2.4-GHz Band Ultra-Low-Voltage LC-VCO IC in 130-nm CMOS

Abstract

An ultra-low-voltage LC-VCO IC has been demonstrated using 130nm CMOS technology. The LCVCO IC includes a cross-coupled NMOS pair, a single symmetric inductor, AMOS varactors with capacitor ac coupling and a buffer amplifier. The LCVCO IC is designed, fabricated and fully evaluated on wafer. The VCO IC exhibits measured frequency tuning range of 17.4% and phase noise of -137 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz oset from the 2.2 GHz carrier at a supply voltage of only 0.5 V.