Single-Stage Injection-Locked Frequency Sixtupler in CMOS Process

High multiplication-factor even-modulus frequency multipliers are often configured as multi series frequency multipliers. This paper designs a single-stage LC-tank injection locked frequency sixtupler (ILFS) fabricated in 0.18 mu m CMOS process and the ILFS merges many sub-circuits in one by sharing a common supply and passive inductive elements. The circuit design, operation principle and measurement results of the ILFS are addressed. The differential input and single-phase output ILFS circuit is made of two frequency doublers, a first-harmonic injection-locked oscillator and an active frequency tripler using one frequency doubler. The free-running oscillation frequency of the ILO is around 5.716 GHz. At the dc power consumption of 20.9 mW and at the incident power of 0 dBm, the x6 input locking range is from the incident frequency 0.94 GHz to 1.02 GHz to provide an output signal source from the frequency 5.64 GHz to 6.12 GHz. The whole chip occupies a die area of 1.141 x 1.2 mm(2). Other high multiplier factors are also measured on the designed chip.

Automated summary

This paper designs a single-stage LC-tank injection locked frequency sixtupler (ILFS) which merges many sub-circuits in one by sharing a common supply and passive inductive elements. The circuit design, operation principle and measurement results of the ILFS are addressed. The locking range and output frequency of the ILFS are measured under different input power and frequency.