Design of Ku-band transformer-based cross-coupled complementary LC-VCO

A transformer-based cross-coupled complementary LC voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is investigated which is capable of operating at the Ku-band frequency range with low power consumption. The VCO simultaneously achieves low phase noise and low power consumption. The VCO demonstrates a measured tuning range of 12.1-13.1 GHz and a phase noise of -116.4 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz at a centre frequency of 12.4 GHz. The VCO consumes 0.96 mW from a 0.45 V supply voltage with a figure of merit of 198.4. It is implemented in a standard 0.13 μm CMOS process with an area of 0.23 mm².