Small signal analysis of quadrature LC oscillator operating at 59-62.5GHz

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Contributors

Abstract

In this study, a comprehensive small signal analysis method for quadrature oscillators based on cross-coupled LC-tuned oscillators and parallel coupling is proposed. The analysis is suitable for circuits operating up to millimetre wave frequencies since the key parasitics of all circuit elements such as core amplifiers, coupling amplifiers, buffers, inductors and varactors are considered. This allows for efficient circuit and device optimisations. The proposed method is based on the consequent parallelisation of all individual network elements into a simple overall equivalent RLC tank. The analysis is employed for CMOS but can also be adapted to other technologies. To verify the analysis, a circuit with oscillation frequency around 61GHz was designed in 90nm silicon on insulator (SOI) CMOS. Frequency control is enabled by adjusting the gain in the feedback amplifiers. Hence, no lossy varactors are necessary. At 50Ω terminations, a supply voltage of 1.5V and a total supply current of less than 56mA, a tuning range above 3GHz, an output power per channel of -19dBm±1.5dB and a phase noise of better than -80dBc/Hz at 2MHz offset are measured.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)322-330
Number of pages9
JournalIET circuits, devices and systems
Volume3
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Peer-reviewedYes