A 24 GHz Quadrature VCO Based on Coupled PLL with -134 dBc/Hz Phase Noise at 10 MHz Offset in 28 nm CMOS

Abstract

This work breaks the trade-off between quadrature error and phase noise, typical of quadrature voltage-controlled oscillators (QVCOs), by leveraging a coupled PLL approach. Prototypes implemented in a 28 nm bulk CMOS technology show $0.9^{\circ}$ quadrature error, and -134 dBc/Hz phase noise at 10 MHz offset from the 24 GHz carrier. The measured tuning range spans from 24 to 29.2 GHz, while the power consumption is 60 mW.