Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

mm-Wave LC VCOs

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
5G and E-Band Communication Circuits in Deep-Scaled CMOS

Part of the book series: Analog Circuits and Signal Processing ((ACSP))

  • 1626 Accesses

Abstract

The phase noise (PN) at the output of the phase locked loop (PLL) sets a fundamental limit to the maximum spectral efficiency that the whole system can achieve. As discussed in Chap. 1, the bit error rate against SNR requirements in an AWGN environment shown in Fig. 1.7 changes drastically when a practical PN profile is considered, see Fig. 1.16. Moreover, together with the tough PN requirements, a PLL should be able to synthesize the necessary LO signal over the whole band of operation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    It is worth noting that the Colpitts oscillator can be designed to achieve lower phase noise for a given tank Q and supply voltage when compared to a class-C differential LC oscillators (up to \(\approx \)2 dB better). However, this comes at the expenses of a much higher current consumption and lower efficiency [9].

References

  1. T.H. Lee, The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits (Cambridge university press, Cambridge, 2003)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Hajimiri, T.H. Lee, A general theory of phase noise in electrical oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 33(2), 179–194 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. A. Mazzanti, P. Andreani, Class-C harmonic CMOS VCOs, with a general result on phase noise. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 43(12), 2716–2729 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. D. Murphy, J.J. Rael, A.A. Abidi, Phase noise in LC oscillators: a phasor-based analysis of a general result and of loaded Q. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I Regul. Pap. 57(6), 1187–1203 (2010)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Behzad Razavi, RF Microelectronics, 2nd edn. (Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 2011)

    Google Scholar 

  6. M. Garampazzi et al., An intuitive analysis of phase noise fundamental limits suitable for benchmarking LC oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 49(3), 635–645 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. L. Fanori, P. Andreani, Highly efficient class-C CMOS VCOs, including a comparison with class-B VCOs. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 48(7), 1730–1740 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. D.B. Leeson, A simple model of feedback oscillator noise spectrum. Proc. IEEE 54(2), 329–330 (1966)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. F. Padovan, M. Tiebout, K.L.R. Mertens, A. Bevilacqua, A. Neviani, Design of low-noise \(K\)-band SiGe bipolar VCOs: theory and implementation. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I Regul. Pap. 62(2), 607–615 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. L. Romano, A. Bonfanti, S. Levantino, C. Samori, A.L. Lacaita, 5-GHz oscillator array with reduced flicker up-conversion in 0.13-\(\mu \)m CMOS. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 41(11), 2457–2467 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. S.A.R. Ahmadi-Mehr, M. Tohidian, R.B. Staszewski, Analysis and design of a multi-core oscillator for ultra-low phase noise. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I Regul. Pap. 63(4), 529–539 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. W. Wu, R.B. Staszewski, J.R. Long, A 56.4-to-63.4 GHz multi-rate all-digital fractional-N PLL for FMCW radar applications in 65 nm CMOS. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 49(5), 1081–1096 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. S. Levantino, C. Samori, A. Zanchi, A.L. Lacaita, AM-to-PM conversion in varactor-tuned oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II: Analog Digit. Signal Process. 49(7), 509–513 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. E. Hegazi, A.A. Abidi, Varactor characteristics, oscillator tuning curves, and AM-FM conversion. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 38(6), 1033–1039 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Bevilacqua, P. Andreani, An analysis of 1/f noise to phase noise conversion in CMOS harmonic oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I Regul. Pap. 59(5), 938–945 (2012)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Shahmohammadi, M. Babaie, R.B. Staszewski, A 1/f noise upconversion reduction technique for voltage-biased RF CMOS oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 51(11), 2610–2624 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. F. Pepe, P. Andreani, A general theory of phase noise in transconductor-based harmonic oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I Regul. Pap. 64(2), 432–445 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. E. Hegazi, H. Sjoland, A.A. Abidi, A filtering technique to lower LC oscillator phase noise. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 36(12), 1921–1930 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. D. Murphy, H. Darabi, H. Wu, 25.3 A VCO with implicit common-mode resonance, in 2015 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference - (ISSCC) Digest of Technical Papers, San Francisco, CA (2015), pp. 1–3

    Google Scholar 

  20. D. Murphy, H. Darabi, 2.5 A complementary VCO for IoE that achieves a 195dBc, Hz FOM and flicker noise corner of 200kHz, in 2016 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), San Francisco, CA (2016), pp. 44–45

