Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T12:52:54.824Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Design of 5 GHz low-power CMOS LC VCO based on complementary cross-coupled topology with modified tail current-shaping technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2014

Meng-Ting Hsu ,
Po-Hung Chen  and
Yao-Yen Lee
Meng-Ting Hsu*
Affiliation:
Microwave Communication and Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Laboratory, Department and Institute of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Road, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan, Republic of China
Po-Hung Chen
Affiliation:
Microwave Communication and Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Laboratory, Department and Institute of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Road, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan, Republic of China
Yao-Yen Lee
Affiliation:
Microwave Communication and Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Laboratory, Department and Institute of Electronic Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Road, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan, Republic of China
*
Corresponding author: M.-T. Hsu Email: hsumt@yuntech.edu.tw
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In this paper, a low-power CMOS LC voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with body-biasing and low-phase noise with Q-enhancement techniques is presented. A self-body biased circuit is introduced that can reduce power consumption. Some derivations of the Q-enhancement and how to improve the phase noise of the circuit are also discussed. This chip is implemented by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacture Company 0.18 µm 1P6M process. The measurement results exhibit a tuning range of 14.7% from 4.92 to 5.7 GHz at a supply voltage of 1.4 V. The power consumption of the core circuit and figure of merit are 2.5 mW and −188.6 dBc/Hz. The phase noise is −118 dBc/Hz@1 MHz at an operation frequency of 4.94 GHz.

