A CMOS Backgate-Coupled QVCO Based on Back-to-Back Series Varactor Configuration for Minimal AM-to-PM Noise Conversion

Author

Wei, Muh-Dey ; Chang, Sheng-Fuh ; Yang, Yung-Jhih

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Nat. Chung Cheng Univ., Chiayi

Volume

19

Issue

5

fYear

2009

fDate

5/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

320

Lastpage

322

Abstract

A 3.3 GHz CMOS quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator (QVCO) with very low phase noise is presented. The back-to-back series varactor configuration is employed in the LC tank for minimizing the AM-to-PM noise conversion. The backgate coupling for quadrature phase inter-locking further eliminates the noise contribution from coupling transistors and also reduces power consumption. The implemented QVCO in 0.18 mum CMOS technology achieved very low phase noise of -133 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset, where the total power consumption is 4.4 mW from a 1.0 V supply. The chip has a very high FOM of -196.6 dBc/Hz.

Keywords

CMOS integrated circuits; amplitude modulation; microwave oscillators; phase modulation; phase noise; semiconductor device noise; varactors; voltage-controlled oscillators; AM-PM noise conversion; CMOS backgate-coupled QVCO; back-back series varactor configuration; coupling transistor; frequency 3.3 GHz; phase noise; power 4.4 mW; quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator; size 0.18 mum; voltage 1 V; AM-to-PM; back-gate; back-to-back; phase noise; voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1531-1309

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LMWC.2009.2017605

Filename

4840517