1.6-GHz low power low phase noise quadrature phase locked loop with on chip DC-DC converter for wide tuning range

This paper presents the design of a 1.6 GHz quadrature phase locked loop for GPS applications, operated with a supply voltage of 1.2 V and dissipating a current of less than 5 mA. It is capable of delivering quadrature locked signals in the range from 1.22 GHz to 1.96 GHz with a phase noise response of less than -115 dBc at an offset of 1 MHz from the carrier. The wide tuning range is obtained using an on-chip regulated DC-DC converter clocked by the reference signal, with negligible effect on phase noise and spurious level of the PLL. The design was made using the STMicroelectronics proprietary 0.13 μm HCMOS9 technology design kit.