Design and analysis of a K‐band wideband voltage‐controlled oscillator with robust start‐up and frequency boost. Issue 14 (1st November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Junyi; Boon, Chirn Chye; Yi, Xiang; Lim, Wei Meng; Meng, Fanyi
• Is Part Of: IET microwaves, antennas & propagation. Volume 9:Issue 14(2015)
• Page Start: 1623
• Page End: 1631
• Publication Date: 2015-11-01
• Subjects: voltage‐controlled oscillators -- microwave oscillators -- open loop systems -- electric current control -- phase noise -- microwave transistors -- CMOS integrated circuits -- digital control; K‐band differential wideband voltage‐controlled oscillator analysis -- open‐loop digitally controlled tail current -- switchable auxiliary cross‐coupled pair -- ACCP -- frequency boost -- phase noise improvement -- complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology -- core circuit power consumption -- size 0.18 mum -- frequency 21.4 GHz to 26.29 GHz -- voltage 1.1 V; Microwaves -- Periodicals; Microwave antennas -- Periodicals; Antennas (Electronics) -- Periodicals; Radio wave propagation -- Periodicals; Microwave communication systems -- Periodicals; 621.381305
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2014.0825
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8725

Abstract

Abstract : This study presents a K‐band differential voltage‐controlled oscillator (VCO) with robust start‐up. A hybrid technique that combines open‐loop digitally controlled tail current with switchable auxiliary cross‐coupled pairs (ACCPs) is proposed to ensure robust start‐up for wideband operation. Compared with prior closed‐loop current controlling method, the proposed technique does not suffer from phase‐noise degradation. Furthermore, by evenly distributing the ACCPs, transistors with smaller size are allowed to achieve the same start‐up condition, which leads to frequency boost and phase‐noise improvement. Implemented in 0.18 μm complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor technology, the VCO achieves a wide‐frequency tuning range of 21.4–26.29 GHz (20.5%) and a low phase noise of −108.8 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from 25.8 GHz carrier frequency. At 1.1 V power supply, the power consumption of the core circuit is 7.9–11.4 mW across the entire output frequency range.