    Google Scholar 

  21. M. Babaie, R.B. Staszewski, A class-F CMOS oscillator. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 48(12), 3120–3133 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Huijung Kim, Seonghan Ryu, Yujin Chung, Jinsung Choi, Bumman Kim, A low phase-noise CMOS VCO with harmonic tuned LC tank. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 54(7), 2917–2924 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. C. Samori, Understanding phase noise in LC VCOs: a key problem in RF integrated circuits. IEEE Solid-State Circuits Mag. 8(4), 81–91 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. F. Pepe, P. Andreani, Still more on the 1/f\(^{2}\) phase noise performance of harmonic oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II Express Briefs 63(6), 538–542 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. A. Moroni, R. Genesi, D. Manstretta, Analysis and design of a 54 GHz distributed hybrid wave oscillator array with quadrature outputs. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 49(5), 1158–1172 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. J. Wood, T.C. Edwards, S. Lipa, Rotary traveling-wave oscillator arrays: a new clock technology. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 36(11), 1654–1665 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. K. Takinami, R. Strandberg, P.C.P. Liang, G. Le Grand de Mercey, T. Wong, M. Hassibi, A distributed oscillator based all-digital PLL with a 32-phase embedded phase-to-digital converter. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 46(11), 2650–2660 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Devos, M. Vigilante, P. Reynaert, Multiphase digitally controlled oscillator for future 5G phased arrays in 90 nm CMOS, in 2016 IEEE Nordic Circuits and Systems Conference (NORCAS), Copenhagen (2016), pp. 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  29. N. Nouri, J.F. Buckwalter, A 45-GHz rotary-wave voltage-controlled oscillator. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 59(2), 383–392 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. P. Kinget, Integrated GHz voltage controlled oscillators, Analog Circuit Design (Springer, US, 1999), pp. 353–381

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  31. B. Soltanian, H. Ainspan, W. Rhee, D. Friedman, P.R. Kinget, An ultra-compact differentially tuned 6-GHz CMOS LC-VCO with dynamic common-mode feedback. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 42(8), 1635–1641 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. L. Iotti, A. Mazzanti, F. Svelto, Insights into phase-noise scaling in switch-coupled multi-core LC VCOs for E-band adaptive modulation links. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 52(7), 1703–1718 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. B. Razavi, A 300-GHz fundamental oscillator in 65-nm CMOS technology. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 46(4), 894–903 (2011)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  34. C. Jany, A. Siligaris, J.L. Gonzalez-Jimenez, P. Vincent, P. Ferrari, A programmable frequency multiplier-by-29 architecture for millimeter wave applications. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 50(7), 1669–1679 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. P. Reynaert, W. Steyaert, M. Vigilante, “RF CMOS”. Nanoelectronics: Materials, Devices, Applications, 2 Volumes (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  36. E. Mammei, E. Monaco, A. Mazzanti, F. Svelto, A 33.6-to-46.2GHz 32nm CMOS VCO with 177.5dBc, Hz minimum noise FOM using inductor splitting for tuning extension, in 2013 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference Digest of Technical Papers, San Francisco, CA (2013), pp. 350–351

    Google Scholar 

  37. Z. Huang, H.C. Luong, B. Chi, Z. Wang, H. Jia, 25.6 A 70.5-to-85.5GHz 65nm phase-locked loop with passive scaling of loop filter, in 2015 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference - (ISSCC) Digest of Technical Papers, San Francisco, CA (2015), pp. 1–3

    Google Scholar 

  38. H. Jia, L. Kuang, Z. Wang, B. Chi, A W-band injection-locked frequency doubler based on top-injected coupled resonator. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 64(1), 210–218 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. A.H. Masnadi Shirazi et al., On the design of mm-wave self-mixing-VCO architecture for high tuning-range and low phase noise. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 51(5), 1210–1222 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Z. Zong, M. Babaie, R.B. Staszewski, A 60 GHz frequency generator based on a 20 GHz oscillator and an implicit multiplier. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 51(5), 1261–1273 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. M. Demirkan, S.P. Bruss, R.R. Spencer, Design of wide tuning-range CMOS VCOs using switched coupled-inductors. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 43(5), 1156–1163 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. T. LaRocca, J.Y.C. Liu, M.C.F. Chang, 60 GHz CMOS amplifiers using transformer-coupling and artificial dielectric differential transmission lines for compact design. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 44(5), 1425–1435 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. T. LaRocca, J. Liu, F. Wang, F. Chang, Embedded DiCAD linear phase shifter for 5765GHz reconfigurable direct frequency modulation in 90nm CMOS, in 2009 IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium, Boston, MA (2009), pp. 219–222

    Google Scholar 

  44. T. LaRocca, J. Liu, F. Wang, D. Murphy, F. Chang, CMOS digital controlled oscillator with embedded DiCAD resonator for 5864GHz linear frequency tuning and low phase noise, in 2009 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, Boston, MA (2009), pp. 685–688

