Microstrip Square Open Loop Metamaterial Resonator and Rat Race Coupler for Low Phase Noise Push-Push VCO

Abstract

In this paper, a novel low phase noise voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) using metamaterial structure and rat race coupler is presented for reducing the phase noise without the reduction of the frequency tuning range. The metamaterial structure has been realized by microstrip square open loop double split ring resonator (SRR). The rat race coupler shows slightly higher transmission compared to a Wilkinson combiner and is, therefore, used instead to improve the performances of VCO. By providing these unique modifications, the proposed push-push VCO has a phase noise of -126.30~-124.83 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz in the tuning range of 5.672~5.800 GHz.