Design of 2.54 GHz active inductor-based LC-voltage controlled oscillator for bluetooth/WLAN applications

The paper presents a 2.54 GHz Active Inductor-based LC-Voltage Controlled Oscillator (AI-based LC-VCO) design. The AI is constructed based on a single-ended common-source NMOS/PMOS cascade model that generates negative transconductance in the gyrator model. The proposed design is a combination of AI, NMOS cross-coupled pair, and fixed tail current biasing together that optimizes the Q-point to maintain output swing, reduces power consumption and lowers phase noise at a wide tuning range. The findings demonstrate the active VCOs post-layout performance with phase noise of −117.61 dBc/1 MHz offset, power of 0.122 mW, FTR of 102.20 %, and occupies a layout area of 0.09177 $\mu m^2$ with tape-out. Also, advanced simulations under Monte-Carlo and PVT analysis at Military standards (Temp. $°C$: −55, 27, 85) are performed using the Cadence UMC-180 nm process at a supply of 1.8 V. Ultimately, it finds a high FoM of −141.15 dBc/Hz compared to current AI-based LC-VCOs. Therefore, the work is suitable for designing sub-6 GHz Charge Pump-PLLs for modern 5G and 6G Bluetooth/WLAN applications.