ABSTRACT
Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is another critical block required in the 60 GHz transceiver to provide sufficient tuning range to cover the wide spectrum and large PVT variations with maintained phase noise and compact area, which is becoming a challenge with conventional tuning methods in CMOS technology. In this chapter, one inductive tuning method is first proposed based on configuration of current return paths in the secondary coil of a transformer, which demonstrates a wide frequency tuning range for CMOS VCO at mm-wave frequencies and shows great potential for integration in 60-GHz transceiver design. The inductive tuning method is further applied to realize a tunable CRLH T-line for Mobius-ring RTW-VCO design in mm-wave region. By utilizing the unique features of CRLH T-line to achieve a negative phase shift with compact area and wide tuning capability, state-of-the-art performance is demonstrated.
