A SiGe bipolar VCO for backhaul E-band communication systems

A K-band SiGe bipolar VCO operating from 18.9 to 22.1 GHz is presented. The oscillator features a phase noise as low as -136.5 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz offset from the 22.1 GHz carrier while drawing 10 mA from the 3.3 V supply. The VCO shows a state-of-the-art FOM of -188dBc/Hz and an excellent FOM
_T
of -192dBc/Hz. The oscillator is tailored to the communication systems operating in the higher portion of the E-band. It is intended to be followed by a frequency multiplier by four, reported elsewhere.