Low Phase Noise, Very Wide BandSiGe Fully Integrated VCO

This paper presents a fully integrated, low phase noise SiGe voltage-controlled oscillator with very wide band for digital radio link applications. The VCO has been fabricated using IBM 0.5µm SiGe5AM process. A measured 38.5% tuning range around 5.2 GHz and a singlesideband phase noise varying between –100 and –96 dBc/Hz at 100kHz offset from carrier have been achieved. The oscillator’s core draws 9 to 17mA from a 3V supply voltage.