A Quadrature VCO with Phase Noise Optimization for Wide Tuning Triple Band Frequency Generation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a wide-tuning, low-noise quadrature VCO design capable of triple-band frequency generation from 1.4GHz to 8.7GHz, with phase noise optimized through phase shift application.

Contribution

It presents an analytical phase noise model and a novel RFIC design that achieves wide tuning and low phase noise without trade-offs, enabling triple-band operation.

Findings

Achieved frequency range from 1.4GHz to 8.7GHz.

Measured phase noise of -125.2dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset.

Implemented in 0.18μm SiGe BiCMOS technology.

Abstract

This paper presents an analytical model on quadrature VCO (QVCO) phase noise performance as well as a wide-tuning triple band QVCO RFIC design. The phase noise model demonstrates the advantages of applying phase shift to quadrature coupling for QVCO phase noise reduction and bi-model oscillation elimination. As an example, we present a wide-tuning and low noise QVCO RFIC that contains a bottom-series QVCO with bipolar transistors for oscillation and NMOS transistors for coupling. The low-band and middle-band signals are generated from the QVCO outputs and its 2nd harmonics, while the high-band signal is obtained by frequency mixing. The tuning-range enhancement technique enables the triple-band frequency generation in the range from 1.4GHz to 8.7GHz without penalizing oscillator's phase noise. The proposed wide-band frequency generation RFIC is implemented in a 0.18 {\mu}m SiGe BiCMOS technology with 0.6mm2 area. The measured phase-noise is -125.2, -119.5 and -108.8dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset for the three bands, respectively.