High performance SOI and bulk CMOS 5GHz VCOs

This paper presents a comparison of two 5 GHz VCOs. One is implemented in an SOI process and the other in a conventional bulk CMOS process. The SOI design presents the lowest reported power (1.65 mW, -110 dBc/Hz @ 1 MHz) in a 5 GHz VCO, while the bulk device presents the lowest phase noise achieved in a 5 GHz VCO (17.25 mW, -126 dBc/Hz @ 1 MHz). The design tradeoffs are discussed.