MICS Band Digital Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (DVCO) for Low-Power Biomedical Data Transmission

In a typical wireless transmission of medical data from implantable sensors devices Medical Implant Communication System (MICS) protocol with low-power, short-range (~2m), high-data-rate, 401–406 MHz communication network scheme is employed. This paper presents a digital voltage-controlled oscillator (DVCO) featuring low-power consumption, wide tuning range, and low phase noise suitable for use in wireless transmission of biomedical data employing MICS protocol. The circuit is realized in a 0.13-μm standard CMOS process and consumes less than 600-μW of power, achieves more than 15-MHz/V of analog tuning gain, 370-mV of voltage swing and -106 dBc/Hz of phase noise. Simulation and measurement results demonstrate potential application of the circuit in biomedical sensors system.