A 19.5 GHz 28 nm CMOS Class-C VCO with Reduced 1/f Noise Upconversion

Abstract

Class-C operation is leveraged to implement a K-band CMOS VCO where the upconversion of the 1/f noise from the core transistors is robustly contained at a minimal level. Implemented in a bulk 28 nm CMOS technology, the VCO shows a phase noise as low as -108.5 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset (-83 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset) from the 19.5 GHz carrier, while consuming 14.4 mW and featuring a 12% tuning range.