A 0.049mm2 7.1-to-16.8GHz Dual-Core Triple-Mode VCO Achieving 200dB FoMA in 22nm FinFET

📋 论文概要

本文提出了一种在22nm FinFET工艺中实现的双核三模VCO，覆盖7.1-16.8GHz频率范围，面积仅0.049mm2，并达到200dB的FoMA。该设计解决了多标准通信设备对宽频率调谐范围和高品质因数的需求。

💡 主要创新点

• 采用双核三模谐振模式切换技术，在不降低品质因数的前提下扩展了频率调谐范围。
• 通过同相耦合多个VCO核改善了相位噪声，同时实现了0.049mm2的小面积。
• 实现了200dB的FoMA，为高性能VCO设计提供了新途径。

📄 原文摘要

and an octave frequency-tuning range (FTR) are required for multistandard communication devices, software-defined radios, and wireline data links. A viable popular approach is to exploit multicore mode-switching VCOs for two reasons: (1) their PN improves linearly by in-phase coupling of N identical VCOs; (2) the resonant-mode switching enhances the VCO FTR without degrading the tank quality factor (Q) as no RF current ideally flows through lossy mode-selection switches. However, it is still challenging for dual-mode VCOs to achieve a competitive FoM while covering an octave FTR at oscillation frequencies (FOSC) above 6GHz [1]. To enhance the number of oscillation modes to 3, [2] added a center-loop inductor (LC) to a transformer,

👥 作者与机构

Jiang Gong1,2, Bishnu Patra3, Luc Enthoven1,2, Job van Staveren1,2,

Fabio Sebastiano1,2, Masoud Babaie1,2 Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands QuTech, Delft, The Netherlands 3 Intel, Hillsboro, OR 1 2 LC VCOs with low phase noise (PN)