VCOSYM -an application for the automatic design of ring VCOS

This paper presents an application for the automatic design of ring VCOs. In this application a VCO model based on the Npower transistor model is considered as a away of granting the accuracy of results for submicron technologies. In order to easily integrate any VCO previously designed into a PLL automatic design tool, a corresponding linear model of the VCO is automatically generated, yielding a simple and precise characterization for higher level system design. The design of a 150 MHz VCO using a seven stage ring topology is presented. The validity of the design obtained is checked against Hspice simulation of the circuit.