Design of a 1.2 V Low Phase Noise 1.6 GHz CMOS Buffered Quadrature Output VCO with Automatic Amplitude Control

Casha, Owen; Grech, Ivan; Micallef, Joseph; Gatt, Edward

doi:10.1109/icecs.2006.379752

Cited by 6 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…A simple but effective structure for an oscillation amplitude regulator is used with the difference that buffers are included in the loop. Apart from decoupling the load from the oscillator they also isolate the QO-VCO from the nonlinear load presented by the peak detector [13].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The DC-DC converter is clocked using the reference signal F in , such that the switching noise can be easily attenuated by the LF [15]. The QO-VCO is equipped with an AAC loop to ensure a reliable start-up of the oscillator, providing a constant output power and setting an optimal bias point which is important in order to achieve a low phase noise [13]. Figure 2 gives a block diagram representation of the implementation of the differential QO-VCO with AAC.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As regards the coupling transistors M 7,10,11,14 and the switching transistors M 8,9,12,13 , reduction of flicker noise magnitude is not so simple. First of all, a large area results in large parasitic capacitance, which can modify the frequency of oscillation, limit tuning range and increase the phase shift associated with the switching and coupling transistors, degrading the oscillator's phase stability.…”

Section: Quadrature Output Vcomentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The amplitude noise can be potentially converted to phase noise due to the presence of non-linear mechanisms in the oscillator feedback loop such as the modulation of the varactor capacitance and other voltage-dependent parasitic capacitances [13]. Figure 3 shows the circuit of the QO-VCO known as the Parallel Coupled QO-VCO [16].…”

Section: System Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is beneficial since minimising the tuning gain directly reduces varactor AM-to-PM conversion and thus a better phase noise response is achieved [13]. The oscillator considered here is a quadrature output VCO (QO-VCO) that is capable of generating quadrature signals which are necessary for modulation or demodulation purposes in the given application.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

CMOS implementation of a 1.6 GHz low voltage low phase noise quadrature output frequency synthesizer with automatic amplitude control

Casha

Grech

Micallef

et al. 2008

Analog Integr Circ Sig Process

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This article presents the design of a 1.2 V CMOS low phase noise quadrature output frequency synthesizer (FS) to be used for a GPS tuner application. Special reference is made to the design of a wide tuning range quadrature output voltage-controlled oscillator which is equipped with an automatic amplitude controller. It exhibits a phase noise response of less than -115 dBc/Hz at an offset of 1 MHz from the carrier and has a tuning range of over 36%. The effect of the automatic amplitude control is shown to improve phase noise at high oscillation frequencies and its noise has a negligible effect on the phase noise response even at low offset frequencies from the carrier. Preliminary analysis is presented showing the negligible effect of a DC-DC converter on the spurious level of the FS, included to permit the use of low sensitivity varactors. Design guidelines for reducing both the loop noise and the AM-to-PM conversion factors of the oscillator are also given. The design was made using the STMicroelectronics 0.13 lm HCMOS9-RF technology design kit.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Quadrature Output Vcomentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: System Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

CMOS implementation of a 1.6 GHz low voltage low phase noise quadrature output frequency synthesizer with automatic amplitude control

Casha

Grech

Micallef

et al. 2008

Analog Integr Circ Sig Process

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

RF VCO tuning using MEMS piezoelectric actuated variable inductors

Casha

Grech

Micallef

et al. 2011

Analog Integr Circ Sig Process

Self Cite

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This paper presents a study on the use of microsystems technology in the design of radio frequency voltage-controlled oscillators. In particular, the application of a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based variable inductor for frequency tuning purposes is presented. Although traditionally a MEMS variable inductor is considered as a means to extend the tuning range, in this work it is shown that with correct inductor design it is also possible to facilitate and improve the voltage-controlled oscillator design in terms of phase noise response and power consumption in comparison to a design based on standard capacitive tuning.

show abstract

A low power, wide range VCO with automatic amplitude calibration loop

Kim

Park

et al. 2009

2009 IEEE 8th International Conference on ASIC

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Design of a 1.2 V Low Phase Noise 1.6 GHz CMOS Buffered Quadrature Output VCO with Automatic Amplitude Control

Cited by 6 publications

References 9 publications

CMOS implementation of a 1.6 GHz low voltage low phase noise quadrature output frequency synthesizer with automatic amplitude control

CMOS implementation of a 1.6 GHz low voltage low phase noise quadrature output frequency synthesizer with automatic amplitude control

RF VCO tuning using MEMS piezoelectric actuated variable inductors

A low power, wide range VCO with automatic amplitude calibration loop

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