A 1.8 GHz LC VCO with 1.3 GHz tuning range and mixed-signal amplitude calibration

A 1.8GHz LC VCO designed in a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS process achieves a very wide tuning range of 73% and measured phase noise of -123.5dBc/Hz at a 600kHz offset from a 1.8GHz carrier while drawing 3.2mA from a 1.5V supply. A novel amplitude calibration technique used to stabilize performance across the wide band of operation does not degrade the VCO phase noise and consumes negligible power and area.