A very low power consuming 5 GHz CMOS VCO core with 800 MHz frequency tuning range

A low power consuming VCO core at C-band frequencies is presented. With a supply voltage of 2.5 V and a VCO core current consumption of only 1.5 mA a phase noise between -98 to -104 dBc/Hz is measured. Varying the tuning voltage from 1 V to 2.5 V yields a tuning range of 800 MHz with a center frequency of 4.6 GHz. The fully integrated circuit is fabricated on a commercial 0.25 /spl mu/m BiCMOS process.