Transformer-based dual-band VCO and ILFD for wide-band mm-Wave LO generation

Switched-transformer and transformer-distribution design techniques are proposed for wideband mm-Wave dual-band VCOs and ILFDs. Fabricated in a 65nm CMOS process, a dual-band VCO prototype measures a tuning range of 22.3% from 62.1GHz to 78.3GHz with a phase noise of -112.0dBc/Hz at 10MHz offset while consuming 7.7mW, corresponding to FoM and FoM_T of -180.4dBc/Hz and -187.4dBc/Hz, respectively. A proposed ILFD prototype achieves locking range from 58GHz to 77.8GHz with 1.44mW power and FoM of 13.75GHz/mW. A cascade of the proposed VCO and ILFD is also demonstrated with an overall locking range of 15.7% from 62.1GHz to 73.3GHz.