SiGe BiCMOS VCO with 27% tuning range for 5G communications

A SiGe BiCMOS VCO with a transformer-coupled varactor operating from 12 to 15.9 GHz is presented. The oscillator core features a phase noise as low as -117dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the 14.2 GHz carrier while drawing 8 mA from the 3.3 V supply. The VCO shows a state-of-the-art FOMt of -190dBc/Hz. The trade-off for the technology selection is described in the introduction. The oscillator is tailored to the communication systems for the upcoming 5G applications. New radios that will operate from 6 GHz to as high as 100 GHz may be needed.