    Google Scholar 

  45. W. Wu, J.R. Long, R.B. Staszewski, High-resolution millimeter-wave digitally controlled oscillators with reconfigurable passive resonators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 48(11), 2785–2794 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. A. Bevilacqua, F.P. Pavan, C. Sandner, A. Gerosa, A. Neviani, Transformer-based dual-mode voltage-controlled oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II Express Briefs 54(4), 293–297 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. J. Yin, H.C. Luong, A 57.590.1-GHz magnetically tuned multimode CMOS VCO. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 48(8), 1851–1861 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. A. Mazzanti, A. Bevilacqua, On the phase noise performance of transformer-based CMOS differential-pair harmonic oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. I Regul. Pap. 62(9), 2334–2341 (2015)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  49. M. Vigilante, P. Reynaert, Analysis and design of an E-band transformer-coupled low-noise quadrature VCO in 28-nm CMOS. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 64(4), 1122–1132 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. L. Li, P. Reynaert, M. Steyaert, A colpitts LC VCO with Miller-capacitance gm enhancing and phase noise reduction techniques, in 2011 Proceedings of the ESSCIRC (ESSCIRC), Helsinki (2011), pp. 491–494

    Google Scholar 

  51. M.M. Bajestan, V.D. Rezaei, K. Entesari, A low phase-noise wide tuning-range quadrature oscillator using a transformer-based dual-resonance LC ring. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 63(4), 1142–1153 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. A. Bevilacqua, F.P. Pavan, C. Sandner, A. Gerosa, A. Neviani, A 3.4-7 GHz transformer-based dual-mode wideband VCO, in 2006 Proceedings of the 32nd European Solid-State Circuits Conference, Montreux (2006), pp. 440–443

    Google Scholar 

  53. G. Li, L. Liu, Y. Tang, E. Afshari, A low-phase-noise wide-tuning-range oscillator based on resonant mode switching. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 47(6), 1295–1308 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. S. Levantino, P. Maffezzoni, F. Pepe, A. Bonfanti, C. Samori, A.L. Lacaita, Efficient calculation of the impulse sensitivity function in oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II Express Briefs 59(10), 628–632 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. M. Babaie, R.B. Staszewski, An ultra-low phase noise class-F 2 CMOS oscillator with 191 dBc/Hz FoM and long-term reliability. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 50(3), 679–692 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. D. Murphy et al., A low phase noise, wideband and compact CMOS PLL for use in a heterodyne 802.15.3c transceiver. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 46(7), 1606–1617 (2011)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  57. A. Mazzanti, F. Svelto, P. Andreani, On the amplitude and phase errors of quadrature LC-tank CMOS oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 41(6), 1305–1313 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. N.C. Kuo, J.C. Chien, A.M. Niknejad, Design and analysis on bidirectionally and passively coupled QVCO with nonlinear coupler. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 63(4), 1130–1141 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. W. Sansen, 1.3 Analog CMOS from 5 micrometer to 5 nanometer, in 2015 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference - (ISSCC) Digest of Technical Papers, San Francisco, CA (2015), pp. 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  60. D. Zhao, P. Reynaert, A 60-GHz dual-mode class AB power amplifier in 40-nm CMOS. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 48(10), 2323–2337 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. J. Shi, K. Kang, Y.Z. Xiong, J. Brinkhoff, F. Lin, X.J. Yuan, Millimeter-wave passives in 45-nm digital CMOS. IEEE Electron Device Lett. 31(10), 1080–1082 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. U. Decanis, A. Ghilioni, E. Monaco, A. Mazzanti, F. Svelto, A low-noise quadrature VCO based on magnetically coupled resonators and a wideband frequency divider at millimeter waves. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 46(12), 2943–2955 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. D. Zhao, P. Reynaert, A 40 nm CMOS E-band transmitter with compact and symmetrical layout floor-plans. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 50(11), 2560–2571 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. A. Mirzaei, M. Mikhemar, H. Darabi, 21.8 A pulling mitigation technique for direct-conversion transmitters, in 2014 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference Digest of Technical Papers (ISSCC), San Francisco, CA (2014), pp. 374–375

    Google Scholar 

  65. B. Razavi, A study of injection locking and pulling in oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits 39(9), 1415–1424 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. B. Razavi, Design considerations for direct-conversion receivers. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II: Analog Digit. Signal Process. 44(6), 428–435 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. I. Nasr, B. Laemmle, K. Aufinger, G. Fischer, R. Weigel, D. Kissinger, A 70–90-GHz high-linearity multi-band quadrature receiver in 0.35\(\mu \) m SiGe technology. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 61(12), 4600–4612 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. E. Laskin et al., Nanoscale CMOS transceiver design in the 90170-GHz range. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. 57(12), 3477–3490 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ESAT-MICAS, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Marco Vigilante & Patrick Reynaert

Authors
  1. Marco Vigilante
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patrick Reynaert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Vigilante .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Vigilante, M., Reynaert, P. (2018). mm-Wave LC VCOs. In: 5G and E-Band Communication Circuits in Deep-Scaled CMOS. Analog Circuits and Signal Processing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72646-5_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72646-5_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-72645-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-72646-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation