A mmWave Transformer Based VCO-Divider for Wideband Frequency Synthesizers in 22nm FDSOI

Abstract

This paper presents a transformer based LC voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a static frequency divider chain with a dual band feature. The oscillator tank is realized using a triple coil transformer loaded by a varactor, and is designed to resonate at both the first and third harmonics. Both the varactor and the back gate bias of the transistors are used to tune the oscillator core. The VCO is followed by a current mode logic (CML) divide by 16 frequency divider to capture the first harmonic output band. The design, fabricated in 22nm FDSOI, delivers a maximum output power of 0 dBm from the divider over the frequency range from 1.37 GHz to 1.87 GHz, equivalent to 22 GHz – 30 GHz in the first band and 66 GHz – 90 GHz in the second band. The DC power consumption of the VCO-divider chip is 60 mW from a 0.8 V supply.