Fully Differential 5‐GHz LC‐Tank VCOs with Improved Phase Noise and Wide Tuning Range

In this paper, we propose two LC voltage‐controlled oscillators (VCOs) that improve both phase noise and tuning range. With both 1/f induced low‐frequency noise and low‐frequency thermal noise around DC or around harmonics suppressed significantly by the employment of a current‐current negative feedback (CCNF) loop, the phase noise in the CCNF LC VCO has been improved by about 10 dB at 6 MHz offset compared to the conventional LC VCO. The phase noise of the CCNF VCO was measured as −112 dBc/Hz at 6 MHz offset from 5.5 GHz carrier frequency. Also, we present a bandwidth‐enhanced LC VCO whose tuning range has been increased about 250 % by connecting the varactor to the bases of the cross‐coupled pair. The phase noise of the bandwidth‐enhanced LC‐tank VCO has been improved by about 6 dB at 6 MHz offset compared to the conventional LC VCO. The phase noise reduction has been achieved because the DC‐decoupling capacitor Cc prevents the output common‐mode level from modulating the varactor bias point, and the signal power increases in the LC‐tank resonator. The bandwidth‐enhanced LC VCO represents a 12 % bandwidth and phase noise of −108 dBc/Hz at 6 MHz offset.