An X-Band low-power and low-phase-noise VCO using bondwire inductor

摘要

In this paper a low-power low-phase-noise voltage-controlled-oscillator(VCO) has been designed and, fabricated in 0.25 μm SiGe BiCMOS process.The resonator of the VCO is implemented with on-chip MIM capacitors and asingle aluminum bondwire. A tail current filter is realized to suppressflicker noise up-conversion. The measured phase noise is −126.6 dBc/Hz at1 MHz offset from a 7.8 GHz carrier. The figure of merit (FOM) of the VCO is−192.5 dBc/Hz and the VCO core consumes 4 mA from a 3.3 V power supply. Tothe best of our knowledge, this is the best FOM and the lowest phase noisefor bondwire VCOs in the X-band. This VCO will be used for satellitecommunications.