5-GHz low phase noise CMOS LC-VCO with PGS inductor suitable for ultra-low power applications

Abstract

A fully integrated LC-VCO fabricated in 0.13 µm CMOS technology is presented in this paper. The VCO achieves a wide tuning range of 31.43 % (from 3.841 GHz to 5.381 GHz). The measured phase noise is −120.63 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the carrier at 5.287 GHz. The current dissipation of the VCO is 1.32 mA from the 1.5 V power supply. The VCO figure of merit is greater than 190 placing this design among the top of the state-of-the-art.