A 4.3 GHz BiCMOS VCO with multiple 360° variable phase outputs using the vector sum method

Tjaart A.K. Opperman, Saurabh Sinha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

A 4.3 GHz voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with multiple independently tunable phase outputs is presented. The VCO is realized by coupling two LC oscillators together in order to obtain quadrature signals and is tunable between 4.12 and 4.74 GHz. The variable phase outputs are achieved by varying the amplitudes of the in-phase and quadrature signals independently and then combining these signals together. By using multiple Gilbert cells as variable gain amplifiers (VGAs), multiple tunable phase outputs are achieved with the use of only one quadrature VCO. The VGAs are controlled using a custom non-linear digital-toanalog converter. The entire circuit is designed using a 3.3 V SiGe BiCMOS process. A maximum phase noise of -108.17 dBc/Hz was measured over the entire tuning range at a 1 MHz offset. The outputs of the VCO can be used as local oscillators that achieve phase shifting during radio frequency up or down conversion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)375-381
Number of pages7
JournalAnalog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing
Volume72
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • BiCMOS
  • Integrated circuit
  • Phased array antenna
  • Quadrature VCO
  • Variable gain amplifier
  • Vector sum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Signal Processing
  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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