Tunable distributed harmonic voltage controlled oscillator for generating second and third harmonic microwave signals in 180nm CMOS

Abstract

Novel tunable distributed harmonic Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) are reported here for generation of 2nd or 3rd or both 2nd and 3rd harmonic frequency microwave/millimeter-wave signals, designed using Distributed Oscillator (DO) and achieved frequency tuning by body bias. The above generation of signals is become possible by the use of combination of innovative gain cell (i.e. amplifier), CPW lines and selection of the value of peaking inductor in the gain cells. The highest power output of the oscillator is at the third harmonic frequency of 41.84 GHz using low cost industry-standard 180nm CMOS which has a cut-off frequency of 50 GHz.