A wide tuning range gated voltage-controlled oscillator

A wide tuning range voltage controlled oscillator is reported which provides a 10:1 tuning range for a control voltage variation of 2.5 V, with an maximum oscillation frequency of 1.5 GHz. The oscillator is gateable, and the circuit includes a synchronous three-bit counter implemented in source-coupled FET logic. Output levels for the fundamental and counter outputs are ECL compatible. The circuit requires a single -5-V power supply and dissipates 350 mW. The device is fabricated using a 1- mu m-long-gate enhancement/depletion mode GaAs MESFET process that has a nominal FET f/sub T/ of 18 GHz.<>