A quad-core wideband Colpitts VCO with 28.2 % bandwidth and −122 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1 MHz offset

IF 1.9 3区工程技术 Q3 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

Microelectronics Journal Pub Date : 2025-01-16 DOI:10.1016/j.mejo.2025.106564

Guoan Wu, Shihao Qi, Qinghua Tang, Wenguang Li, Lamin Zhan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper presents a low phase noise wideband Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). To achieve low phase noise and wide frequency tuning range concurrently, the designed VCO employs quad-core structures and triple-mode transformers. The quad-core coupled structures are used for phase noise improvement and triple-mode transformers are designed to extend tuning range without switched capacitor banks. Implemented in a 0.18-μm SiGe BiCMOS process with the core area of 0.41 mm², the quad-core triple-mode VCO operates from 7.36 to 9.78 GHz with a 28.2 % tuning range. The measured phase noise is from −121.9 to −115.8 dBc/Hz with peak figure-of-merit (FoM) of 179.8 dBc/Hz and figure-of-merit-tuning (FoM_T) of 188.8 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset. Compared with the reported Colpitts VCOs, the proposed VCO exhibits superior performance in tuning range and phase noise. The designed VCO can be used in specific applications which require low phase noise and wide tuning range such as wireless infrastructures and test instrumentations.

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来源期刊

Microelectronics Journal 工程技术-工程：电子与电气

CiteScore

4.00

自引率

27.30%

发文量

222

审稿时长

43 days

期刊介绍： Published since 1969, the Microelectronics Journal is an international forum for the dissemination of research and applications of microelectronic systems, circuits, and emerging technologies. Papers published in the Microelectronics Journal have undergone peer review to ensure originality, relevance, and timeliness. The journal thus provides a worldwide, regular, and comprehensive update on microelectronic circuits and systems. The Microelectronics Journal invites papers describing significant research and applications in all of the areas listed below. Comprehensive review/survey papers covering recent developments will also be considered. The Microelectronics Journal covers circuits and systems. This topic includes but is not limited to: Analog, digital, mixed, and RF circuits and related design methodologies; Logic, architectural, and system level synthesis; Testing, design for testability, built-in self-test; Area, power, and thermal analysis and design; Mixed-domain simulation and design; Embedded systems; Non-von Neumann computing and related technologies and circuits; Design and test of high complexity systems integration; SoC, NoC, SIP, and NIP design and test; 3-D integration design and analysis; Emerging device technologies and circuits, such as FinFETs, SETs, spintronics, SFQ, MTJ, etc. Application aspects such as signal and image processing including circuits for cryptography, sensors, and actuators including sensor networks, reliability and quality issues, and economic models are also welcome.