Keywords

VCOLow-powerQ-enhancementBody-biasing
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 6 , Special Issue 6: Mediterranean Microwave Symposium 2013 , December 2014 , pp. 573 - 580
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Abidi, A.A.: Wireless transceivers in CMOS IC technology. The new wave, in 1999 Int. Symp. on VLSI Technology, Systems, and Applications, 1999, 151–158.Google Scholar
[2] Park, D.; Cho, S.H.: Design techniques for a low-voltage VCO with wide tuning range and low sensitivity to environmental variations. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech., 57 (2009), 767–774.Google Scholar
[3] Hsu, M.-T.; Huang, Y.-H.: A low phase noise and low power CMOS VCO with transformer feedback, in 2009 Asia Pacific Microwave Conf. (APMC 2009), 2009, 2280–2283.Google Scholar
[4] Chiu, Y.-T.; Lin, C.-H.; Chang, H.-Y.: Design and analysis of two modified Colpitts VCOS with and without transformer feedback, in 2011 Eur. Microwave Integrated Circuits Conf. (EuMIC), 2011, 430–433.Google Scholar
[5] Chuang, Y.-H.; Jang, S.-L.; Senior, Lee, S.-H.; Yen, R.-H.; Jhao, J.-J.: 5-GHz low power current-reused balanced CMOS differential armstrong VCOs. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett., 17 (2007), 139–141.Google Scholar
[6] Nagarajan, M.; Ma, K.; Seng, Y.K.; Mou, S.X.; Kumar, T.B.: A low power wide tuning range low phase noise VCO using coupled LC tanks, in 2011 Semiconductor Conf. Dresden (SCD), 2011, 1–4.Google Scholar
[7] Kwok, K.; Luong, H.C.: Ultra-low-voltage high-performance CMOS VCOs using transformer feedback. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 40 (2005), 652–660.Google Scholar
[8] Park, B.; Lee, S.; Choi, S.; Hong, S.: A 12-GHz fully integrated cascode CMOS LC VCO with Q-enhancement circuit. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett., 18 (2008), 133–135.Google Scholar
[9] Craninckx, J.; Steyaert, M.; A 1.8-GHz low-phase-noise CMOS VCO using optimized hollow spiral inductors. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 32 (1997), 736–744.Google Scholar
[10] Han, D.; Hajimiri, A.: Concepts and methods in optimization of integrated LC VCOs. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 36 (2001), 896–909.Google Scholar
[11] Rael, J.J.; Abidi, A.A.: Physical processes of phase noise in differential LC oscillators, in Proc. IEEE Custom Integrated Circuits Conf., Orlando, FL, 2000, 569–572.Google Scholar
[12] Hegazi, E.; Sjoland, H.; Abidi, A.A.: A filtering technique to lower LC oscillator phase noise. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 36 (12) (2001), 1921.Google Scholar
[13] Hajimiri, A.; Lee, T.H.: A general theory of phase noise in electrical oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 33 (2) (1998), 179–194.Google Scholar
[14] Hegaji, E.; Sjoland, H.; Abidi, A.: A filtering technique to lower oscillator phase noise. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, SC-36 (2001), 1921–1930.Google Scholar
[15] Soltanian, B.; Kinget, P.R.: Tail current-shaping to improve phase noise in LC voltage-controlled oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 41 (2006), 1792–1802.Google Scholar
[16] Klumperink, E.A.M.; Gierkink, S.L.J.; van der Wel, A.P.; Nauta, B.: Reducing MOSFET 1/f noise and power consumption by switch biasing. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 35 (2000), 994–1001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[17] Gierkink, S.L.J.; Klumperink, E.A.M.; van der Wel, A.P.; Hoogzaad, G.; van Tuijl, E.; Nauta, B.: Intrinsic 1/f device noise reduction and its effect on phase noise in CMOS ring oscillators. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 34 (1999), 1022–1025.Google Scholar
[18] Hung, K.K.; Ko, P.; Hu, C.; Cheng, Y.C.: A physics-based MOSFET noise model for circuit simulators. IEEE Trans. Electron Devices, 37 (1990), 1323–1333.Google Scholar
[19] Andreani, P.; Mattisson, S.: On the use of MOS varactors in RF VCO's. IEEE J. Solid-State Circuits, 35 (6) (2000), 905–910.Google Scholar
[20] Adel, K.C.S.; Sedra, S.: Microelectronic Circuits: Oxford University Press, USA, 2004, 258–259.Google Scholar
[21] Allen, P.E.; Holberg, D.R.: CMOS Analog Circuit Design, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, USA, 2002.Google Scholar
[22] Šiprak, D.; Zanolla, N.; Tiebout, M.; Baumgartner, P.; Fiegna, C.: Reduction of low-frequency noise in MOSFETs under switched gate and substrate bias, in 2008 38th European Solid-State Device Research Conf. (ESSDERC 2008), 2008, 266–269.Google Scholar
[23] Samori, C.; Lacaita, A.L.; Villa, F.; Zappa, F.: Spectrum folding and phase noise in LC tuned oscillators. IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst. II, 45 (1998), 781–790.Google Scholar
[24] Tsai, M.-D.; Cho, Y.-H.; Wang, H.: A 5-GHz low phase noise differential colpitts CMOS VCO. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett., 15 (5) (2005), 327–329.Google Scholar
[25] Hou, J.-A.; Wang, Y.-H.: A 5 GHz differential colpitts CMOS VCO using the bottom PMOS cross-coupled current source. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett., 19 (2009), 401–403.Google Scholar
[26] Yijoo, S. et al. : A low phase noise fully integrated CMOS LC VCO using a large gate length pMOS current source and bias filtering technique for 5-GHz WLAN, in 2007 Int. Symp. on Signals, Systems and Electronics (ISSSE ’07), 2007, 521–524.Google Scholar
[27] Sheng-Lyang, J. et al. : A 5.6 GHz low power balanced VCO in 0.18 um CMOS. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett., 19 (2009), 233–235.Google Scholar
[28] Liu, S.-L.; Chen, K.-H.; Chang, T.; Chin, A.: A low-power K-band CMOS VCO with four-coil transformer feedback. IEEE Microw. Wirel. Compon. Lett., 20 (8) (2010), 459–461.Google Scholar
[29] Wang, T.-P.; Li, C.-C.: A 0.4-V 1.08-mW 12-GHz high-performance VCO in 0.18-μm CMOS, in 2012 IEEE Radio and Wireless Symp. (RWS), 207–210.Google Scholar
[30] Wang, C.; Huang, L.; Chen, N.; Ye, T.; Lin, F.: A 0.65 mW 2.3–2.5 GHz low phase noise LC-VCO with adaptive body biasing technique, in 2011 IEEE Int. Symp. Radio-Frequency Integration Technology (RFIT), 201–214.Google Scholar
[31] Park, D.; Cho, S.: An adaptive body-biased VCO with voltage-boosted switched tuning in 0.5-V supply, in 2006 Proc. 32nd Eur. Solid-State Circuits Conf. (ESSCIRC 2006), 444–447.Google Scholar
[32] Hsu, M.-T.; Huang, J.-A.: Design a 5 GHz low power CMOS LC VCO for IEEE 802.11a application, in 2010 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conf. Proc. (APMC), 2010, 453–456.Google Scholar