An Ultra-Low Phase Noise 1.6GHz 65nm Class-B RF-VCO with -139.44dBc/Hz @1MHz Offset

Abstract

Herein an ultra-low phase noise voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is presented for low noise phase-locked loop (PLL). Several techniques from both topology and detailed circuit design have been applied to suppress the VCO phase noise significantly. Eventually, the designed 1.6GHz NMOS-only ClassB LC-VCO is measured -139.44dBc/Hz phase noise at 1MHz offset, with 184dB figure-of-merit (FoM) in 65nm CMOS process.