A balanced InGaP-GaAs Colpitt-VCO MMIC withudultra-low phase noise

摘要

A balanced VCO-MMIC based on audcoupled Colpitt topology with a fully integrated tank isudpresented. The design was focused on achievingudminimum phase noise by optimization of the tank-circuitudincluding the varactor, maximizing the tank-amplitude,udand designing the VCO for Class C operation. Audminimum phase noise of less than -112 dBc at an outputudpower of 5.5 dBm is achieved at 100 kHz carrier offsetudand 6.4 GHz oscillation frequency. To our bestudknowledge, this is the lowest reported phase noise to dateudfor a varactor based VCO with a fully integrated tank.udThe MMIC was designed and fabricated in a commercialudInGaP-GaAs HBT foundry MMIC-process.