Title :
A 0.07 mm
2.2 mW 10 GHz Current-Reuse Class-B/C Hybrid VCO Achieving 196-dBc/Hz FoM
Author :
Tawfiq Amin, Md. ; Jun Yin ; Pui-In Mak ; Martins, Rui P.
Author_Institution :
Comput. Eng. Dept., Univ. of Macau, Macao, China
Abstract :
This Letter describes a current-reuse class-B/C hybrid voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with robust startup, enhanced phase noise and differential balancing at small area and power. Specifically, an asymmetrical CMOS class-C core is aided by a symmetrical NMOS-only class-B core that effectively shares the bias current for deeper class-C operation of the former; wider margin of startup against PVT variations, and lower amplitude imbalance against oscillation frequencies. Moreover, this topology adds the freedom of adjustable peak dynamic current and boosts the oscillation swing at low power. The spiral inductors with patterned ground shields shrink the die size. Fabricated in 65 nm CMOS, the 0.07 mm 2 VCO prototype exhibits 10.15-to-11.17 GHz tunability, and -107.73-dBc/Hz phase noise at 1 MHz offset, while dissipating merely 2.2 mW at 1.2 V. The achieved area-included figure-of-merit (FoM A = 196 dBc/Hz) favorably compares with the state-of-the-art.
Keywords :
CMOS analogue integrated circuits; MMIC oscillators; circuit tuning; inductors; integrated circuit noise; phase noise; voltage-controlled oscillators; PVT variation; adjustable peak dynamic current; asymmetrical CMOS class-C core; current-reuse class-B-C hybrid VCO; differential balancing; frequency 10 GHz; frequency 10.15 GHz to 11.17 GHz; ground shield shrink patterning; phase noise; power 2.2 mW; size 65 nm; spiral inductor; symmetrical NMOS-only class-B core; voltage 1.2 V; voltage-controlled oscillator; CMOS integrated circuits; Inductors; Phase noise; Robustness; Voltage-controlled oscillators; Wireless communication; CMOS; Current-reuse; class-B; class-C; phase noise; startup; voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO);
Journal_Title :
Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/LMWC.2015.2427582