatment of the two aspects is found to be possible as a rigorous logical consequence of the harmonic-balance equations.<>
Keywords :
circuit CAD; microwave oscillators; semiconductor device noise; solid-state microwave circuits; CAD; amplitude noise; circuit topology; computer-aided design; direct frequency modulation; free-running microwave oscillators; frequency conversion; harmonic content; harmonic-balance approach; harmonic-balance equations; high-frequency deviations; near-carrier noise; near-carrier phase noise; nonlinear device models; periodic steady state; user-defined circuits; Circuit noise; Circuit topology; Design automation; Frequency modulation; Low-frequency noise; Microwave oscillators; Noise generators; Noise level; Phase noise; Steady-state;
Conference_Titel :
Microwave Symposium Digest, 1993., IEEE MTT-S International
Conference_Location :
Atlanta, GA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-1209-0
DOI :
10.1109/MWSYM.1993.276816