A 19 GHz Circular-Geometry Quad-Core Tail-Filtering Class-F VCO with -115 dBc/Hz Phase Noise at 1 MHz Offset in 65-nm CMOS

Shuxin Ming, Jin Zhou

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper presents a CMOS circular-geometry quad-core voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with class-F operation and tail filtering to achieve ultra low phase noise in K band. The use of class-F operation in a circular-geometry multicore VCO further lowers phase noise but results in new mode ambiguity. We introduce cross-coupled narrow and thin metal traces in the class-F transformer secondary loop to suppress this new mode ambiguity. Also, we extend the circular geometry design to the VCO tail LC filters, reducing the chip area. A proof-of-concept prototype is fabricated in a standard 65 nm CMOS technology. In measurement, the VCO operates from 17.9 to 20.7 GHz. At 19 GHz, the VCO achieves a phase noise of -115 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset with a figure of merit (FoM) of -188.4 dBc/Hz.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationESSCIRC 2021 - IEEE 47th European Solid State Circuits Conference, Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages303-306
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781665437479
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 13 2021
Event47th IEEE European Solid State Circuits Conference, ESSCIRC 2021 - Virtual, Online, France
Duration: Sep 6 2021Sep 9 2021

Publication series

NameESSCIRC 2021 - IEEE 47th European Solid State Circuits Conference, Proceedings

Conference

Conference47th IEEE European Solid State Circuits Conference, ESSCIRC 2021
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityVirtual, Online
Period9/6/219/9/21

Keywords

  • Class-F
  • coupled oscillators
  • harmonic
  • mmwave
  • oscillator
  • phase noise

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

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