A 33% Tuning Range Cross-Coupled DCO with “Folded” Common Mode Resonator Covering both 5G MMW Bands in 16-nm CMOS FinFet

This paper presents state of the art digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) suitable for the emerging 5G standard. This design utilizes a very compact common-mode resonator “folded” within the primary LC tank minimizing the area of the oscillator while ensuring high performance. The implemented DCO cover 11 to 15.4 GHz, yielding a fractional tuning range (FTR) of 33.3%. When used with a proper frequency generation scheme this DCO can cover both K and Ka band 5G allocated frequencies. Measured phase noise at 1 MHz offset is −108.8 dBc/Hz at 15.4GHz. Consumed power is 5.2 mW from a 0.8 V supply, obtained figure of merit (FoM) is higher than 185.4 dBc/Hz. The design occupies an area of 0.052 mm2.