A Flash Frequency Tuning Technique for SC-Based mm Wave VCOs

This paper presents a flash frequency tuning technique for switched-capacitor-based, voltage-controlled oscillators operating at mm wave frequencies. The proposed strategy exploits a capacitor array and a small varactor for coarse and fine tuning, respectively, which are simultaneously operated thanks to a flash A/D-based control circuit. This avoids additional delay in the frequency calibration, thus enabling very fast-frequency locking operation. The VCO was fabricated in a 28 nm FD-SOI CMOS technology and provides an oscillation frequency around 39 GHz with an overall tuning range of 3.3 GHz. The circuit dissipates 8.4 mW from a power supply as low as 0.7 V, while occupying a silicon area of 210 mu m x 150 mu m.

Automated summary

This paper presents a flash frequency tuning technique for switched-capacitor-based, voltage-controlled oscillators operating at mm wave frequencies. The technique utilizes a capacitor array and a small varactor for coarse and fine tuning, respectively, and operates simultaneously through a flash A/D control circuit, enabling very fast-frequency locking operation.